Harlequin tusk scratching behavior – 10/13/08
Hello all. I have had my eye on a 3" Tuskfish from Indonesia (I think) for about a week now. He is eating krill, mysis, and new life spectrum pellets. The only thing keeping me from purchasing him is that I have seen him scratch on the rocks a few times.
<Mmm, "some scratching is natural, to be expected">
His color and appetite are great and I see no spots or abnormalities on his fins or body and he is not doing it excessively. Is this normal for Tuskfish?
Thanks, Shea
<Yes... though I am adding that I would still at least dip/bath this specimen enroute to the main display if not fully quarantine. Bob Fenner>

Strange Harlequin Tusk Behavior?  8/24/08
Hi WWM CREW!
<Charles>
Have a question for you. I recently got an Aus. Harlequin Tusk which has great color and those beautiful blue teeth! It's rather large at about 7" and is very active in the tank and not docile or shy as I was under the impression it might be. It seems healthy and fat and was eating at the LFS. All of the above I couldn't be happier with.
What worries me is that it constantly swims back and forth across the length of the tank at the surface of the water (with its dorsal fin often slightly sticking out and also periodically sticks its mouth out every other lap.
<Mmm, not unusual behavior... this pacing, territorial displaying>
I just got the tusk in today and it has been pretty active since I initially introduced it after acclimation (drip acclimation for 2 hours). It never really hid (well for a short time when I finally turned on the lights) and has been out and about swimming not being shy even when I stick my face up to the tank. It doesn't seem to be breathing rapidly and doesn't seemed stressed (unless its odd behavior is a sign of stress?). He stays towards the top of the tank even after lights out...doesn't hide in rocks even though he can.
Ok first thought was maybe it needs more air and not enough O2 in tank.... but my other fish: the tangs (4 tangs ranging from 4 1/2" to almost 6") , 3" panther grouper, flame hawk, zebra eel and marine beta, and 4 blue/green chromis seem fine...all active and none of them coming to the surface. I added a few smaller powerheads to agitate the surface more in case this was the problem (my tank is a 280, tons of Live Rock, used to be a reef tank now FOWLR, dimensions are 3' high and about 5' long and 3' wide and I am running skimmerless).
<I would turn on the skimmer>
Any clues as to what might be the problem. Temp at 83 F and SG at 1.025 no signs of ammonia or nitrite. All other fish eating and seeming normal.
Thanks!
Charles
<No problem... is simply a mature animal of its species doing what it would do in the wild. Should "settle in", do a bit less pacing in a few days to weeks. Bob Fenner>

Harlequin Tusk Question, sel., beh.  06/06/2008
Hi, I have a 600 gallon all fish set up that has been running for almost 2 years now. Everything is healthy but I am frustrated! I had purchased A tusk
that I thought was going to look like the picture as advertised. Upon arriving over a year ago was this 2 1/2 inch big eyed fish with deep burgundy
stripes. After doing research after the fact, I indeed purchased a juvenile NON-Aussie tusk. It is now 4" long, how long will it take to become the bright orange beautiful tusk that I long for.
Thanks for your response. Kevin
<Mmm, perhaps never... What do you feed? This is the best avenue for improving color, health here... Euphausiids, a good staple (the best, Spectrum pellets)... supplemented with a few drops of HUFA/Vitamin mix occasionally (a few times a week)... Otherwise, baiting/hook-and-lining this specimen out, replacing it with another... Bob Fenner>

- Tuskfish Tusks 7/7/06 -
Hello my name is Adrian and I have been reading up on your articles  for some time now and they are very educating, thank you for your service to  this wonderful hobby . I have had a Aussie Harlequin tusk for just about a year  now and it is rather large 7 inches head to fin. I was wondering about his tusk?? <???> when will they decide to grow out? <Soon enough - these fish aren't quick growers and the tusks are even slower to show up in developing fish.> is there anything i can do to help him grow them? <Not really.> I also have a question on feeding. I usually feed him krill or large bait shrimp bought at the local fishing store.. i figure it to be a little cheaper and funner for him to eat. he also eats a lot of green algae when the tangs eat. so far he is healthy and has beautiful coloration but wanted to know what else he might like to eat or might help him grow his teeth? <Not really - this diet sounds quite adequate.> well thank you  for your time and continue the great work on your site. Thanks again
Adrian
<Cheers, J -- >

