Getting me a Achilles Tang for my nano

Great sized qt. As mentioned get him eating and well in there first.
Turn the lights out for a day or so during introduction and feed the mess out of the display. Also taping pics up of other powder blues may distract yours for the first day or so away from the achilles. I wish that planted tank thread of the 2 living together still had pictures in it. Granted it was a large macro/grass filled tank
 
I have a powder brown and an Achilles living together. They have "words" about once a week and usually it is food related. Essentially they let me know I have slacked off on feeding and now are getting angry with each other. October will be 3 years they have been together. I feed a lot heavier than most though, most of the time at least 5 times a day.


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Glad to see it's working for you! They both look very healthy. Hopefully the OP has luck with his mix as well.
 
SlowCobra said:
I have a powder brown and an Achilles living together. They have "words" about once a week and usually it is food related. Essentially they let me know I have slacked off on feeding and now are getting angry with each other. October will be 3 years they have been together. I feed a lot heavier than most though, most of the time at least 5 times a day.


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Nice tangs, so far he is doing well in the qt starting to nibble on flakes
 
He was not doing so good earlier today was starting to hide and looked pale and no longer picking at the rocks or nori so against better judgement in the DT he goes has been in there about 3 hours and my powder blue could care less but my yellows are testing him even though he is bigger(he is not intimidated at all).

He is picking at the rocks again and eating mysis soaked in garlic.I guess time will tell his color is back too. I guess I took for granted how delicate these guys can be, even in a smaller tank with excellent water conditions size does matter.I am running in addition of my return pumps 4 1400 evolution and he looks at home.
 
They are an expert fish for a reason. People just don't understand that 8 out of 10 times Achilles tangs die. I can't say I agree with your decision to put it in the display without a proper quarantine but it didn't sound like your QT tank was a proper QT tank anyway.

I wish you luck. I researched and read for months before I pulled the trigger on mine. He had a VERY rocky start even though I got him from LiveAquaria he came in with ich.

Not trying to sound condescending but it sounded like your QT tank was a fully functioning tank with live rock, if that was the case that isn't a good QT tank. A proper QT, at least in my opinion needs to be "sterile and empty". By that I mean bare bottom, 6" PVC fittings for hiding spaces, and dependent on the fish but enough power heads to keep any food and waste from settling on the bottom.
 
There are many reasons this fish could have been stressing, and tank size is only one. I think you acted rashly, but there's not much you can do now.
 
LukFox said:
There are many reasons this fish could have been stressing, and tank size is only one. I think you acted rashly, but there's not much you can do now.
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Did not want to take the chance having to work all weekend he is doing good as I type staying in the open not scratching
 
SlowCobra said:
They are an expert fish for a reason. People just don't understand that 8 out of 10 times Achilles tangs die. I can't say I agree with your decision to put it in the display without a proper quarantine but it didn't sound like your QT tank was a proper QT tank anyway.

I wish you luck. I researched and read for months before I pulled the trigger on mine. He had a VERY rocky start even though I got him from LiveAquaria he came in with ich.

Not trying to sound condescending but it sounded like your QT tank was a fully functioning tank with live rock, if that was the case that isn't a good QT tank. A proper QT, at least in my opinion needs to be "sterile and empty". By that I mean bare bottom, 6" PVC fittings for hiding spaces, and dependent on the fish but enough power heads to keep any food and waste from settling on the bottom.
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You are right on the qt tank I just hate the bare bottom look like my fish to feel at home kind of like staying in a guest house before moving in the main house.

If you never make mistakes you never learn, I have had my fair share of saltwater and freshwater fish but this is my first AT they were never one of my favorite tangs due to their aggressive nature and price tag.I wanted a color variety in my DP and they are one of a kind.
 
QT is a must. I QT my achilles in a 20 gallon for 2 months with Cupramine with no problems. Feed lots of nori soaked with garlic and vitamins and if you plan on using pellets add an auto feeder that feeds at least twice a day. QT is the best time to introduce Pellets. Good luck!
 
