Yellow Tang acting funny... Maybe?

[Aaron H.]

I got a yellow tang the other day. This is the 2nd YT I've owned. The only other fish in the tank are 3 blue/green chromis. I was watching the fish interact today and notice that when the chromis would swim near the tang, the tang would look "paralized". It would hold one fin strait out (the fin on the same side the chromis is on) and just free float in the water (almost looked dead) and once the chromis would swim away, the tang will act normal. Does the tang want them to clean him? Cus I did see one chromis picking at his side when this happened earlier. Is there some kinda relationship between these 2 breeds of fish? I just wanna make site
This is normal and my fish isn't sick or somethin.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I have seen this before. Is the tang eating?

 

[bct15]

I think the tang might be posturing up since he is new and might be feeling a little threatened. These two fish do interact in the wild but I am not sure how.

 

[bct15]

Can you get a pic

 

[aquabull]

This is also a sign of wanting to be "cleaned", as most juvenile reef fish will adopt this practice.

 

[Aaron H.]

Yea the tang is eating. I don't know
If I'll be able to get a pic but I'll try. And all
I can figure is s/he wants to be cleaned. That's what it looks like to me

 

[Bernie]

I've seen my YT doing the exact same thing lately. He's got ich at the moment, so it very well could be a "clean me" posture. I've never seen him posture against the chromisis (chromises? chromisi?) before, but he could also be feeling bad and jumpy because of the ich.

 

[Aaron H.]

I hope he doesn't have ich cus he was doing this on day 1
Of being in the tank so that would mean he had ich from the LFS..... Ugh... I guess I should
Keep an eye on it...