Frozen Tang???

[fishaddict]

most bizarre thing I've seen.

Saw my new tang hovering in the tank with a cleaner on one of its sides. It wasnt moving its fins but appeared to be breathing? I moved around and thought the tang bobbled in the water. I get my net to get the body out thinking its dead, and 20mins later he's in the QT tank swimming around?

Was my tang playing opposum? He was on his side at on point?

Tank fiends

2 cleaners
2 fire shrimp
2 peppermints
1 Flame angel
6ln wrasse
2 hybrid clowns which appeared afraid of the tang
royal gramma
assorted inverts
2 BTAS on huge other small an hanging out in tunnel area.

 

[Omni2226]

Sounds like the Tang was enjoying the cleaning to the point of falling asleep, kinda like a person does when recieving a good massage.

Watched a discovery channel show where very large Groupers were being cleaned by small fish and the Grouper would stop swimming or moving at all. They said the fish stop moving for fear of blowing the cleaner fish off or causing it harm.

Could be what the Tang was doing,just "freezing" so the cleaner shrimp could do his thing.

 

[Anonymous]

With it hovering I would not be concerned. It was just being a good customer.

 

[fishaddict]

WOW that &^&%^% cool!!!!!

 

[tazdevil]

Completely normal cleaning behavior, laying on the "side" gives the cleaning crew 2 advantages when performing there duties. First, its easier to see things in the light, second, its also easier to hold on to a horizontal surface, although cleaner shrimp and neon gobies seem to not care too much about this. I think the semi-coma state is almost instinctual, as prior mentioned, you can see this behavior on some nature/science shows exhibiting reefs etc.

 

[fishaddict]

Its really cool.