Achilles Tang Primer

I would try and add the AT last out of the list of future additions if it were me. To curb aggression a acclimation box, mirror and also printing out pictures of Achilles tangs the same size as the one you get and putting them in different locations on the outside of the tank will help. (Very similar to the mirror trick) there is no harm in keeping the Achilles in QT for a extended period providing the fish is eating well
 
Dmorty217 said:
I would try and add the AT last out of the list of future additions if it were me. To curb aggression a acclimation box, mirror and also printing out pictures of Achilles tangs the same size as the one you get and putting them in different locations on the outside of the tank will help. (Very similar to the mirror trick) there is no harm in keeping the Achilles in QT for a extended period providing the fish is eating well
Click to expand...

I see. I have not acquired any of the future stocklist fish and some of them I may be unable to acquire (the wrasses and triggers) soon.

If I do add more fish into the QT once the Achilles is in there, I reset the clock on all fish, correct?

I don't mind keeping the AT in there as long as it has no adverse effect on it.
 
rishu_pepper said:
I see. I have not acquired any of the future stocklist fish and some of them I may be unable to acquire (the wrasses and triggers) soon.

If I do add more fish into the QT once the Achilles is in there, I reset the clock on all fish, correct?

I don't mind keeping the AT in there as long as it has no adverse effect on it.
Click to expand...

Correct anytime a new fish comes into the QT the "clock" starts over at day 1
 
I've read the majority of this thread, and I do have some lingering concerns:

1) Will the 30g standard tank QT be big enough to keep the AT relatively happy? I don't really have a choice for QT atm.

2) I believe the specimen at the LFS is a juvenile (maybe barely 3"). I've read in the thread that one should avoid a juvy AT as they are more prone to stress/sickness/etc. It looked fine at the store but will it be a substantial concern? Should I wait for an adult AT?
 
All AT are prone to sickness. But that is why you QT and treat for ich. They are considered a difficult fish because they get ich so easily. They also require tons of water movement. Other than that, they are not that difficult of a fish to keep. They can be aggressive, but they are tangs, and that is how tangs are. 30 gallons is not a lot of space, but for a short while it is probably OK, especially for a smaller specimen. They do grow pretty fast, though. Make sure you give it plenty of places to hide, that will help it calm down. Achilles are a very high strung fish. If you see them in the wild, they live where the waves crash onto the reef, and so they are constantly dodging and weaving so they don't get crushed or smashed by the waves. When you see this you will understand why they are somewhat spastic in your tank.
 
pinnatus said:
All AT are prone to sickness. But that is why you QT and treat for ich. They are considered a difficult fish because they get ich so easily. They also require tons of water movement. Other than that, they are not that difficult of a fish to keep. They can be aggressive, but they are tangs, and that is how tangs are. 30 gallons is not a lot of space, but for a short while it is probably OK, especially for a smaller specimen. They do grow pretty fast, though. Make sure you give it plenty of places to hide, that will help it calm down. Achilles are a very high strung fish. If you see them in the wild, they live where the waves crash onto the reef, and so they are constantly dodging and weaving so they don't get crushed or smashed by the waves. When you see this you will understand why they are somewhat spastic in your tank.
Click to expand...

I will have plenty of water movement, two RW-20s should do the trick.

I'll get some nice PVC pieces for it to hide in the QT. When the big tank is ready to go it'll have plenty of hiding space in the rockwork.

Gonna go take a look at it again tomorrow and make the final call whether to pick him up or not.
 
I picked up my Achilles yesterday from a LFS that went and got him from living color in Miami. He looks good and is pecking at a little nori and ive seen him snag a few pieces of mysis so far. I'm going to pick up some bloodworms tonight along with some other colored algae sheets as he's not eating as aggressively as I would like.. but its been less than 24 hrs

How much flow should I provide for my AT? He's currently in 40g breeder QT with a RW-8 on else mode pointed towards the top for gas exchange along with an air pump in the tank. I have (2) RW-15's in the DT and could swap the RW-8 out for a RW-15 for him if needed.

Anyone ever tried putting the air pump under their power head to have it blow the bubbles in across the tank? I don't know if that would help oxygenate (sp?) the water anymore or not

He is being QT'd with a PBT, AT is a little bigger both are about 3" or so. There are also (2) small black ice clowns and a small yellow tang, probably 2" or so.

No signs of ich on the PBT or AT yet but all will eventually go through prazi and cupermine.

Are there any particular signs that I should look for that additional flow is wanted?

Another question would be.. What salinity would you recoomend for the AT? I typically would keep my QT around 1.022 and the DT at 1.026.. I read today a post that said the AT prefer higher sg.. like that of the DT (1.026) Thoughts?
 
