I noticed something weird…

[littlefoxx]

My little lavender tang I am growing out has a weird habit that Im curious if anyone has seen before?

Im convinced she is “sleep swimming” like how people sleep walk. She swims laps around the front of the tank (shes usually shy and doesnt like people starting at her) so thats odd. If shes in front of the glass I put my finger up to her eye and there is no reaction. If I did that during the day she would dart away, but honestly wouldnt even be that close to the glass to let it happen.

So is she sleep walking tang style?? Never seen a fish do something like that before

 

[littlefoxx]

I will add shes healthy, good colors, growing and putting on weight! Shes just a weird fish I guess.

 

[Cheese Griller]

is this only occurring at night/when the lights outside the tank are dimmed? She could just be more cautious when it's brighter.

 

[littlefoxx]

is this only occurring at night/when the lights outside the tank are dimmed? She could just be more cautious when it's brighter.

Its only at night. I notice it when I turn the tank lights and room light off then come down for something and turn the room light on. Im 99.9% sure shes sleeping when I see it Ive just never seen a fish do that! The PBT goes in his spot and sleeps but its like she “float” swims around the tank. Its odd

 

[Cheese Griller]

It’s only at night. I notice it when I turn the tank lights and room light off then come down for something and turn the room light on. Im 99.9% sure shes sleeping when I see it Ive just never seen a fish do that! The PBT goes in his spot and sleeps but it’s like she “float” swims around the tank. Its odd

In that case, I’d be concerned that she’s being evicted from the rock work by the PBT at night. I’d try to add some more rock work if possible

 

[Sophie"s mom]

In that case, I’d be concerned that she’s being evicted from the rock work by the PBT at night. I’d try to add some more rock work if possible

Yeah, I agree, every fish needs a space that is their own, and if this fish doesn't feel she has that, then maybe she is just roaming at night with nowhere to go.

 

[littlefoxx]

In that case, I’d be concerned that she’s being evicted from the rock work by the PBT at night. I’d try to add some more rock work if possible

Yeah, I agree, every fish needs a space that is their own, and if this fish doesn't feel she has that, then maybe she is just roaming at night with nowhere to go.

Interesting. I did see her do this prior to the PBT a few times. She does also have a cave thats hers and thats where she falls asleep, he sleeps on the other side of the tank. As far as more rock I cant really do that well since this is a biocube 32 they are in.

I am currently re scaping and getting my 300 gallon back together after digging the grouper out. Im thinking once I get that tank fully back together and settled and if these two guys look good (which they both do!) Ill be moving them over to the big tank. I want them to at least be 2 inches and a healthy weight. Both are about one and a half inches now and putting on weight well!

Im thinking Ill move them over into their permanent home in about 2-3 weeks

I really love the lavender, she is so beautiful. And I think she will be more relaxed in a larger space with a lot more rocks!

 

[littlefoxx]

Yeah, I agree, every fish needs a space that is their own, and if this fish doesn't feel she has that, then maybe she is just roaming at night with nowhere to go.

Also its not like she is aware, I can tell shes sleeping. Like she isnt moving her eyes around at all and has no reaction if I hold a finger in front of her eyes. During the say shes very alert. It really does look like a sleepwalker! Im not thinking she feels like she needs to move away from the PBT, he sleeps in the corner and I can tell he is sleeping when she does this. Ive never seen it before! Ill be curious to see if she does that when I move her to her actual home

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Also its not like she is aware, I can tell shes sleeping. Like she isnt moving her eyes around at all and has no reaction if I hold a finger in front of her eyes. During the say shes very alert. It really does look like a sleepwalker! Im not thinking she feels like she needs to move away from the PBT, he sleeps in the corner and I can tell he is sleeping when she does this. Ive never seen it before! Ill be curious to see if she does that when I move her to her actual home

I guess it's not out the realm of possibility that some fish can sleep swim. Curious for sure.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Interesting. I did see her do this prior to the PBT a few times. She does also have a cave thats hers and thats where she falls asleep, he sleeps on the other side of the tank. As far as more rock I cant really do that well since this is a biocube 32 they are in.

I am currently re scaping and getting my 300 gallon back together after digging the grouper out. Im thinking once I get that tank fully back together and settled and if these two guys look good (which they both do!) Ill be moving them over to the big tank. I want them to at least be 2 inches and a healthy weight. Both are about one and a half inches now and putting on weight well!

Im thinking Ill move them over into their permanent home in about 2-3 weeks

I really love the lavender, she is so beautiful. And I think she will be more relaxed in a larger space with a lot more rocks!

Do you have a picture of her! That would be adorable to see one that small

 

[littlefoxx]

Do you have a picture of her! That would be adorable to see one that small

I cant get the best picture of her, she hates cameras. Ill try to get one of her at night but this is what I have now!

