Stereotypic behavior in reef fish

[Cherie cook]

Wondering about my white tail bristletooth tang. He’s exhibiting what I believe is classic stereotypic behavior..circling around and around rockwork in one corner of the tank. The tank is a 90 gallon cube..36x24. Tank mates are an Australian stripey, possum wrasse and a lawnmower blenny. He does this constantly unless he’s eating and I know it’s not normal. Anyone have insight?

 

[JumboShrimp]

One thing to possibly rule out might be whether the fish is seeing/reacting to his own reflection. Maybe place a black towel over that panel of the tank for a few hours; if that doesn't work, try a white towel for a while. I'm not guaranteeing anything, but it's worth a try if it's a habit/behavioral thing.

 

[Cherie cook]

One thing to possibly rule out might be whether the fish is seeing/reacting to his own reflection. Maybe place a black towel over that panel of the tank for a few hours; if that doesn't work, try a white towel for a while. I'm not guaranteeing anything, but it's worth a try if it's a habit/behavioral thing.

I have seen that back and forth at the glass behavior in other fish..this doesn’t look like that.

 

[Dogeatbird]

This topic is heavily skewed. are you comparing behavior to a wild setting?perceived hopes, anecdotal observations from other aquariums?

Although not typically an issue all blennys can also be territorial, or show signs of aggression.

As far as the reflection, have you seen signs of posturing, expanding dorsal fins, tail slapping?

Might be just where this fish prefers,
Corners and aquarium seam joints often offer a host of food options, algae films, benthic/cryptic organisms as a food offer.

 

[Mark82]

Does he actively graze the rocks for algae throughout the day? When I had my White-Tailed Bristletooth Tang before I lost him to ich, he was constantly picking at the rocks and glass but would move all around the tank.

Years ago I had a dwarf angelfish in a Biocube, and once it reached full size it started doing constant loops around the tank. Looking back, I think it was stress from outgrowing the system. If your tang is literally swimming the same route all day unless it’s eating, I’d be curious whether it’s actually grazing or just pacing.

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

Tangs swim like 5-10 miles a day in the wild so maybe he’s doing the same thing but doing it by circling around and around constantly. Do you know if he’s aquacultured or maricultured when you got him? Sounds like that instinct to swim and swim is still very much in him.

 

[slingfox]

@Cherie cook How is your whitetail Bristletooth doing now? Is it still circling in one corner of the tank?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I would also be curious to see how your bristletooth is doing