Harlequin Tusk    4/8/06
Hey guys, I bought a Harlequin Tusk about 5 inches long from a LFS 5 days ago.  He is not eating yet and acting strange.  He goes to the top left corner
of the tank in a vertical upright position and stays there for a while.
<Not atypical behavior for this species, genus>
I don't see signs of ich and no one is picking on him.  My tank is 140 gallons with plenty of live rock.  I have 4 tangs, solar fairy wrasse, and 4 green
Chromis.  My question is should I remove the Harlequin and put into a separate 10 gallon hospital tank and try to acclimate him alone, or leave
him be and give more time?  Thanks for your help.
Walid
<I would have quarantined this animal from the get-go (in subdued lighting, with something to hide within) but now that its been placed, would not chase about and move for the reason/observed behavior stated here. Bob Fenner>

Change in behavior of harlequin tusk   1/14/06
About 6 month ago I did the mistake of introducing about 15lb of live rock to my established aquarium. I thought I did the correct procedure, I bought a rock from a LFS that told me it was cured (in fact all the rocks where in various tanks with filtration). Even with that I put my new rock in a separate tank for 24 hrs to verify it and to my surprise ammonia was detected in my tests.
<Not atypical to have some die-off, ammonia with moving all LR>
I proceeded and waited 2 weeks for the possible small cycle to complete and after that no ammonia or nitrites where detected. I introduced all the rocks at the same time and the next day boom!. I lost xenias, a finger leather a carpet anemone and mushrooms. I had not a single fish death but after that period of recycling the harlequin started to behave different. Before the situation that fish did not miss a single piece of food, even if the pellets or squid or krill went down to an underside of the live rock he will insistently look for it until he got it and swallow it. Now he feeds voraciously but I noted that it doesn't locate the food as before. If food falls to the bottom most of the time I will have to retrieve it and put it high in the water column for him to take it. Can this be a result of the fish turning blind with the ammonia and nitrite spikes? The rest of the fishes returned to the normal behavior but this one. Even a crocea, the Goniopora and yellow polyps and some mushrooms survived the storm.
<Mmm, the Wrasse's behavior/change may or may not be related to the LR... but blindness in this species is not that uncommon in captivity. Likely a combination of avitaminoses and too-bright lighting/lack of shade. I would be bolstering this animal's nutrition (via soaking in supplement) and checking/adding more caves/overhangs for its use. Bob Fenner>

Re: Change in behavior of harlequin tusk   1/14/06
Thanks, I will try to re-position the LR to do what you suggest. Also I use Zoe and Zoecon but not so frequently because I'm afraid of water quality degradation.
<Mmm, soaking the food/s is a fine, safe approach>
Using this will help to prevent more degradation of the already affected vision but not cure it, right?
<Can reverse effects, cure. Bob Fenner>

Re: Tuskfish
<<Greetings, JasonC here...>>
I recently purchased a harlequin tusk and was just wondering is it possible for their teeth to break on mussel shells and if so will the teeth grow back. <<Yes, they can and do break their teeth, and yes... providing no damage to the underlying jaw structure, the teeth do grow back.>> This is a very predominant feature with this fish and would be a great disappointment if the teeth did not grow. <<It would be, but surely it is not the only feature of these magnificent fish. Mine has only three tusks after smashing its face in during quarantine. It's still a handsome fish. Cheers, J -- >>

