Aggressive yellow tang

Is it normal for a yellow tang to be aggressive? I have a long scraper and whenever I put it in the tank my tang tears into it. He will repeatedly tail whip it. At first I would laugh and just watch him go at it, but now I am noticing that if I put my hand in the tank he will charge at my hand or arm. I usually would just get my hand out if I would see him near but tonight he almost got me. He has some pretty hefty barbs, and just what should I expect if he does happen to get me?

 

i would have said that it is just simply too small of a tank because they get very very aggressive very very fast when their in a small tank. but then i read you signature... hmmm im gunna let someone else buzz in

 

when you say barbs i think you mean the white thing on the end of him? ya if he whips you with it wont be pretty... might bleed. i stuck my hand im my dads tank to clean once and his tang got me and ooooo did it sting

 

The "white things" are barbs. ;D


It is common for yellow tangs to be aggressive. However it sounds like yours is an extreme case. My yellow tang can be aggressive towards tank mates chasing chromis around for a few inches, but he is scared of my hand and doesn't chase anything over a couple of inches. Once they run away he lets them go. Pretty much just showing them who is boss.

 

He definatly isn't afraid of my hand. He will hide at first but then i have to watch him closely because he will charge and whip. When he attacks the scraper he hits it pretty hard. So I don't have to worry about any kind of toxins or poisons?

 

Yellow tangs are generally considered the most aggressive Tangs.

 

my yellow tang gets aggressive, he doesn't bother smaller fish in the tank but if I try putting in a fish around his size he will try to smack them with his barb.

he actually use to hang around with my mandrine (before the mandrin died) . Like any of the tang family of fish they have a unique personality.

I don't think they are poisonous but if he does happen to cut you to where you are bleeding make sure you wash the cut good.

 

i thought yellow tangs were toxic I will check into this? thats what I was always told I never looked into it.

 

One day My female clown decided to check out my yellow tangs sleeping spot...The yellow tang charged and put a gash on the clownfishes side...She died that night.

 

well you know if you ever have to catch him... It will be easy...
He will be attackin the net. Maybe even go right into it for you. LOL LOL;D