white spot on a yellow tang

[dpdecaro]

hello

I was wondering what the white spot just before the tail fin on a yellow tang was for. Kind of always wondered but today he caught a little piace of food on it so it stuck out. I was just wondering if it was just a marking

THanks

David

 

[CCR]

Just a mark on mine

 

[NC2WA]

That would be the surgeon used in fighting, hence the name surgeonfish. All tangs have them (if you look closely enough)

 

[Meche]

Nasos have two!

 

[ronj]

caudel spike

 

[alison]

That's how the surgeon fish got its name. That is a very sharp spike they will use if frightened or threatened.

 

[Brenden]

That is what they use to stab you.

 

[zenn]

how do they stab things with it? It looks flat...

Can they extend it out or something?

 

[Brenden]

Yes it will stick up like a spear when they use it.

 

[dpdecaro]

hello

I noticed my tang started sticking his out when i first put my copperband in. He bug him for the first night but now he has calmed down. He still Swims around like his the king but he pretty much leaves him alone

Thanks for all the input

David

 

[Brenden]

You will prob have to target feed the copperband to get it eating well.

 

[goby2004]

i noticed that our vilangmini (sp?) tang doesnt have any... whats up with that?? he is 8" so its not like hes to young.

 

[Damsel13]

That is so cool! So that is their weapon? Wow.

 

[Meche]

i noticed that our vilangmini (sp?) tang doesnt have any... whats up with that?? he is 8" so its not like hes to young.

I think Naso vlamingii has two pairs of spikes, although they might be the same color as the body so they don't (visually) stick out like the yellow tang's do.