Hardy Tang

[jlschweda1971]

Is there any certain Tang that is more hardy than others? I've ordered 2 different Tangs online and both arrived not looking too good. They both intially were eating and then stopped and eventually died. I tried soaking the Nori in Garlic Xtreme and it didnt seem to help.

I didnt order them together. Its been over the last 3 months. One was a Yellow and the other Naso. I'm looking at the Hippo Tang and will buy one locally that I can watch and look to be healthy.

All comments/suggestions appreciated

 

[EllieSuz]

You don't mention the size of your tank or what fish you already have. These are important facts to know before we can comment on your choices. I will say this, now is the time to set up a quarantine system if you don't already have one running. Tangs are especially susceptible to Ich for some reason and adding any tang endangers your existing fish.

 

[Kyle10181]

Honestly, any tang in the Zebrasoma is your best bet if you're looking for a hardy tang. Hippo's are very susceptible to Ich and will often be your first tang to show signs of ich or stress. They are a very shy and docile tang, but in my experience require much more attention to remain healthy and happy.

The Tangs that are more ovular shaped (Hippo, Powder blue, Achilles, Naso, etc); for one reason or another, these classes of Tang's seemingly contract ich and disease much easier than the Zebrasoma's.

Hope I was of some help .

 

[MrTuskfish]

Is there any certain Tang that is more hardy than others? I've ordered 2 different Tangs online and both arrived not looking too good. They both intially were eating and then stopped and eventually died. I tried soaking the Nori in Garlic Xtreme and it didnt seem to help.

I didnt order them together. Its been over the last 3 months. One was a Yellow and the other Naso. I'm looking at the Hippo Tang and will buy one locally that I can watch and look to be healthy.

All comments/suggestions appreciated

If you ordered them from a good online vendor; I'm sure they left the dealer in good shape. With rare exceptions, good online vendors (LA. BZ et al) provide outstanding fish. The hippo you're looking at should have at least a 180 gal tank, an 8' -180 is better.
Most tangs are easy fish to keep and ship and acclimate well. The yellow tang you lost is possibly one of the easiest fish we keep. Nasos are't difficult either. Tangs, like all fish, should be quarantined. Tangs need lots of swimming room; they may live, but never thrive, in small tanks. Nori is a good part of their diet, but they need meaty stuff too. Tangs will almost always eat frozen mysis and this is always my first choice for new tangs. Garlic is not magical; if a tang is not eating, something else is wrong.

I think you need to look at what happened to the two tangs; I doubt that just finding as easier one is going to change much. We can't help without a lot more info from you. How long did you have them? What were they eating? Species & size of tangs you lost? QT? Tankmates and DT size? Foods offered? Details of the fish's appearance, etc. etc.

 

[jlschweda1971]

Thanks for the comments/suggestions. I should have mentioned that I lost both in my QT. One Tang (Naso) was in the QT with a purple pseudochromis. Other than that I have LR, a piece of pvc for hiding. I varied the diet between the Nori, Marine S, and Artic Pods. Other than what the pseudo ate, the rest of the food fell to the bare bottom which I would clean up. I left the Nori hanging the whole time.

If Tangs are prone to Ich, should I have the water in the QT treated for such while the Tang is in there?

 

[jlschweda1971]

Another question I forgot to ask is Should I have a cleaner shrimp in the QT with the Tang?

 

[MrTuskfish]

Preventative treatment is your call, I do it, many folks don't. IMO, tank transfer is the easiest and safest way to prevent or cure ich. There's a sticky at the top of the disease forum. I'd read (at least) the opening post of the other ich stickies too. Knowing the life-cycle of these parasites will help make sense of the treatments. Cleaner shrimp/ fish do nothing for ich. the feeding parasite is too deep into the fish. No invert can handle any of the ich treatments that actually work; IMO & IME.