In hiding for over a week now!

[d2mini]

Got a purple tang last saturday and he still won't come out from behind his rock. Seems to get chased if he does. I also have a tomini, powder brown, desjardini sail fin, and a yellow. No one paid any attention to him in his acclimation box and those things are so small, i don't like to stress the fish out for any longer than I have to, so I let him into the tank pretty quick.
He does seem to eat but not sure if he's getting enough food. I don't want to try and get too much food directly to his little corner because if he never comes out the other fish will never get used to him. But I don't want him to starve to death either.
This is a record for me as far as a new fish hiding.
Am i still ok do you think?

 

[ken6217]

Hey Dennis,

I wouldn't worry about him not eating what you are putting in the tank. At some point he will,l even if it's in a couple of weeks.

I got a mall Majestic Angel about 6 weeks ago and he did not come out to eat for almost a month. Actually I wasn't even sure if he was still alive as I could never find him. My Goldflake had kept him at bay. Now he eats like a pig.

I once had a Potters Angel that picked at the rocks but never ate any food that I gave the tank for almost 3 months. I guess he got enough from the rocks.



Ken

 

[d2mini]

Cool, thanks… and yeah… i figured he's picking from the rocks and stuff too. But he is now trying to get some of the food i'm putting in when i feed the tank so was wondering if he was starting to get more hungry. Then the powder brown or somebody chases him back.

I hope they hug it out soon!

 

[HumbleFish]

Have you had a chance to get a good look at him, since adding him to the tank? Was he QT'd beforehand? Fish with Marine Velvet will often hide behind a rock due to being light sensitive. I'm not saying he has Velvet... just something to watch out for.

 

[ken6217]

My Goldflake was relentless after the Majestic. Worst I have ever seen between two fish on my tanks. Now the Majestic eats like a pig and is only chased away sporadically.
Ken

 

[Mr. Limpid]

Having a powder brown and a yellow it may be hard for the purple have a chance in your tank. Those are very territorial tangs. What size tank are they in, have 3 tangs already, you might have to return the purple.

 

[parrotchute]

Have you tried rubberbanding some nori and slipping it into his corner?
That worked for me to get a sailfin more comfortable with coming out.

 

[pinnatus]

Re-arrange the rock work if possible. That resets the established fishes territories and they can all get new territories.