Mimic Tang acting wierd

[Henny]

I noticed yesterday that my tang was hiding in a cave. He is normally swimming around out in the open when the lights are on. So I tested the water,

Here are my results
Nitrates - 0
Nitrites - 0
Ammonio - 0
Ph 8.0
Calcium 600 mg/l
135 Gallon Fowlr
1 Niger trigger
1 Mimic lemon peel tang
2 damsels
hermits and snails

Tank has been up and running for about 8 months.

I noticed the calcium was really high so I did a twenty percent water. I haven't retested yet and he is still hiding in the same cave today. He doesn't even come out for feeding so yesterday I dropped a formula 2 cube in the cave with him. Don't know if he ate it or if the hermits and snails took care of it but it is gone. Tried feeding today and he still won't come out. Any suggestions?

[ErikH]

dont use the cubes, use the flake. Those cubes are nothing but waste imo.
Are any of them fighting or chasing it? Does it appear to have ich, or any other lesions on it's body? what is your salinity at? Temps? What else are you feeding, and does it look emaciated or full?

[Henny]

Salinty is 1.021, Temp is 84 but that is how it's been since I set up the tank between 82-84 and I just saw him come out to get some food but he went right back to the same spot. He looks full but on his left side looks like he may have scraped a rock or something. Other than that I don't notice any parasites on him.I haven't noticed any of the other fish chasing him. He is normally the dominant one. I'm also feeding flakes and kent marine herbivore pellets on a timer twice a day and supplementing with frozen spirulina brine shrimp, formula 2 cubes and dried green algae once a day.

[ErikH]

Is it breathing heavy? It may just be recouperating from it's injury, but I would keep a close eye on it. As long as it has a place to go where it is comfortable and you feed it varied foods, it should be ok. I feel your worry! :) Good luck.

[Henny]

Thanks for the advice ScorpiNO, I think he is just recovering from a wound. He came out for little yesterday but stays in the cave for most of the time. So I'll just have to keep an eye on it. Thank You

[ErikH]

no problemo.

[jake]

I too had mimic tang who did the same thing a couple of months ago. I had him for about 2 months then all of a sudden he started hiding in the rocks. Two days later I found the cleanup crew all over him. Good Luck with your fish.

[Henny]

Are tang's territorial? At first I thought he may have been sick but now it looks as if he is defending "his cave" from my trigger. I say this because he now comes out to eat but when he sees the trigger try to enter the cave he bolts back into it to chase the trigger out. Should I re-arrange the rocks or will this stress my tang out?

[drgnbttrfly]

My tang did that when I had a shrimp that tried to get in his cave and when the yellow tang swam close to his cave

He whacked the shrimp out of the cave more than once until he got the message...and he would nose at the yellow tang when he got close and he would hang out in it.

When it was clear it was his territory he would move around.

Also when scared (like a stranger looking into the tank) he usually retreats into his cave.

[Henny]

Thanks this is exactly what he is doing, should I rearrange the rocks though?

[drgnbttrfly]

That usually stresses my tang...my answer would be no

but i was waiting for someone with more experience to answer you:bigsmile:

good luck!