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Big plans not one but three achilles. There is a local guy near me that has a store and sets up and maintains tanks for a living been doing it for about 25 years so the guys has been around the block. Long story short both of our favorite fish is the achilles. He has cared for an extensive amount of them over the years so has really helped me out establishing the best enviorment for them. I have got a lot of advice and read up a lot on the fish but wanted to ask a few more specified questions.
The big one is QTing the fish I have a 120 and 2x 40 breeders for QT tanks my thoughts were to put the 3 achilles all in the 120 together before moving the to display what is your guys opinions?
Next the tank mates are going to be just two purple tangs they are going to be all going into my 220 but the purples have been in qt 4 weeks with no issues so my next question is do I hold the purples till the achilles are ready or do I introduce them at seperate times?
For flow I have two mp40s and two gyre xf150 so plenty of flow available. The rock scape has three structures plenty of open swim area and also adequate cover.
Last thing I purchased three in hopes to create a schooling affect to lower stress level for the fish what's your guys opinion/knowledge on this??
 
In my opinion as they get bigger they will start fighting. My Achilles used too get asking with my blue and purple tangs but add he gets bigger I voiced him chasing the other two a lot more in my 220
 
fermaster said:
BrainD, great idea with this series of threads.
I’ve had the pleasure of keeping 3 Achilles tangs over the course of about 8 years.
Achilles 1:
The first one I bought out of sheer ignorance. I didn’t really use the Internet to explore my newfound hobby and I relied on the “expertise” of the LFS.
Tank size: 125 gallons (72”x18”x22”)
Tank type: Reef tank/DSB, softies
Water changes: Weekly 25%
Water flow: 8x tank volume
Tank mates: 4 chromis, 2 perculas
Food: only ate red algae
Size at purchase: 3.5”
Aggressiveness: none
Quarantine: At that time it was the first fish so I put it directly in my tank.
Experience: Great personality. Very active in the rockwork.
Result: I moved and I sold everything after 2 years.

Achilles 2(Honky Tonk Man):
I had just put together a 300 gallon tank and I really wanted to get another Achilles tang. This time I was researching everything. Everything I read said that only an expert could keep this fish and that it would certainly die. This contradicted my experience so I gave it a shot again.
Tank size: 300 gallons (96”x30”x24”)
Tank type: Reef tank/BB, SPS
Water changes: Weekly 20%
Water flow: 30x tank volume
Tank mates: Naso elagans, Zebrasoma Desjardinii, Paracanthurus hepatus, Ctenochaetus strigosus, 4 bimaculatus anthias, 6 chromis, 2 percula
Food: Red algae, krill, mysis (refused pellets)
Size at purchase: 4.5”
Aggressiveness: none extremely passive
Quarantine: I put it in a 75 gallon tank for 2 months with hypo-salinity conditions
Experience: Great personality. This fish was my favorite by far. Every time I’d put a new clip of algae in the tank it would dart over after it take a bite and do loopty loops for a while then dart back over and grab some more. The rest of the time it was a pretty calm swimmer.
Result: I hate thinking about it but I was moving some corals that I had pegged into the rock work and I was having trouble getting one out and I tugged on it and lifted the rock it was attached to and it then broke free. It then fell back on the rock pile it was resting on where the Achilles was hiding. I was beside myself… I had it for 3 years and in this case I’m positive the pleasure was all mine.

Achilles 3:
I wasn’t going to get another one but my LFS just got a shipment of about 8 Achilles and I was the first one there. I went to all the tanks saw which ones ate and took one at $40.
Tank size: 300 gallons (96”x30”x24”)
Tank type: Reef tank/BB, SPS
Water changes: Weekly 20%
Water flow: 30x tank volume
Tank mates: Naso elagans, Zebrasoma Desjardinii, Paracanthurus hepatus, Ctenochaetus strigosus, 4 bimaculatus anthias, 6 chromis, 2 percula
Food: Red algae, mysis
Size at purchase: 5.5”
Aggressiveness: At first it received some aggression from the Paracanthurus hepatus but after a few days there was none.
Quarantine: Because I got this fish at the spur of the moment I didn’t have my quarantine tank setup and cycled. So I put it directly in the tank…hey I’m not perfect.
Experience: It didn’t exhibit the same personality as the last one did. It was active but not in the same way.
Result: I moved to Dallas so I sold the tank. I had this fish about 3 years.

Conclusion: None of the Achilles I’ve kept were aggressive. I never had a problem getting them to eat. I never observed any problems with ich e.g. I never saw them do the tang ich tail shimee, or scratch on the rockwork. Would I keep one again? Probably not. Achilles #2(Honky Tonk Man) ruined my ability to like another one.
Click to expand...

Only 40$ for an Achilles?! I want to live where you live my lfs had one today about 5-6 inches for 259.99
 
Achilles Tang Primer

200 gal+ is good, schooling is 5+ , 3 likely to fight . Housing with fish that don't get into his face, don't have the same swimming pattern or " niche" ....a whole lot of water movement + oxygen if possible with randomized wave making system to imitate shifting tides ..... and a cleaner crew for eventual stress parasites.
 
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