Insane Kole Tang

[Waters]

I have a Kole Tang that has been in the tank for roughly 6 months. Nothing new has been added. In the last few days, he has gone psycho swimming at full speed around the tank and attacking his reflection. Seems to be eating fine (although not as much as usual....just grabs some as he is swimming by the food on his way to attack his reflection). Any ideas? Not sure what would have caused him to suddenly go from a calm (as far as Tangs go) fish to this?

 

[Naiad]

Any changes in water temp or lights? "He" may just be maturing and trying to dominate himself.

 

[Waters]

Any changes in water temp or lights? "He" may just be maturing and trying to dominate himself.

No, no changes in anything. Based on his actions, I thing that may be the only possible explanation. Hopefully it stops at some point.

 

[BigKid4788]

I had a pb tang that would do that. It happened for a couple days after I cleaned the glass. I'm assuming that's when he could really see his reflection.

 

[Naiad]

No, no changes in anything. Based on his actions, I thing that may be the only possible explanation. Hopefully it stops at some point.

What are feeding him? At this point I wouldn't worry about it too much. If he starts becoming a jerk to other fish then there are a few tricks to try.

 

[4FordFamily]

Erratically swimming can mean parasites but if he's attacking the glass I imagine he's probably just trying to make the "other tang" submit :D

I imagine that other tang is pretty stubborn!

 

[Harry_Y]

I have a mirror tile on one side of my tank so my Kole tang will go after himself and not others.

at first he beat himseld up pretty good, but as time has gone on he has mellowed out quite a bit.

 

[Waters]

Nothing has changed regarding his food or habitat (eating mysis, pellets, etc.). He isn't bothering any of the other fish.....he just swims 100 mph from one reflection to another doing the shimmy that clowns often do. I guess I am just surprised that this started overnight. The bad part is I don't see this ending.....ever. For whatever reason, the other tang just won't go away :)

 

[maroun.c]

try to light up the room the tank is in as that decreases the mirror effect.
Kole tangs are usually very peacefull fish, don't remember any time where I didn't have one in my previous tanks. till recently when I added a yellow eye to my tank and he terrorized any new fish I added and killed a Bellus Angel from stressing it and keeping it locked in one corner... I also noticed a crazy aggressivity on few Tominis that I have in quarantine tank and was very difficult to get 2 of them to stand each other although still very small.
Agressivity on the glass might indicate that the fish is becoming overall aggressice especially if it didn't attack its reflection before so watch out for new additions.

 

[Catchemall]

Erratically swimming can mean parasites but if he's attacking the glass I imagine he's probably just trying to make the "other tang" submit :D

I imagine that other tang is pretty stubborn!

I had a clown that did the same thing I treated him with prazipro and he immediately stopped.

 

[Waters]

This definitely isn't due to parasites.......he just wants to attack himself. He has always been aggressive to new additions that resemble his shape (dwarf angels for example). He leaves everything else alone though.