ABS in QT - Good or Bad?

[percula99]

I have a Powder Blue Tang in a 75 gallon QT. There is some LR as well as two large pieces of ABS fixtures. The PB swims around the tank but as soon as I come near the tank he goes into the ABS and I can't observe him. I want him to have hiding places but I need to see him to see if he is OK. He doesn't come out to eat frozen or flake but he is eating Nori. Should I remove the ABS?

 

[lagatbezan]

How long has he been in there? I say he is still adjusting and gets scared when he sees you. Give it some time and he will learn where his food comes from and will swim to the glass as soon as he sees you (atleast thats what mine did)

 

[percula99]

I have had him for two weeks as of today and he is still hiding when I come near the tank. He was face first in the ABS yesterday with only the tip of his tail visible.

 

[Chris27]

You want the fish to be as comfortable as possible in there....so consider the ABS to be lending itself to that. If you really need to see the fish, perhaps sneaking a peek at it from a distance is a better bet....or you could just simply remove the ABS temp. each day.

 

[MrTuskfish]

....or you could just simply remove the ABS temp. each day.

That's what I often do. An answer so obvious, we miss it.

 

[percula99]

The Powder Blue would simply never came out so I took Chris27's advice and removed the ABS pieces. He immediately went behind the rock work and hid. This went on for a few days and then Friday evening I was sitting right in front of the QT for a while and he finally came out and let me have a good look at him for the first time in almost two weeks. His left eye was very cloudy. Uh-oh! Saturday morning I went to the LFS and bought some Maracyn Pro. This morning (Sunday) he is swimming around the tank and eating Nori. His eye is still cloudy but at least there is sign of improvement.

The ABS is a good thing for a healthy fish. It offers a hiding place when he needs it. But for a sick fish it is a place where he can hide and it prevents the aquarist from observing and diagnosing problems, and subsequently treating them. I hope the best for my Powder Blue as he is otherwise in great condition.