Strange Behavior on a Kole Tang

[hutch2828]

Hi all!

I usually don't post with issues but I am stumped this time as to what my kole tang is doing. My girlfriend and I have had this tang for about a year and recently moved him into a new tank we set up after moving. He has been in a fish store down here in Louisiana for some months and was just moved back last weekend. Unfortunately last night we noticed him racing around the tank a bit and doing a bit of shuttering while backing down toward the sand with his tail. He only does this next to the glass and usually repetitively in the same spot for a while. I am attaching the video of him doing this so that it can help with diagnosing the problem.

We have a few theories on why he's doing this so far:

1. Some sort of disease or parasite. Although we trust the LFS he was staying at and are doubtful about parasites, you never know
2. Showing aggression. Problem with this theory is that he does this by himself and doesn't mind the clownfish (his only tankmate besides a cleaner shrimp)
3. Along the same lines of aggression, but maybe he is somehow seeing his reflection?
4. A stomach issue. This is the first tank with sand we have had him in and maybe by picking food and algae off sand he has ingested some.

 

[Tahoe61]

Yup he is challenging his reflection.

 

[jetmaker]

The head shaking could be flukes

 

[melypr1985]

He challenging his reflection. My purple does this exact same thing to my kole. I thought it was the strangest thing I had ever seen.

 

[jetmaker]

Yeah I have a Potter's angel that does the same thing.

 

[Humblefish]

I agree, he is fighting his reflection. Probably a male.

 

[hutch2828]

Thanks everyone. Although now I'm stumped as to how to stop it. Maybe clean the glass less?

 

[4FordFamily]

Yep he is fighting his reflection.

 

[Humblefish]

Thanks everyone. Although now I'm stumped as to how to stop it. Maybe clean the glass less?

Or get him another tang to fight with.