Tang Behavior - digging in sand?

[BrokenReefer]

I have two tangs in my tank - Chocolate Tang and Orange Shoulder - both are juvenile's for reference; I have reason to suspect my Orange Shoulder Tang is burrowing or digging holes in the sand beneath two rock structures. Is this typical behavior for tangs?? My prior tang gang (before I nuked everything with a very failed ammonia dosing attempt) didn't have this behavior and I'm wondering if it is typical of one or both.

Thanks

 

[littlefoxx]

Not sure about tangs but my maroon clowns completely ignored the nem I gave them and dig/play in the sand all the time now lol.

Maybe ask @vetteguy53081 to make sure it isnt a sickness?

 

[BrokenReefer]

Not sure about tangs but my maroon clowns completely ignored the nem I gave them and dig/play in the sand all the time now lol.

Maybe ask @vetteguy53081 to make sure it isnt a sickness?

Definitely isn't sick, they both swim around just fine. It's just odd behavior that I haven't seen before.

Hold on, I shouldn't definitively say "isn't sick"; I should rather restate that both fish do not appear to have anything that present as illness.

 

[D3DPrintedThingz]

I have two tangs in my tank - Chocolate Tang and Orange Shoulder - both are juvenile's for reference; I have reason to suspect my Orange Shoulder Tang is burrowing or digging holes in the sand beneath two rock structures. Is this typical behavior for tangs?? My prior tang gang (before I nuked everything with a very failed ammonia dosing attempt) didn't have this behavior and I'm wondering if it is typical of one or both.

Thanks

I had an OS tang , every night it would dig a huge hole in between two rocks to make it's sleeping spot. Absolutely horrendous behavior , but it was also kind of cute. Lol. Nothing to be alarmed over , I wouldn't think , just keep an eye out for sand and detritus to get stuck in your rock work. Might need to get the turkey baster out and blow some spurts into where the sand lands , it gets much dirtier in that area of the rock work

 

[littlefoxx]

I had an OS tang , every night it would dig a huge hole in between two rocks to make it's sleeping spot. Absolutely horrendous behavior , but it was also kind of cute. Lol. Nothing to be alarmed over , I wouldn't think , just keep an eye out for sand and detritus to get stuck in your rock work. Might need to get the turkey baster out and blow some spurts into where the sand lands , it gets much dirtier in that area of the rock work

Oh good to know, I was thinking about an orange shoulder. I have a lot of fish that throw sand as it is so maybe Ill revisit that idea!

 

[BrokenReefer]

I had an OS tang , every night it would dig a huge hole in between two rocks to make it's sleeping spot. Absolutely horrendous behavior , but it was also kind of cute. Lol. Nothing to be alarmed over , I wouldn't think , just keep an eye out for sand and detritus to get stuck in your rock work. Might need to get the turkey baster out and blow some spurts into where the sand lands , it gets much dirtier in that area of the rock work

You are correct - it is terrible behavior!!

I may need to rehome the little fella; I can't be having that in my tank with the sand dwelling LPS I am getting. Something to consider, dang

 

[Uncle99]

Mine blow the sand quite forcefully to release tasted treats.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have two tangs in my tank - Chocolate Tang and Orange Shoulder - both are juvenile's for reference; I have reason to suspect my Orange Shoulder Tang is burrowing or digging holes in the sand beneath two rock structures. Is this typical behavior for tangs?? My prior tang gang (before I nuked everything with a very failed ammonia dosing attempt) didn't have this behavior and I'm wondering if it is typical of one or both.

Thanks

Moreso, they fan sand to retrieve food which may be the case. If digging, often theyre after something.
My purple dug a pocket for a period of time for no reason

 

[BrokenReefer]

Moreso, they fan sand to retrieve food which may be the case. If digging, often theyre after something.
My purple dug a pocket for a period of time for no reason

I don’t know what the could be after, I’ll get some pictures after my kids go to bed.

If they are after something, so be it but I really don’t want that behavior with the trachy, acantho, and soon to be H. Malu.

 

[BrokenReefer]

 

[nereefpat]

I have not seen any of the tangs I've kept do that, but fish are individuals.

As long as it's digging and not scratching itself to remove a parasite, I guess I would chalk it up as a fish being eccentric.

 

[kvansloo]

I had a blue tang that did that he was trying to find a hiding spot. I had to add more rock caves and he was happy.