Achilles Tang Primer

[Tracey2]

I will be picking up my achillies tang within the next 3 weeks. She is coming from a beautiful reef tank and I am told she is eating well.

I need advice as to where to keep her until my new 270g is set up. I have a 150g reef but it has a yellow and powder brown tang already. I have a 40g breeder where I could QT her, what would be best for this gorgeous fish?

 

[ptan]

I've read the whole thread about Achilles... and found myself split if my tank will be worthy of this beautiful fish... my friend is telling me that i should try one... and im just scared if it will thrive in my new setup... the setup will be running by March and if budget permits ill get one of this beauty by June 2010. My question is should i put the fish as the first inhabitants or should i wait after all the fish are move from my old 75 to my new setup? if the answer is achilles first before others, should i qt it or go straight to my DT... My qt tank is setup for 2 months already, fully cycled, with skimmer and with great flow. But the only problem is, its only a 50 gallon tank....

Btw my tank setup is here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1799736

pls help me decide which path should i take... thanks...

 

[reefslugs]

I've read the whole thread about Achilles... and found myself split if my tank will be worthy of this beautiful fish... my friend is telling me that i should try one... and im just scared if it will thrive in my new setup... the setup will be running by March and if budget permits ill get one of this beauty by June 2010. My question is should i put the fish as the first inhabitants or should i wait after all the fish are move from my old 75 to my new setup? if the answer is achilles first before others, should i qt it or go straight to my DT... My qt tank is setup for 2 months already, fully cycled, with skimmer and with great flow. But the only problem is, its only a 50 gallon tank....

Btw my tank setup is here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1799736

pls help me decide which path should i take... thanks...

I just took a look at your new tank set up and it is going to be very nice. If you've read the hole thread of achillies primer, you will see that I am very against a qt. Go back and look at my opinions. Achillies are my favorite fish. It has taking me several times to learn what exactly what it takes to keep one living and healthy. That includes, what to look for when buying one, their behavior, their food, and the tank.

As far as your new tank and what I think you should is. I would buy a good known eating achillies. I think it would be a great idea to put him in your new tank first. Because your tank is large and will have a ton of water flow. As long as your tank has cycled and the water chemistry is good. This will let him feel like a king with no one else to fight with or get stressed over with. Plus he'll start eating right off the bat and get used to you your self. After two weeks I would start putting in the other fish.

Don't be scared of the fish. Do your research and do the right thing. You and the fish will be happy.

 

[tcmfish]

I will preface this by saying I haven't read the whole thread, but decided to post here on a debate that went on, on another achilles tang thread about quarantining. Why are so many people against it here? Why put your achilles and other fish at risk?

Straight to the display tank is for short term health.

Quarantining is for long term health.

Many people maintain QT tanks that aren't sterile 10 gallon tanks. You can maintain a QT like a display tank with some liverock, and HOB filter or sponge filter. It is just a place to treat for disease.

 

[ptan]

I just took a look at your new tank set up and it is going to be very nice. If you've read the hole thread of achillies primer, you will see that I am very against a qt. Go back and look at my opinions. Achillies are my favorite fish. It has taking me several times to learn what exactly what it takes to keep one living and healthy. That includes, what to look for when buying one, their behavior, their food, and the tank.

As far as your new tank and what I think you should is. I would buy a good known eating achillies. I think it would be a great idea to put him in your new tank first. Because your tank is large and will have a ton of water flow. As long as your tank has cycled and the water chemistry is good. This will let him feel like a king with no one else to fight with or get stressed over with. Plus he'll start eating right off the bat and get used to you your self. After two weeks I would start putting in the other fish.

Don't be scared of the fish. Do your research and do the right thing. You and the fish will be happy.

Thanks for that quick response bro... will definitely find a healthy one... that fish is so beautiful... one more additional question sir... if i put the achilles as the first fish in my tank.... will the fish becomes so aggro that he will definitely kill every other fishes that i plan to put in....

 

[neoyhng]

Here is mine. Six months and looking good

 

[reefslugs]

Thanks for that quick response bro... will definitely find a healthy one... that fish is so beautiful... one more additional question sir... if i put the achilles as the first fish in my tank.... will the fish becomes so aggro that he will definitely kill every other fishes that i plan to put in....

He will not bother any other fish, but may harass other tangs for the first 24 hours. Then they will become Friends. Achillies are not that aggressive as say a Sohal tang. Look at the picture above. Four tangs in a small area of his tank. I wonder how many he has total.

 

[reefslugs]

I will preface this by saying I haven't read the whole thread, but decided to post here on a debate that went on, on another achilles tang thread about quarantining. Why are so many people against it here? Why put your achilles and other fish at risk?