The Happy Harlequin? (Keeping A Harlequin Tuskfish Healthy)
Hi Scott, how are you doing, hope you're doing great.
<I sure am, thanks! Hope all is well for you, too!>
Here's the thing, yesterday I bought a Harlequin
Tuskfish, and it's a beautiful fish. About 5", and I
started noticing something weird in my fish. It didn't
fight me when I was going to catch it to put it in my
tank.
<I hope you meant "quarantine tank", right? Remember, always quarantine new fishes for at least 3 weeks before releasing them into your display tank. It's a practice that will pay real dividends down the line, in terms of averted disasters from disease and other potential problems....Just a friendly reminder!>
So I put it in, and it started great, swimming around, It didn't hide, just swimming but some times bumping in to the acrylic of the tank or other ornaments. When I feed him, he started like smelling the food, and taking bites at the food but not accurate shots, that is when I realize that something wasn't right with it's eyes, so I started reading some of the articles on the wetwebmedia, and notice that these fish go blind very easy.
<They do seem unusually susceptible to various eye maladies; either as a primary infection, or as a secondary result from another illness...Good observation>
It's eyes look normal, and He moves the eyes like
physically nothing is wrong, but what do you recommend?
Should I take it back, or you think there's gonna be any future problems, or as long it is eating everything is going to be ok????.
<Well, I'd have to sort of generalize here, without having actually seen the fish "in action". In my opinion, if there are no outward signs of trauma or infection, and if the fish is eating well (as you may see me state quite often on WWM, "A fish that eats is a fish that lives..." I really believe that.), and seems in otherwise good health, would not be overly concerned. I'd try to focus on two things to make this fish happy and healthy for the log run: First, I'd provided the best quality and variety of foods available, and I'd enrich them with additives like Selcon or Vita Chem for maximum nutritional value (poor nutrition has been implicated in some instances of fish blindness). Second, I'd keep the water quality in the tank as high as possible, through regular water changes, heavy protein skimming, and liberal use and replacement of chemical filtration media, such as activated carbon or Poly Filter.>  
please reply these message to know what to do, because
I all ready got in love with these fish, and its tiny
thank mates seem to love him. I don't want to see
the fish suffer in the future, and it's not a cheap
investment, so if there's some kind of treatment
please advice me. Or, if its temporary blindness, or
maybe it's not totally blind but it's about to go?
<Well, again- there is no guarantee that the fish is not becoming blind. However, if you intervene with some of the steps outlined above, you're doing as good as can be done for this, or any fish in your care. I know that with your genuine compassion and care for this fish, he/she will be just fine in the long run. Hang in there!
Thank you for your advice.
<My pleasure! Thank you for stopping by- and Good luck! Regards, Scott F>

- Tuskfish Distress -
<Hello, JasonC here...>
Hi crew of WWM, I sincerely thank you for your past assistance, you guys are priceless to me.  Well now I am confronting a new ordeal.  I've just recently bought a 5 inch unknown origin harlequin tusk 5 days ago and he's been laying down (as if he's dead) and breathing heavily all the time.  When I bought it, I noticed that it was already breathing heavily (but swimming around), but I configured that it was normal since he had just been shipped. <Hmm... really should have left it at the store a little while, just after shipping. These fish are caught in the wild with a barbless hook, so they tend to be pretty annoyed when first shipped. Even after getting the fish from the store, you should be quarantine this fish for at least two weeks before placement in the main system. These fish need time to adjust to captivity and in the main display can be too stressful.> But when I brought it home into my 180 gallon tank, he swam for a while, ate a bit, got chased by my powder blue tang for a while, and laid himself down in a corner ever since.  He is still breathing heavily as before and since he hasn't been moving around, he couldn't of ate.  I know that harlequin tusks tends to rebel at first and hide themselves for weeks when they are first introduced, but my concern is that my harlequin is laying down as if dead all the time and breathes rapidly. <I'd be concerned too, but again... you may have selected compromised live stock... hard to tell for certain at this time. Would do all I could to help ease the stress for the fish - leave lights off, etc.> My water parameters seems to be fine.  I currently have two medium size tangs, two angels, a Cuban hogfish, a puffer, a copperband, and two damsel in my 180 gal. Could you please explain what his problem here?  It appears that this problems will most likely spell doom for my tusk, but could there be any hope that it will survive? <There is always hope...> I know that like fine wine, patience in this hobby is the key, but assurance is a better stress reliever and that is why I am seeking your help. <Work on the patience thing.>
Thank you and sorry for the lengthiness.  
-PHT-
<Cheers, J -- >

