Help with this spot

ReeferCO · Dec 25, 2023

Hey all,

I just turned my whites way up on the tank and noticed this circular white patch on my Tomini tang. I’ve had her for over a year and a half. Any thoughts on what this could be? All fish are eating well and active including the tomini . It’s really apparent when the tank isn’t so blue

JC1977 · Dec 25, 2023

ReeferCO said:
Hey all,

I just turned my whites way up on the tank and notice this circular white patch on my Tomini tang. I’ve had her for over a year and a half. Any thoughts on what this could be? All fish are eating well and active including this fish. It jumped out at me when I turned my whites way up on my lighting. It really jumps out.

Could be he rubbed up against your rockwork. My fish do that occasionally and I’ll see marks like that.

ReeferCO · Dec 25, 2023

JC1977 said:
Could be he rubbed up against your rockwork. My fish do that occasionally and I’ll see marks like that.

Thanks for that. I can’t think of what else it might be. I was a little freaked out because I added some emerald crabs a few weeks ago. Aside from that I haven’t mead any changes in a long time.

mtraylor · Dec 25, 2023

If you have a lawnmower blenny they will put a kiss mark on the tangs similar to that all the time when they get aggressive about food territory.

ReeferCO · Dec 25, 2023

mtraylor said:
If you have a lawnmower blenny they will put a kiss mark on the tangs similar to that all the time when they get aggressive about food territory.

This is it!! Not a lawnmower but a Starry blenny. These two often mix it up but it’s usually the tang being the aggressor. I actually had this thought because it’s the same size as the marks the blenny puts on the glass if it’s not clean. I quickly dismissed it thinking I’ve never seen the blenny go after the tang and not realizing it was actually possible. I couldn’t figure out how it was such a perfect looking circle LOL! Thank you! This is a big relief!!

mtraylor · Dec 26, 2023

Np. Yeah I have had the lawn mowers and starry blennies put kiss marks on my tangs for years. Have only seen it in action once, but always see the damage. Lol.

Yeah it's nothing to worry about. You will see them now and then as they work things out. It will heal up in a couple days