Aggressive yellow tang

How exactly do Tangs use their barbs? When they whip there tails does the barb just stick out? Do all Tangs have the barb?

 

i just thought i'd jack this thread and say my yellow tang has to be the most peaceful fish i have, i have never seen it chase anything, when it comes to cleaning it scoots to the back of the tank sometime swwim past my hand but only while its picking at the rocks, i guess with all fish they all have different personlaties

 

I was told they were toxic also. I just thought I would ask before I started googling.

 

I don't believe that they are venemous. I think there may be some bacterial issues if you get cut/poked with it that may react similar to a venom in that it gets infected or something but it's nothing produced by the fish's body.

That was my understanding anyway. I will not be putting this to the test willingly either way.

 

Lol, thanks screwtape

 

That a bold statement. Mine is very peaceful and I've never met anyone who would say they are very aggressive at all. To say they're the most aggressive tang would be putting them in front of sohals, achilles, etc. I'm not, however, surprised that its getting a little testy in a 75. Mine's in a 90 and I think its too small.

 

Also, as to this question, yes all tangs have the barb. This is why they're sometimes referred to as "Sergeonfish"

 

I never knew they were poisonous. Here's a link:
Yellow tang