- Harlequin Tusk Behavior -
<Good morning, JasonC here...>
I have had the fish about two weeks, so I'm not used to the behavior that he may normally show.  The fish sometimes swims with the flickering of his fins and he will turn his head left to right in a jerking motion almost. <That's not abnormal...> I looked all over the fish and I see nothing, he is eating fine also. <Ok.> He will scratch around the tank from time to time, but I heard this is normal with tusks. <It is normal for many wrasses, but shouldn't be constant... or even regular for that matter.> I have medicated the tank with copper safe about a week ago just in case something was wrong with the fish. <I would hold off on the copper unless you are certain there is a parasitic problem.> None of the other fish seem to have the same problem.  
Can u please help me out? <Just be patient. Very often these fish are rather wild [as in crazy] when first brought in and take a while to adjust to captive life - this includes trying to challenge its reflection in the glass, and other behaviors which may be a bit disconcerting. If it is eating, then the odds are in your favor. Give it some time - at least a month to settle in.>
Thanks
Jason
<Cheers, J -- >

- Tuskfish Questions -
Hello there, I'm writing to you about one quick question. I own a Harlequin Tuskfish, and he's getting along pretty well but lately he's been on top of the tank.  He keeps bopping in and out of the aquarium and spits some water out of his
mouth, now is this usual or does he have a problem. <I've seen Tuskfish do this before, but it's not generally a good sign.> Also time and time sometime he gets ick on the top of his body, I know that is stress but is it all part of the stress that he looks like he wants to jump out of the tank. <If you know this is due to stress, why not try and reduce the stress?>
And I don't know if I should take him out for a while, or what do you think the problem is. <Again, I'd look to the tank for clues - do you have good aeration? A protein skimmer perhaps? Do tell more about your tank.> Might it be the temp. what should it be set on. <Between 75 and 78 degrees F.>
I would appreciate a little info or is there a book I can purchase with info that can explain on how to maintain fish or to notice some symptoms so I know how to treat the aquarium. <I would recommend two things - first, the book Conscientious Marine Aquarist is a good reference book. Likewise, there is a web site, http://www.wetwebmedia.com where there are many articles and questions/answers archived there for you to read. Much information in both places for your perusal.>
Thank you a dear reader; Noel Balbuena.
<Cheers, J -- >

- Tuskfish with Lockjaw? -
We have had our Tuskfish for several months in 125gal tank along with a pink tail trigger and a Cuban hogfish.  The Tuskfish is about 8'' long.  About a week ago he stopped eating and started hiding, the fish comes out at feeding time and looks like he can't open his mouth.
Having had a puffer that finally died from a locked jaw I am wondering if Tuskfish are prone to this as well, or is something else going on? <Doubt this is the problem. Puffer "lockjaw" as you call it, is really due to the fact that their teeth grow constantly, and need a source of roughage that will keep their teeth worn down. In absence of shelled mollusks and crustaceans, the puffer's teeth grow together until they are no longer able to open their mouths. Tuskfish do not have the same type of dentition so will not have this problem, but are prone to hunger strikes... often based on mood, social pressure [over-crowding or harassment], water quality, or all of the above. Just stick with the fish, they can go at the very least a couple of weeks without food. I would also check that this fish is actually able to see... there is a known condition with these fish losing their eyesight from copper overdoses, so do make sure this fish still responds to visual stimuli.> We have checked the water and it is as it should be. <Do keep in mind that there can be other issues with water quality that will not show up on any hobbyist test kit.>
I am fond of this fish and hate the thought of losing him.  I even offered up live ghost shrimp, the other fish loved it but the harlequin ate nothing.
Please help and thank you for whatever you can suggest. <Stick with it.>
Myke
<Cheers, J -- >

-Acrobatic Hogfish-
Hi, I know some fish like the chalk bass will swim upside down.
My Yellow Candy Hogfish at times sometimes seems like he is performing for me (like the Sea World Dolphins) <Have you tried riding it like they do dolphins? Muhahhaa... >and either rolls totally over like a dog or flips up his belly and then rolls back upright. I know wrasses "stand." Is this just a fish swimming enjoying his home? He is eating fine. <No worries here, he's just being a hogfish. What a life! -Kevin> Michelle 

