jgleach
03/21/2003, 05:05 PM
I just witnessed my 5" Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) "presenting" itself in front of a much smaller 4 stripe Damsel (Dascyllus melanurus). The 4 stripe Damsel was picking at one of two small white spots on the side of the Hippo Tang and the Hippo Tang was not only letting this happen, it was encouraging it. Now, I know I have something to worry about with my Tang...and I'll try a little garlic first to se if it will clear up (no flames please), but I've never seen this activity from a damsel before...much less from the tang which is the boss of the tank. Is this behavior something that is fairly common and I am just unaware of it? Do I have some rare and unusual Florence Nightingale Damsel or some sort of kinky relationship brewing? I'm just amazed......any comments?