Do I have a problem with my Harlequin Tusk ?

sherman · #1 09/18/2006, 03:16 PM

I have a 150 gal FOWLR, one medium size dog face, a picasso, a yellow and sailfin tang, and three butterflies.

Two week ago I added a 4 inch Harlequin Tusk. Seems very shy but does swim around alot. Once or twice I have observed him (her?) eating but not alot.

Today I observed him swimming close to the top of the tank, almost on it's side. Do I have a problem???

Anything I can do? Any advice appreciated?

Thanks, Mark

Andrew · #2 09/18/2006, 05:40 PM

What's you water levels? Have you nodiced any of the other fish stressing him or chasing him around?

jmicky41 · #3 09/18/2006, 10:23 PM

When a fish is hovering on the surface, usually it is getting intimidated or picked on by other fish. HT's despite their menacing teeth are pretty whimpy.

tylorarm · #4 09/18/2006, 10:43 PM

Mine swims sideways and almost upside down from time to time. Like he's bored or something. I've heard that from other tusk owners also. I worried at first but he seems pretty healthy. He doesn't swim to close to the top though, not a water column fish but stays low to rocks usually. Not sure if that helps but that's my experience.

SumpDiver · #5 09/22/2006, 07:11 AM

My tusk does this, swims sideways, upside down. Never stops from the time the lights come on till they go off. He's ther most active fish I've ever had. Sometimes he sticks his head out of the water like he is looking for an escape route. Stange fish.