- Lazy Harlequin Tusk -
Hey there guys,
I had a question about my Harlequin Tuskfish. <Ok.> I have had him for probably a good six months and he's been doing great!  But, lately he is just really lazy.  At first he would just sit in places and hardly move.  Now, he hides in the rocks all day and hasn't come out for the past day or two.  It just seems strange to me that his activity would suddenly change.  This all happened after I had introduced a copperband into the tank.  My Achilles tang (fairly new fish as well) didn't like it too much, so it kinda stressed it out so much, that the copperband got parasites.  Well, the copperband died, my blue tang was infected (pulled out of it though), and some other fish were scratching for a little while.  The harlequin has not shown any signs at all.  No spots or scratching.  He breathes fine, no red gills.  Could it be that perhaps the Achilles Tang has disturbed the social hierarchy in the 150? <Probably not - tusk fish actually spend a good deal of their time chilling out, waiting for a good reason to come out - usually food. During their first several months in the tank, they tend to pace back and forth more but once they feel comfortable, and find a place they can hide, they will do the latter most often.> pH is stable, ammonia and nitrite down, nitrates slightly high, but no other fish is reacting strangely.  Now he isn't eating. <Also not entirely abnormal, but something you should keep an eye on.> Should I be too worried, or just try to sit his little "fit" out? <I'd sit it out for a little while.> Thanks for any help guys.  You are real lifesavers!!!
Al
<Cheers, J -- >

- Harlequin Tusk Questions -
Hello - I just got a new Tuskfish this week (shipped in the mail from California) and am absolutely paranoid about its well-being! 
<Understood.> 
I wanted to ask what type of behavior I should be worried about, even at this early stage of acclimation. He is eating well, and swimming around. 
<Sounds good so far.> 
Do they sleep during the day? 
<They chill out... will repose for a while in a quiet spot, but I don't think they take naps during the day.> 
I have also noticed some surface skimming and what looks to be rock scratching. Is there a behavior that isn't scratching, but just a kind of "rock-skimming"? 
<With these fish, yes... sometimes, but do make certain it doesn't escalate to something else.> 
It looks like he's not even touching the rock when he does this. I do have lots of hiding places, and he's been utilizing a certain cave. My salinity is also in the 1.025 area. Is this ok? 
<Sounds good so far. Cheers, J -- > 

- Harlequin Tusk
Hey Bob, how are you? 
<Well... I'm not Bob, but I'm doing well, thanks for asking.> 
I just had sort of a stupid question about the Harlequin Tuskfish. 
<Not a stupid question at all. The only stupid questions are the ones that remain un-asked.> 
I am looking for a more outgoing wrasse with color and was wondering how this fish is in regards to having a good amount of personality after acclimated? 
<Ok.> 
I have read on WWM and in your book that your favorite wrasse is Coris gaimard because of high intelligence, swimming pattern, and tons of personality etc. Can the Harlequin be compared to this particular wrasse as far as personality? 
<Probably not... the harlequin tusk does have a personality, but it's a little more retiring and wary, not an entirely outgoing fish.> 
My tank is far to small to keep the Gaimard. 
<Then it's too small for a Tuskfish.> 
If not, which other wrasse or similar have like personalities that I could fit into a 75g FOWLR with sand bottom? 
<How about one of the Pseudocheilinus wrasses? They are very interesting fish.> 
Just to give an example of the type of fish I currently have in my tank with interesting behavior and great personality are: Humu Humu trigger and dogface puffer. I want to match these fish with a third with like personality or at least similar. 
<Well... you're going to run out of room for even these personalities so you may want to consider a larger tank so that you could have a Coris... would be a good mix with these fish.>
Thanks Bob
<Cheers, J -- > 

- Harlequin Tusk, Follow-up -
Ok thanks for replying. <My pleasure.> All other fish in saltwater don't do it for me and prefer interesting personality rather than color and average personality.  I've tried everything else in the last three years and realize triggers, wrasse, and puffers are my favorite and suit me the best.  Considering I'm only going to have a total of three fish in my 75gal, do you think I could get by with a Humu Humu trigger and Coris Gaimard, and get rid of the puffer? <Really... over the long haul, this tank is too small for any one of the above let alone two or three.> Then there will only be a total of two fish in the tank.  Lastly, I know some of the Coris wrasses need a substrate they can dig in, would a gravel bed instead of a sand bed be sufficient?
<It's my observation that this behavior is exhibited mostly by juveniles, but if you want to promote it, you will most certainly need a proper sand bed.>
Thanks again
<Cheers, J -- >

