yellow tang rubbing against sand bed

[Nigel35]

My yellow tang is rubbing itself against the sand bed and occasionally a rock. No spots or other ich/velv symptoms. Any idea? I don't have a quarantine readily available, so shame on me...

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Could be flukes, could be a protozoan infection just starting up. How long have you had the fish? You can sometimes treat for flukes in your DT depending on what inverts you have in it.
Jay

 

[ZoWhat]

This action is known as "Flashing"

Sometimes its nothing, sometimes its an early warning of parasites

 

[Nigel35]

Had the fish for almost 2 months. Only have 4 Mex turbo snails, 2 tiger conches, and a strawberry nassarius snail for CUC. Just to note I have LPS, SPS, softies.

 

[John08007]

Did you recently add anything new?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Any chances of a video? If not..... closer under white light pics.
Scratching/glancing behavior is most often a prelude to a parasitic outbreak. You may not see other visible symptoms for a few days. It would be good to have a cycled quarantine tank ready to go.
In some cases and SOME . . . . A scratch here & there is no real cause for concern. However, when a fish is repeatedly rubbing itself on a rock or sand some irritant likely is causing that generally being a parasite or worm feeding on them that they wish to dislodge. It's the frequency that you have to observe.

 

[Nigel35]

right! only seen him do it like 2-3 times

 

[ZoWhat]

If only fish had arms and hands... they could then give themselves a good scratching

 

[Nigel35]

I will get a video and some close ups under whites