Bulimic Powder Blue Tang

pledosophy

Active member
I have a medium sized powder blue tang in my QT tank right now. He has been in there about a week. Everything I have tried feeding he eats, then spits back out.

So far I have tried Rod's food, LRS, PE frozen mysis, and 3 kinds of flake (which he did not touch at all).

I am going to pick up some Nori sheets and see how that goes.

Anyone ever had this before?

QT is a 90g with 100 lbs or so of rock. 20g refugium. He's the only think in there.

Ammonia 0
Nitrate 10
SG 1.017
pH8.3
Alk was 9 but not sure that even matters.
 
The fact he is tasting the food is the first hurdle. He will eventually keep it down, if not he will starve to death. Not all fish collected for the hobby adjust. Try some nori
 
He's ignoring the Nori so far, but hopefully on a clip it will do better as opposed to mixed in the Rods and the LRS.

I've been waiting to add one of these guys for a long time, so hoping this one goes well. The QT tank was setup for 6 or 7 months before I brought the fish home to make sure there was stuff to graze on. But he doesn't seem to pick at the rock much at all.
 
is there any medication in the water? prazi can potentially kill their appetites. Try fresh clam..good luck, tk
 
I didn't treat for flukes as there was no sign of any infection or parasite. Been a week now, still lookin good.

I did the nori on the rock last night, still no bite, but he went after the LRS a little more today.

I think putting selcon on the Nori would just have the selcon was away no? The water moves at a pretty descent rate in the QT.

I will try the clam if this continues. Just what I need to hear from the wife, "You buy the fish clams but not me?" Look forward to it LOL.
 
Flukes are really hard if not impossible to see. But they can affect appetite. I have seen Powder Blues that were skinny and just hanging on become fat and happy nearly overnight after being treated for flukes. Just food for thought.
 
Guess who ate today? :D :D :D Quite the appetite today too. I'm so relieved. I'm going to feed small amounts 3-4 times a day for the next few days and see if I can fatten homie up a bit. After 8 days in QT I was gettng worried.

I looked into flukes a bit, seems like a legit thing to treat for. I might hold off just a little bit since he ate today, but will definitely do a round of prazi before he goes in the display.

Thanks!
 
Good to hear! keep nori flowing every day for him. Then feed multi times a day as you can.


He hasn't touched the nori yet. Seems afraid of the sheet actually. I put it in a rock on the left side of the tank where he usually swims, and he is staying away from it. It's kinda funny
 
With two days of him eating well, and no signs of infection it is hard to resist the urge to put him in the display after only 10 days... Gotta fight the urge.

My display is completely pest/parasite free so I am sure I can talk myself out of it, but knowing this guy would be happier in there makes it hard.
 
Just think that you're actually helping the fish out more this way. He's obv just starting to find comfort and eating. Fatten him up more while watching for anything and when the time comes then put him in. You both will be happier this way.
 
Just think that you're actually helping the fish out more this way. He's obv just starting to find comfort and eating. Fatten him up more while watching for anything and when the time comes then put him in. You both will be happier this way.

I know, but you know too I'm guessing.

I will probably keep him where he is at for another month until he is very very comfortable.
 
He is now at 3 weeks and 1 day. Eating Rod's food, LRS, mysis, pellets, and nori sheets. This guy eats a ton, and like a pig 3-4x a day.

He's actually fattened up a little bit too. looking very healthy now.
 
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