Akrite said:
QT is a must. I QT my achilles in a 20 gallon for 2 months with Cupramine with no problems. Feed lots of nori soaked with garlic and vitamins and if you plan on using pellets add an auto feeder that feeds at least twice a day. QT is the best time to introduce Pellets. Good luck!
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I know should have kept him in qt he just looked pitiful and he is only around 4 inches and not really fat did not want him to get to a point of no return . Even though I have lots of rock in my dt if I have to copper the tank I would in a heartbeat could care less about the sand and can remove the rock fish are more important to me.

As of this morning all is well he is right out front with my PB but does get out of the way when my Mac cruises through.And he is still picking at the rocks and eating mysis a little more aggressive.
 
JMO:

feed nori feed nori feed nori.

Make nori available to your Achilles 24/7 starting yesterday and continue feeding the whole aquarium what you normally would. Good luck.
 
I am doing as much nori as possible right now I am pulverizing it because in sheets he has no chance with my other big angels also doing formula 1 and 2 prime reef pe mysis spirilina enriched brine and tetra color bits. He will go after anything green and mysis right now, gonna try to do nori 3 times a day and have auto feeder doing twice a day. Doing 20 percent water change every other week just have to open one valve and turn on a pump with already made saltwater.

Tested nitrates and staying around 5.Time will tell all my other tangs are fat and eat like pigs so hopefully the AT will learn from them.
 
There is no way the tank was to small. If you had plenty of flow and hiding places. I think you made a huge mistake putting it in your main tank, but time will tell...Just hope you don't transfer disease to the rest of your fish. Good luck.
 
lhm nole: For what it's worth, I have 4 AT's in my 400g FOWLER and one in my 225G SPS - you can see various photos of them in the various AT threads on RC. My oldest is 9" long and 5 years+ in tank, my youngest 3" and 6 months in tank. Any Acanthurus is prone to parasites, particularly ich - regardless of the species. My QT is a lowly 35G with a sponge filter and a chiller that I have had running for 5 years. I switch 50% of the water with SPS tank water once a week on top of the normal RO top off. ALL of my AT's have gone the requisite 2 months QT in this tank without a problem. It is because of this that all of my AT's eat anything you throw at them - it's lower stress there than being plopped straight to the DT IMO. Let me know if you want some pointers on the AT or QT'ing one in the future. My big fish's photo attached. Best, Chris
 

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SlowCobra said:
I have a powder brown and an Achilles living together. They have "words" about once a week and usually it is food related. Essentially they let me know I have slacked off on feeding and now are getting angry with each other. October will be 3 years they have been together. I feed a lot heavier than most though, most of the time at least 5 times a day.
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SlowCobra: I commend you on getting a clear picture of your AT. I seem to have to cuss up a storm before any of mine slow up enough to take a clear shot! :)
 
nonimmigrant said:
lhm nole: For what it's worth, I have 4 AT's in my 400g FOWLER and one in my 225G SPS - you can see various photos of them in the various AT threads on RC. My oldest is 9" long and 5 years+ in tank, my youngest 3" and 6 months in tank. Any Acanthurus is prone to parasites, particularly ich - regardless of the species. My QT is a lowly 35G with a sponge filter and a chiller that I have had running for 5 years. I switch 50% of the water with SPS tank water once a week on top of the normal RO top off. ALL of my AT's have gone the requisite 2 months QT in this tank without a problem. It is because of this that all of my AT's eat anything you throw at them - it's lower stress there than being plopped straight to the DT IMO. Let me know if you want some pointers on the AT or QT'ing one in the future. My big fish's photo attached. Best, Chris
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Thanks for the advise I was probably premature in putting the achilles in the DT but after reading alot about them it seem it was split down the middle on which method to go by.

So far he is doing well in the Dt no one is harassing him and his appetite increases by the day. He just did not look right in the QT and did not want him to get to the point of no return. No signs of ich so far and no scratching.

I always recommend QT on all fish , I am fortunate that all is well so far.

By the way beautiful AT you have they are truley a unique fish.Thanks all for all the advise I have learned a lot from people on this forum, even being in the hobby 20 plus years there is always something new to learn or different or better method to do things
 
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