There are some pictures of her. Also some of Blue (the PBT). Both are about the samw size, they were under an inch when I got them. They get some good algae and nori sheets to munch on, TDO and life spectrum pellets, and some good frozen foods/algae formulas! These pictures were probably 2 weeks ago. The lavender you can still see a little part of her spine but she was wayyy thinner in the store. I wasnt sure she would make it thin, but she was active so I took a chance with her. She is just a stunning fish! First lavender tang I had ever seen in person and boy do pictures not do these justice!

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I cant get the best picture of her, she hates cameras. Ill try to get one of her at night but this is what I have now!

There are some pictures of her. Also some of Blue (the PBT). Both are about the samw size, they were under an inch when I got them. They get some good algae and nori sheets to munch on, TDO and life spectrum pellets, and some good frozen foods/algae formulas! These pictures were probably 2 weeks ago. The lavender you can still see a little part of her spine but she was wayyy thinner in the store. I wasnt sure she would make it thin, but she was active so I took a chance with her. She is just a stunning fish! First lavender tang I had ever seen in person and boy do pictures not do these justice!

Aww, they are both very cute! I can not imagine have a fish a half inch long! I would be afraid something else would eat them! I really want a Mandarin Dragonet, but the ones from Biota are like 3/4" and that just worries me.

 

[littlefoxx]

Aww, they are both very cute! I can not imagine have a fish a half inch long! I would be afraid something else would eat them! I really want a Mandarin Dragonet, but the ones from Biota are like 3/4" and that just worries me.

Ive kept regular Mandarins with no issues. If you have pods for them you will see them super fat and picking! Im looking for a male and female pair for my big tank again now that the grouper is gone

 

[littlefoxx]

Aww, they are both very cute! I can not imagine have a fish a half inch long! I would be afraid something else would eat them! I really want a Mandarin Dragonet, but the ones from Biota are like 3/4" and that just worries me.

Right! Blue acts like he isnt a tiny tang but she (I havnt named her yet) I can tell is for sure a baby. Shes still learning how to be a tang Blue seems to be showing her how to be a tang little by little, she actually is getting less shy and will come out front and swim if he is up there picking!

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Ive kept regular Mandarins with no issues. If you have pods for them you will see them super fat and picking! Im looking for a male and female pair for my big tank again now that the grouper is gone

YEah I have plenty of pods! I have 2 different bogie who also obviously eat pods, but I have been adding 2 jars monthly for almost 2 years now, so I am certain my tank could easily sustain a Mandarin. I just really worry about the size!

 

[littlefoxx]

YEah I have plenty of pods! I have 2 different bogie who also obviously eat pods, but I have been adding 2 jars monthly for almost 2 years now, so I am certain my tank could easily sustain a Mandarin. I just really worry about the size!

My LFS gets some fat wild caught ones in, maybe yours could too? I dont do their mandrins either because of the size

 

[Cheese Griller]

Also its not like she is aware, I can tell shes sleeping. Like she isnt moving her eyes around at all and has no reaction if I hold a finger in front of her eyes. During the say shes very alert. It really does look like a sleepwalker! Im not thinking she feels like she needs to move away from the PBT, he sleeps in the corner and I can tell he is sleeping when she does this. Ive never seen it before! Ill be curious to see if she does that when I move her to her actual home

That's very interesting, I can't imagine that's a habit she would have survived with in the wild since she would be eaten the moment she started swimming around at night. It will be interesting to see if she continues it in the main tank!

 

[Sophie"s mom]

My LFS gets some fat wild caught ones in, maybe yours could too? I dont do their mandrins either because of the size

Yeah we do have one local store that will look for something specific of you ask him. Maybe I need to to that. I really do LOVE the idea of aquacultured fish over wild caught. But I do know that in certain instances, it is still necessary.

 

[littlefoxx]

That's very interesting, I can't imagine that's a habit she would have survived with in the wild since she would be eaten the moment she started swimming around at night. It will be interesting to see if she continues it in the main tank!

Yeah thats what I thought too! Sometimes the powder blue peeks out and looks at her. Last night I saw him swim up to her and kinda followed her for a little then went back to his spot. It was kinda like he was Checking on her, I didnt see any aggression from him at all.

She also was very very small when she came to the LFS. Shes grown a lot but I almost didnt notice her in the holding tank she was so small!

 

[littlefoxx]

Okay I got a video of her doing it just now. Shes usually more out in front but I put my hand up to the glass and she had no reaction, so shes sleeping. Its super strange!

She bumped into Blue and woke him up a few seconds after the video ended and he kinda just followed her for a minute then went back to his sleep spot.