White Tail Bristle-tooth suddenly stressed

[USMA36]

I have a whitetail bristletooth tang that’s suddenly showing signs of stress. He’s been in my tank for over a year and there haven’t been any new additions. As you can see on the video he is pacing against the glass on one side of the tank for the last few days. Nothing has changed parameter wise. 220 mixed reef, 1.026, .1 po4, 15 no3, and temp 79.

 

[Uncle99]

Seems to be reacting to his reflection.
Mine surfs the glass like that all the time pulling algae from the glass.
Not a new fish. Looks normal to me.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Fish

I have a whitetail bristletooth tang that’s suddenly showing signs of stress. He’s been in my tank for over a year and there haven’t been any new additions. As you can see on the video he is pacing against the glass on one side of the tank for the last few days. Nothing has changed parameter wise. 220 mixed reef, 1.026, .1 po4, 15 no3, and temp 79.

fish seems nervous or intimidated but has flow changed?
Current seems strong . Is there light bouncing off tank which did not before?
There looks like sudden darting which could be other issue
Fish eating and breathing normal?

 

[MnFish1]

Did you quarantine the fish, any new additions, any other fish with symptoms?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Glass surfing is a sign of stress, or a reaction to its reflection. You can try attaching some flat black material on the outside of the glass to see if the behavior is reduced.

Jay

 

[Idech]

It’s funny, I’ve had my blue eye kole tang for a year also and it started glass surfing about 10 days ago. Mine is more intense though.

I have no idea why. No changes here either. Maybe mating season ?

Insane glass surfing - what to do ?

I’ve had this blue eye kole tang for about a year. I got it at about the same size it is now, maybe a little smaller. No glass surfing that I can remember for the first year. About a week ago it started doing it. Very intensely, at first on and off but now it’s an obsession and it’s going on...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Lavey29]

I have a whitetail bristletooth tang that’s suddenly showing signs of stress. He’s been in my tank for over a year and there haven’t been any new additions. As you can see on the video he is pacing against the glass on one side of the tank for the last few days. Nothing has changed parameter wise. 220 mixed reef, 1.026, .1 po4, 15 no3, and temp 79.

I think as fish mature some become more dominant and aggressive where in the past they all lived in harmony. You have a nice large tank. Maybe move a rock or two around to give a different environment look and whatever fish in the tank that is stressing the tang may focus on something else.

 

[USMA36]

Fish

fish seems nervous or intimidated but has flow changed?
Current seems strong . Is there light bouncing off tank which did not before?
There looks like sudden darting which could be other issue
Fish eating and breathing normal?

Eats normal. Seems to be breathing normal as well. Flow is 4 mp40s on a 220. I have changed it recently to gyre mode for part of the day. Lights have not changed. No new fish have been added. He was on the last batch of new fish over a year ago. I only buy pre quarantined fish from Dr Reefs or Marine Collectors.