Black Tang

[hermesfansf]

I just received a black tang from a vendor this morning. When i received it from fedex, its color was a kind of grey. Talked to the vendor, he told me that the fish is super stressed out from shipping, once it is settled in the tank, it will turn to jet black.

This new babe is around 2 inches, nice body. The fin is high up at all times. I am just a bit concerned about the color. I really don't wanna get a hybrid black tang.

Guys, need your advices.

 

[AlexS95]

Where did you get it? If it is a place like LA or BZ then I would believe them.

 

[hermesfansf]

Black Tang

I know for sure it is not a scopas tang. I have attached the pics.

 

[skibum9884]

Looks like a Z. Rostratum to me! Are you QTing?

 

[coralreefhq]

Black tang for sure, grats on the find!

 

[ghstrider]

Hermes, thats what mine looked like for a week or 2 but hes jet black now. Its stress. As long as you see no patterns on him like a scopas has, he is a pure black tang.

 

[hermesfansf]

I thought it was a black tang. I don't see any patterns on him at all. I put it in my QT, will start the treatment tomorrow. It seems to be very healthy, and has great personality too.

 

[ghstrider]

and has great personality too.

Just wait... they are awesome.

 

[htwheels]

nice!!

 

[jjk_reef00]

In terms of personality how do these compare to purple tangs?

 

[hermesfansf]

In terms of personality how do these compare to purple tangs?

I would say this little guy is rather bald. He ate like a pig, threw in a pinch of seaweed salad this afternoon and he consumed all, which was a very good sign. However, he is still very stressed out from shipping, therefore, could not tell much. But he loves to swim towards the powerhead and play with the flow. I have a purple tang that also shows such behavior. My purple tang is really smart. I hope this little guy will be too.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Congrats on the new add and good luck. Just be aware that the purple tang might get jealous once you add him to the tank.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

In terms of personality how do these compare to purple tangs?

The ones I have seen at my lfs are extremely active, always cruising around with bursts of speed, and constantly picking at rock and algae for food. They are about 1.5" at most overall length. Seemed quite a bit more active than a purple but it could just have been the particular fish. Also, they pretty much ignored people and other fish in the tank.

 

[JSeymour]

I thought it was a black tang. I don't see any patterns on him at all. I put it in my QT, will start the treatment tomorrow. It seems to be very healthy, and has great personality too.

Great pick up! I'm curious why you didn't immediately place it in a quarantine tank?

 

[mroccoralman]

Congrats on the find it looks fine its probly just stressed out. Wrasses will lay on their sides when stressed so tangs change colors.Hope he thrives in your tank.

 

[hermesfansf]

Great pick up! I'm curious why you didn't immediately place it in a quarantine tank?

The black tang is in the QT. Just checked, he is still very stressed out and hiding inside the little cave. But he did come out when i fed him just now. I still let the light off at all time. I am going to start the Prazipro treatment today.

 

[jjk_reef00]

The ones I have seen at my lfs are extremely active, always cruising around with bursts of speed, and constantly picking at rock and algae for food. They are about 1.5" at most overall length. Seemed quite a bit more active than a purple but it could just have been the particular fish. Also, they pretty much ignored people and other fish in the tank.

Just what I was hopping to hear. I had a purple and he was a little boring to me.

 

[klepto]

...threw in a pinch of seaweed salad this afternoon and he consumed all, which was a very good sign. However, he is still very stressed out from shipping, therefore, could not tell much. too.

That is a good sign.

Personally, I believe that most Tangs require far more than a "pinch" of seaweed. If you want to watch your fish recover in a timely manner, keep up with regular feedings and maintain water quality. Obviously, If the fish has access to large amounts of liverock, it can depend on grazing for much of it's demands.

Enriching foods in Selcon or Vitachem can be very beneficial with new additions. Both work well for seaweed, pellets, mysis etc.

Unroasted nori is a good staple for Surgeonfish in my opinion. Purchasing food grade nori is a better alternative than the products marketed for the hobby.

 

[hermesfansf]

That is a good sign.

Personally, I believe that most Tangs require far more than a "pinch" of seaweed. If you want to watch your fish recover in a timely manner, keep up with regular feedings and maintain water quality. Obviously, If the fish has access to large amounts of liverock, it can depend on grazing for much of it's demands.

Enriching foods in Selcon or Vitachem can be very beneficial with new additions. Both work well for seaweed, pellets, mysis etc.

Unroasted nori is a good staple for Surgeonfish in my opinion. Purchasing food grade nori is a better alternative than the products marketed for the hobby.

I am so concerned about the quality of the water, so i tend to not overfeed my fish. 2 days ago, the nitrate spiked in my tank, that I spent 2 days to change the water. Luckily, no damage at this time. But my fish were so uncomfortable, and my elegance coral did not even fully open.

I will feed him some pellets tomorrow. He is very agile at the moment, i saw him swim everywhere when i was at the distance. However, he would immediately hide as soon as i approached.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Sounds like your fish is just stressed and being wary. The ones I saw at the lfs didn't turn grey and were out in the open. Yours probably will figure out in a couple more days that it doesn't have to worry and will become less skittish. Feed it often.

Remember, the last two times your fish saw people (probably the first two times in its life), they netted it and tossed it in a bag with no food.