Straight to the display tank is for short term health.

Quarantining is for long term health.

Many people maintain QT tanks that aren't sterile 10 gallon tanks. You can maintain a QT like a display tank with some liverock, and HOB filter or sponge filter. It is just a place to treat for disease.

OK, here's something to think about. You find a Achillies at LFS. Do you take him home and put him in a QT? Remember, Achillies like large tanks with ton's of flow. They love to swim and swim fast. He can not do that in a small tank. You will see that when in a display tank he will swim right up to a power head, stop swimming and let the pump blow him across the tank. So you bring him home. Put him in a 10g QT with a power head, with one rock to hide behind. Do you think he'll be happy or be stressed and ich out. Don't get me wrong, QT are a very good thing to do, but not with an Achillies.

 

[Fish Dog]

Update on my AT. Doing GREAT!!!

I respect everyone's views on QT, but I agree with reefslugs!

My AT went straight to the DT.. he had his bout with ich for two weeks and is now ICH FREE!!!!

BTW- AT was the only one affected by ich; none of my other fish got ich during this time.

I will also say that my AT is pretty aggressive and is King of the Tank!

Good Luck ptan, hope it works out.

Tracey2.. With your situation, it depends on how big the YT and PBT is compared to the AT. If the AT dwarfs them, he may can defend himself and if not, the AT probably won't do to well with those other establised Tangs. It's all about the temperament of the existing fish. Your call!

 

[ptan]

He will not bother any other fish, but may harass other tangs for the first 24 hours. Then they will become Friends. Achillies are not that aggressive as say a Sohal tang. Look at the picture above. Four tangs in a small area of his tank. I wonder how many he has total.

thanks with that advice reefslugs... ill definitely getting one achilles after my new tank cycle... he will be the third inhabitants of my new tank... 1st will be copperband butterfly, second regal angel, then achilles tang... is it okay doing it?

 

[Creetin]

thanks with that advice reefslugs... ill definitely getting one achilles after my new tank cycle... he will be the third inhabitants of my new tank... 1st will be copperband butterfly, second regal angel, then achilles tang... is it okay doing it?

Those are all hard to keep animals. I would let the tank age well before adding any of those.

 

[tcmfish]

OK, here's something to think about. You find a Achillies at LFS. Do you take him home and put him in a QT? Remember, Achillies like large tanks with ton's of flow. They love to swim and swim fast. He can not do that in a small tank. You will see that when in a display tank he will swim right up to a power head, stop swimming and let the pump blow him across the tank. So you bring him home. Put him in a 10g QT with a power head, with one rock to hide behind. Do you think he'll be happy or be stressed and ich out. Don't get me wrong, QT are a very good thing to do, but not with an Achillies.

I think that was a little bit of an over reaction to my comment, but okay. I said not to use a 10 gallon, but what do you use in your example... a 10 gallon.

What tank do you think the LFS is keeping it in or some online supplier or the wholesalers that supply them? Not a big tank with lots of flow.

Also what is the point of QT if you aren't going to QT the achilles, then you just re-exposed all your other fish to disease after QT.

I agree your example of QT will kill the fish.

 

[Creetin]

I think that was a little bit of an over reaction to my comment, but okay. I said not to use a 10 gallon, but what do you use in your example... a 10 gallon.

What tank do you think the LFS is keeping it in or some online supplier or the wholesalers that supply them? Not a big tank with lots of flow.

Also what is the point of QT if you aren't going to QT the achilles, then you just re-exposed all your other fish to disease after QT.

I agree your example of QT will kill the fish.

The more successfull/reputable retailors will use 100-200 gallon holding tanks.
LA and BZA to name a couple.

 

[tcmfish]

The more successfull/reputable retailors will use 100-200 gallon holding tanks.
LA and BZA to name a couple.

I doubt this is per fish. Also lots of LFS I have been to also have some tanks that big. I never said it had to be a small tank though. If you have a 100-200 gallon QT for big fish that is great. I am just saying you don't have to run a QT tank like a sterile hospital tank. This benefits the animals living in it also. If the fish is only a few inches a 40ish gallon tank should be just fine. I know people can find 55 gallons cheap used usually also, makes a great QT tank.

 

[ryshark]

I doubt this is per fish. Also lots of LFS I have been to also have some tanks that big. I never said it had to be a small tank though. If you have a 100-200 gallon QT for big fish that is great. I am just saying you don't have to run a QT tank like a sterile hospital tank. This benefits the animals living in it also. If the fish is only a few inches a 40ish gallon tank should be just fine. I know people can find 55 gallons cheap used usually also, makes a great QT tank.