Re: Tusk acting aggressive
Hi Bob, <Actually, it's JasonC... again.>
Tusk has been doing very normal since last week in the tank and has been swimming around and eating great. Health looks great and I am keeping my water conditions excellent. He usually eats 2 times a day (Formula 1 - 2 cubes at one time). Total cubes he takes a day is 4 and sometimes misses 1 cube as they fall behind the rocks and are consumed by other inverts like stars and serpents.
I have seen him aggressive against green serpent star but you mentioned that he will hardly go after sea stars. Can you please confirm. <I'm sure this is possible, but not a sign that the tusk will eat it. Just trying to show it who's boss, like the seastar cares or something...>
Added a Sohal tang (3") today. They both did not like each other in the first 10 minutes as tang wanted to take his home away. I see both fishes trying to take the space that was originally chosen by the tusk. Sohal Tang is not really going after him but does not like him close either. Since then the tusk has been swimming aggressively and is all over the tank. His swimming patterns are aggressive and is swimming at all levels. Occasionally swims very fast which I have never seen him doing this before the tang was introduced. I have shut down the lights to ease the tension. Is there something that needs to be addressed. <Perhaps you don't have enough hiding places? These things usually take a couple of weeks to a month to work themselves out. How large is this system? You could be on the small side with the addition of another power-swimmer.> Salinity and all other water conditions are fine. Tusk's aggressive swimming pattern has made other small fish like damsels hide behind the rocks. He slows down for a while and then goes again. In most of these cases Sohal tang is not even close but is in eye sight. Any advice will be helpful. What should I do next ? <Be patient... you haven't had either fish really that long, and you need to give these time to work themselves out. You could also rearrange the furniture in the tank, to break up existing territories.>
Many thanks in advance.
<Cheers, J -- >

- Blind Harlequin Tusk -
JasonC,
<Hi.>
Thanks for the quick reply. <My pleasure.> To answer your question about reacting to my presence, no he doesn't. <Oh, that is a bummer.> In fact, it was easier to net him out of the tank than it has been on the rare occasions that I have to retrieve an expired fish. <Yeah... that is a pretty definitive sign. These fish are typically very hard to catch.> To address the point you made about treating the display tank, I definitely agree with you, in principle. In practical terms, there is no way I can set up and maintain a quarantine tank big enough to treat the fish that were infected with ich. <I hear what you are saying, but quarantine is really your only good option.> Seven of the nine fish has ich to some degree.  This was our first experience with ich and it went "unrecognized" until my Purple Tang had shared it with his fellow tank mates. <Is the nature of parasitic infections, and why quarantine before addition is so important.> (Temperature fluctuations were the likely cause and I have since replaced all of my thermometers with Ebo-Jager).  The hospital tank was purchased and set up with future problems in mind.  The whole reason I used chelated copper is because it is less toxic than copper sulfate and it does not get absorbed by the materials in the tank.  This was a point Bob F. raised in his book. <I would suggest that you re-read that section. I have a copy here and checked... the book says nothing about absorption of chelated copper by the substrate. And in fact... Bob is sitting right here and I asked him to make sure... chelated copper is for certain absorbed by your rock and substrate.> I appreciate your input and any other advise you can provide would be much appreciated.
<As far as the tusk goes... a blind fish is at a serious disadvantage. You have only a couple of options... your best bet now, if you don't want to euthanize the fish you will have to give it very close, personal attention. Personally, I would try and stick with the fish... I'm a real huge fan of Tuskfish and I just wouldn't want to give up so quickly. Do try using a feeding stick to offer its favorite foods - put them right in front of its face to make sure it can smell them. With any luck it will start eating again in time, but I'm sure right now it's adjusting to having just lost its eyesight. Can't be fun... sorry to hear of this. There are other sensory systems - lateral line, etc. - that will help this fish, and at some point in the future you might be able to reintroduce it to the main tank, but for now it's going to need a lot of help from you.>
Bob Jones
<Cheers, J -- >