I have a clown tang in my tank for over a month. When i got him he would only pick on the glass. I dont think there is enough food for him. I tried to feed him brine,mysis,shrimp,emerald,flakes,pellets, red and green nori. haven't seen him eat yet. He is losing weight, but is still very active. Anyone know what I can do, I don't want to lose the guy.
Clown Tang
- Thread starter dvmkv
- Start date
glenns
New member
Any luck on getting you clown tang to eat veggies? I got one Saturday who was eating at the LFS. He seemed comfortable around people.
So far he's not interested in the Nori. I've tried plain, soaked in garlic and Zoe. Now I'm trying a little Nori and romaine combo. If that doesn't work, I'm wondering if he will go after red nori. He does seem to go after frozen cyclops. When he sees me he swims around like a fish begging for food.
So far he's not interested in the Nori. I've tried plain, soaked in garlic and Zoe. Now I'm trying a little Nori and romaine combo. If that doesn't work, I'm wondering if he will go after red nori. He does seem to go after frozen cyclops. When he sees me he swims around like a fish begging for food.
nope no luck still. he just keeps losing weight like crazy. He is so thin, like he can't lose anymore, he has nothing left to lose. He still swims around like crazy and gets clean everyday by the shrimps. I tried every nori out there. and many other foods. He justs picks on the glass and eats there.
glenns
New member
Well mine swims like crazy and visits the cleaning stations frequently to. He seems to love the higher flow in my tank, more than the weak flow of the LFS.
At least he is eating something. I have seen him peck at the nori a few times, but obviously he needs more than that. Guess I'll give it a few more days.
At least he is eating something. I have seen him peck at the nori a few times, but obviously he needs more than that. Guess I'll give it a few more days.
username in use
Sciencing Daily
Thats the point though. Because of what kind of fish it is, its already too big. You cant blanket all fish as being appropriate for a 90g when they are less than 6", it doesn't work that way.
Was it not feeding when you bought it? Did you treat it for any internal parasites?
I would try getting some fresh macro algae and see if it takes to that. Have you tried live blackworms or a cracked open mussel or clam? The main thing to do is to get it to feed but after a month in captivity and getting skinny this fish may be too far gone. Are their any other fish that are harassing it?
I don't think you realize how fast these surgeons grow and the implications it has on how well they adapt to captivity. A clown tang will quickly grow to be more than a foot long and can get as long as 16 inches. These fish can get up to 70% of that total length in the first year of life alone! Importing these fish as juvenilles causes many problems because they need to feed constantly in order to keep this growth up. Their getting skinny only makes it all the more harder for them to survive this crucial time period.
I hope the fish feeds for you and if it does you need to very quickly consider getting a very large tank upgrade or giving it to someone who has a tank that can better accommodate it's needs. You should plan your fish purchases a lot more carefully in the future and buy fish that are more appropriate for the size tank you have.
I would try getting some fresh macro algae and see if it takes to that. Have you tried live blackworms or a cracked open mussel or clam? The main thing to do is to get it to feed but after a month in captivity and getting skinny this fish may be too far gone. Are their any other fish that are harassing it?
I don't think you realize how fast these surgeons grow and the implications it has on how well they adapt to captivity. A clown tang will quickly grow to be more than a foot long and can get as long as 16 inches. These fish can get up to 70% of that total length in the first year of life alone! Importing these fish as juvenilles causes many problems because they need to feed constantly in order to keep this growth up. Their getting skinny only makes it all the more harder for them to survive this crucial time period.
I hope the fish feeds for you and if it does you need to very quickly consider getting a very large tank upgrade or giving it to someone who has a tank that can better accommodate it's needs. You should plan your fish purchases a lot more carefully in the future and buy fish that are more appropriate for the size tank you have.
username in use
Sciencing Daily
Not trying to flame, but that would be nice temporary holding tank for this fish. It does need to be stated that it will be extremely difficult to get the fish to eat enough at this point to thrive in that tank. Its just one of those fish that needs tons of exercise in really large tanks to do well. This is pretty much historical fact.
this isnt a tang tank size debate-we're telling you your problem. it just so happens that the fish is an ocean going fish and gets over a foot long and happens to be a tang.
key words-ocean going fish that gets over a foot long.
forget the fact that i said tang.
WETFISH
Member
In the interest of education,
I bought the smallest clown tang I could find in Oct. 2004 (app. 3") .I quarantined him for 4 1/2 weeks,low/ medium level copper treatment for 16 days (this fish is esp. prone to ick).He eats everything...flake,nori,finely chopped fish.He swims the entire length of my 6 ft long tank constantly ,has since the first day.My tank is two sided (room divider) with the rocks in the middle so he can swim both sides.He is now (5 years later) a little over 6" long. I cannot say he is or ever has been aggressive.He just goes his way and nobody messes with him , but he never messes with anybody else either. Tankmates are 2 yellow tangs,1 sailfin tang,2 maroon clowns+ anenome,1 Alens damsel...been together years.The yellows are the most aggressive (and the clowns in their territory). That is him in my avatar....He sees himself in the side glass at night and then he is aggressive( toward his reflection...only)
I bought the smallest clown tang I could find in Oct. 2004 (app. 3") .I quarantined him for 4 1/2 weeks,low/ medium level copper treatment for 16 days (this fish is esp. prone to ick).He eats everything...flake,nori,finely chopped fish.He swims the entire length of my 6 ft long tank constantly ,has since the first day.My tank is two sided (room divider) with the rocks in the middle so he can swim both sides.He is now (5 years later) a little over 6" long. I cannot say he is or ever has been aggressive.He just goes his way and nobody messes with him , but he never messes with anybody else either. Tankmates are 2 yellow tangs,1 sailfin tang,2 maroon clowns+ anenome,1 Alens damsel...been together years.The yellows are the most aggressive (and the clowns in their territory). That is him in my avatar....He sees himself in the side glass at night and then he is aggressive( toward his reflection...only)
Well when i got him, the lfs had him in copper water for a week. He would only eat some but i still took him. I tried live stuff and i seen him eat some but not like my other tangs. There are a blue hippo , and a sailfin with him. He won't eat anything i put in there. All he does now is pick on the glass sides. I have had him for almost 2 month. So he hasn't been eating like he should for 2 months now. He just picks at stuff and swims all day. Thank and if any ideas on food let me know.
after 5 years he only grew 3"? from your writing it seems you assume that isnt a problem so ill educate you. it is a problem-he should be a young adult and 13 to 15" long depending on sex.
glenns
New member
Are your other fish acting territorially aggressive towards him? I noticed yesterday, mine would veer away from the nori when my Kleins was around. There is no fighting, but it seems like some fish may be communicating this is their territory. I may try multiple clips. I might rearrange some rock in a few days if he does not settle down. So far though, he is still fat and has no sign of ich. He does not seem stressed. He just does not seem too interested in nori.
dvmkv, you may need to move him to QT and nurse him back to health..
dvmkv, you may need to move him to QT and nurse him back to health..
