Inspired by returnofsid's question...

In his "Why do we use the term" question it got me thinking of other things we say that simply don't make sence... Like, why do hobbiests say "This clown hosts my anemone" or "I want an anemone for my clown to host"...when since the anemone is the stationary one, THAT is the host. So we SHOULD say, "I'd like an anemone for my clown to use as a host!"

Working in a fish store, I think 98% of people said it backwards, course I never correct them cause if you work in a store like that, you gotta be flexible with what people thing they know...

haha maybe its one of those things that, while yes, it is incorrect, its just easier to say wrong??

plus, it always seems like the clown chooses the anemone, and when using a verb in a statement we often associate it with the actor, not the actee ... haha blah blah blah

I was also thinking.... as I was talking to my husband the other day about tangs, that Why do we call them all Tangs?? There are 4 or 5 different genus's within that family, and, each one has a different temperament, body shape, and lifestyle requirement!

The 'tang' in surgeonfishes relate to the adapted scale in the tail that is razor sharp. The 'tang' is the part of the knife blade that extends back into the handle.

Acanthuridae means 'thorny tail'

Originally Posted by Ashlar

The 'tang' in surgeonfishes relate to the adapted scale in the tail that is razor sharp. The 'tang' is the part of the knife blade that extends back into the handle.

Acanthuridae means 'thorny tail'

aha - yes thats right!!

So, it has nothing to do with their temperment.... so, as a hobbyist the statement of "it is a tang, and will require a tank of XXX, or XXX for tankmates" isnt quite correct, as tang just defines the scalpel on its tail And each "tang" is different as they vary by subspecies!

Well, we're highly advanced pattern-matching monkeys- we like to put things into little boxes. We have these nifty opposable thumbs, we like to use them to make rules (of thumb.)

Seriously though, the general rule for tangs does hold pretty true. Most swim all day (and therefore need large tanks), most are aggressive to other species of tangs with the same or similar body shape..

Exceptions exist, but they're just that- exceptions rather than the rule.

and remember that powder blue tangs are MEAN! lol

....

you're right though. Also, I hope that people will be looking more for captive bred fish, instead of wild caught.

Find fish that will compliment each other.

Inverts that work with what you have, not just because they look cool.

hehehe have we derailed your thread enough yet Tizzo???

you know another term that is confused is Captive Bred, and Captive raised. The captive raised are still captured out of the ocean....