Blue tang biting torch coral head

[ryudo80]

I have a small blue tang that's pretty happy and fully fed. However, every few days, he likes to come bite the torch coral tips off. He doesn't eat them, just like to nip off a few tips off for fun it seems. He only goes after the torch corals that have light green polyps tips. He leaves the blue tips alone. Is there any way to prevent stop this behavior? When ever he does this, he does it for about half an hour or so and started doing this for the past couple of weeks.

 

[KrisReef]

Got to get the blue tip torches.
Once they get used to a thing they generally don't stop.

 

[VintageReefer]

You can’t stop it once they start. He will kill the torch eventually. And he will experiment on other lps corals in time and decide to nip them out of curiosity.

I had to live without torches, hammers, and acans for several years due to a fish that did this. I’d feed 3x the normal amount and he would go right back to doing it

 

[bluemon]

Tangs are notorious for sometimes being coral nippers. Even though they don’t eat them.

 

[ryudo80]

That's too bad. It's a biota blue tang. I probably give him away to a local fish store.

 

[Biota_Marine Verified Sponsor]

That's too bad. It's a biota blue tang. I probably give him away to a local fish store.

Interesting behavior we haven't seen before. We've seen some pick at clam mantles but this is a first. Always a pretty curious species

 

[bluemon]

Interesting behavior we haven't seen before. We've seen some pick at clam mantles but this is a first. Always a pretty curious species

Can't really blame you guys... Tangs are insanely quirky and do the craziest things! :face-with-tears-of-joy:

 

[ryudo80]

Yeah I wasn't blaming Biota. Was trying yo say that it's Biota tang that I didn't have to QT. If I get another blue tang that not Biota, I would need to do QT. But after this experience, I probably stay away from the Blue Tang for awhile.

 

[Uncle99]

Take it out for a week.
The coral, not the fish.
Then put it back.
Not the smartest fish.

Was successful for me, 6 months now no touch anything

 

[ryudo80]

Take it out for a week.
The coral, not the fish.
Then put it back.
Not the smartest fish.

Was successful for me, 6 months now no touch anything

I already spent 3 hours catching him today and put him in QT tank already. Perhaps I'll wait a week and put his favorite snack torch in the QT tank and see if he leaves it alone.

 

[Uncle99]

I already spent 3 hours catching him today and put him in QT tank already. Perhaps I'll wait a week and put his favorite snack torch in the QT tank and see if he leaves it alone.

It did appear to work in my case.
So far anyway….good luck…