According to another thread on RC going on right now.... the Achilles purchased from DD was in its own 200-gallon QT all by itself at the DD facility. However, it was a full grown Achilles at 8.5"
I am getting an adult Achilles this week and I am going to put it directly into the display tank. In my opinion it will be much better off in there.

 

[reefslugs]

According to another thread on RC going on right now.... the Achilles purchased from DD was in its own 200-gallon QT all by itself at the DD facility. However, it was a full grown Achilles at 8.5"
I am getting an adult Achilles this week and I am going to put it directly into the display tank. In my opinion it will be much better off in there.

Hey can you take some pictures from when you get him and some shots of acclimating him and some shots after you let him go in the tank? Then keep us posted on how he's doing. I think that would be a cool thing to see.

 

[Lightsluvr]

Should I?

Should I?

I have a 350g display, in a 500G system. The DT is 96" x 36" x 25.5".

Currently I have the following fish in there:

1 (6") Magnificent Foxface Rabbitfish - 2008
1 (10") Vlamingii Naso Tang - 2009
1 (5") Blue Hippo Tang - 2007
1 ((4") Yellow Tang - 2008
1 (5") DesJardins Sailfin Tang - 2009
1 (5") Blonde Naso tang - 2009
1 (5") Diamond Watchman Goby - 2007
1 (3.5") Copperband Butterfly - 2009
1 (2.5") Coral Beauty - 2009
1 (4") Melanaurus Wrasse - 2009
1 (2") Sixline Wrasse- 2008
1 Cleaner Wrasse - 2009
1 Bangaii Cardinalfish - 2007
1 Green Chromis - 2008
2 Black/White Ocellaris clowns - 2008
2 Orange/White Ocellaris clowns - 2007
3 Dispar Anthias - 2008-2009
3 Red firefish - 2008
2 Green Mandarin (M/F) - 2007-2008

Except for the "cranky" sailfin, all of the fish get along very well. The sailfin will occasionally chase the CBB and Foxface if they get too close to her cave... All chase, no fight.

I feed meaty foods 2x day, and keep nori available whenever tank lights are on. At feeding time, they all get in line and feed peacefully.

What's the conventional wisdom? Should I chance upsetting the balance with a 5-6" Achilles? This would be the last fish I would consider adding to the system...

 

[jmccown]

I am considering a 5" achilles direct from a diver in hawaii. I have an 11 foot tank with 45x turnover rate. My reservations are about two of the tank inhabitants. I have two other tangs that I fear might give the achilles a hard way to go - an 8" Sohal and a 12" blochii tang. I've not put any new tangs in a long time so I don't know how they would react. I've had these guys for over 3 years. Anyone on this primer have a sohal with an achilles?

 

[Creetin]

I have a sohal around the same size 8+ inches. He is not the typical sohal though.
Since the achilles is so different than the sohal it has that in its favor.
We need to know more about your sohals disposition. Hows his temperment?
I feel the blochii would feel more threatened by the achilles. JMO

 

[Creetin]

I have a 350g display, in a 500G system. The DT is 96" x 36" x 25.5".

Currently I have the following fish in there:

1 (6") Magnificent Foxface Rabbitfish - 2008
1 (10") Vlamingii Naso Tang - 2009
1 (5") Blue Hippo Tang - 2007
1 ((4") Yellow Tang - 2008
1 (5") DesJardins Sailfin Tang - 2009
1 (5") Blonde Naso tang - 2009
1 (5") Diamond Watchman Goby - 2007
1 (3.5") Copperband Butterfly - 2009
1 (2.5") Coral Beauty - 2009
1 (4") Melanaurus Wrasse - 2009
1 (2") Sixline Wrasse- 2008
1 Cleaner Wrasse - 2009
1 Bangaii Cardinalfish - 2007
1 Green Chromis - 2008
2 Black/White Ocellaris clowns - 2008
2 Orange/White Ocellaris clowns - 2007
3 Dispar Anthias - 2008-2009
3 Red firefish - 2008
2 Green Mandarin (M/F) - 2007-2008

Except for the "cranky" sailfin, all of the fish get along very well. The sailfin will occasionally chase the CBB and Foxface if they get too close to her cave... All chase, no fight.

I feed meaty foods 2x day, and keep nori available whenever tank lights are on. At feeding time, they all get in line and feed peacefully.

What's the conventional wisdom? Should I chance upsetting the balance with a 5-6" Achilles? This would be the last fish I would consider adding to the system...

I dont think it would throw your system off much, I would just keep an eye on the yellow and sailfin. My purple tang gives all newcomers a hard time, and yellows are pretty similar in attitude. After the first day it starts to slow downa and after a week or 2 the purple is done.