Just got my tangs need help with feeding! PICS

[forrealb50]

Received both tangs in the mail yesterday. The Powder Blue was supposed to be a Powder Brown but that's another story. They have been in the QT for 24 hours with a chelated copper treatment.

The PB is probably one of the most beautiful Powder Blue's I have seen (not a scratch on him and he's very fat). He's not eating just yet. I've tried a tiny bit of flake food, green seaweed, and pellets - not interested in any of it.

The tiny blue tang on the other hand is starved upon arrival. You can see from the picture he needs to start eating. He has picked on some floating flake food and tried to grab a pellet but it was to big for his mouth.

What do I need to do to get the PB eating and what do I need to do to keep the BT from dieing?

Powder Blue

Hungry Hungry Hippo

 

[anbosu]

That hippo looks terrible, I can't believe someone actually shipped that to you.

That said, I have always had luck getting tangs to start eating with brine. It's not ideal from a nutritional standpoint but at least it invokes the eating response and you can get them to other foods from there.

 

[Piscez]

That's one beautiful Powder Blue, my tank is only 48" long so I've never been able to keep a PB ( one of my favourite fish) so after 3 PB failures I tried a Powder Brown with success! hoping you have a large tank. I wouldn't worry about the Hippo they are pigs! If they survive the first week you're laughing. Frozen Mysis should get them going. Good luck

 

[forrealb50]

That's one beautiful Powder Blue, my tank is only 48" long so I've never been able to keep a PB ( one of my favourite fish) so after 3 PB failures I tried a Powder Brown with success! hoping you have a large tank. I wouldn't worry about the Hippo they are pigs! If they survive the first week you're laughing. Frozen Mysis should get them going. Good luck

I do have frozen cyclop eeze. Should I try that?

 

[ccampbell57]

Cyclopeez is a great food for small fish. Put some of that in there. I would also suggest spirolina brine and hykari mysis.

 

[forrealb50]

Cyclopeez is a great food for small fish. Put some of that in there. I would also suggest spirolina brine and hykari mysis.

Thanks for the quick responces guys!

Also, positive update. The Powder Blue is eating off the veg clip like crazy. No wonder this guy stays so fat.

 

[forrealb50]

Another great update! Put some Cyclopeez in there and the blue tang went nuts and couldn't eat them fast enought. I'm thinking 4 weeks of copper, feeding cyclopeez and vegs they should be good to go. What do you think?

 

[sevendigitcake]

why do you have them on copper? do they have ich or is it just a preventative thing? i a lways thought you were supposed to treat fish once you see symptoms?

 

[forrealb50]

why do you have them on copper? do they have ich or is it just a preventative thing? i a always thought you were supposed to treat fish once you see symptoms?

I'm pretty sure they are both came with ich. I've seen them both scraping on the PVC.

I had a bad ich case months ago where I lost a lot of fish and had to go fishless in the DT tank. No fish enters the DT without being in the QT for at least 4 weeks. I observe the fish and if I notice any ich symptoms copper goes in.

 

[davelin315]

I'd be wary of wiping out the fish's digestive abilities with copper, especially when the Pacific Blue is so emaciated. I'd try and just give it really great water and excellent food (I'd put a veggie clip in there and soak the nori in different additives to give this guy some nutrition). I'd also feed whatever foods it's accepting and soak them in supplements as well. I didn't see any signs of ich on those fish, if they're scratching that might mean it's on its way, but it could be any number of diseases or ailments.

 

[rgentry123]

if the blue tang is eating i would try and get it some pe mysis. you can chopit up so it will be small enough for it to eat but that would be a good way to fatten it up quickly.

 

[davelin315]

Where in VA are you located?

 

[LifeAquatic]

This is a cool thread cause I just picked up a blue hippo and powder blue tang! 5 to 10 minutes in a freshwater bath is all they need. I never treat fish with in copper.Both of mine seem to love mysis shrimp. Also, they like eating seaweed sheets. The powder blue took a day to start eating but is fine now. Day 4 and both fish seem to be loving their new home and eating like crazy. No Ick either.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

This is a cool thread cause I just picked up a blue hippo and powder blue tang! 5 to 10 minutes in a freshwater bath is all they need. I never treat fish with in copper.Both of mine seem to love mysis shrimp. Also, they like eating seaweed sheets. The powder blue took a day to start eating but is fine now. Day 4 and both fish seem to be loving their new home and eating like crazy. No Ick either.

Will the misinformation ever end?!

WRONG!!! FW bath will not to anything to stop the spread of ich.

 

[forrealb50]

Where in VA are you located?

Manassas Park... Not too far from you.

 

[forrealb50]

Will the misinformation ever end?!

WRONG!!! FW bath will not to anything to stop the spread of ich.

If only it was that easy. Copper is the only way I'm comfortable treating my fish with ich. I feel I could screw up hypo to easily.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

If only it was that easy. Copper is the only way I'm comfortable treating my fish with ich. I feel I could screw up hypo to easily.

There is an ENORMOUS difference between hyposalinity and a 10 minute FW bath.

 

[Blownsvt]

wow that hippo looks terrible. who did you order from? I have had great luck feeding my tangs mysis shrimp. Seems as though you have them eating now but if you have trouble give mysis a try.

 

[forrealb50]

wow that hippo looks terrible. who did you order from? I have had great luck feeding my tangs mysis shrimp. Seems as though you have them eating now but if you have trouble give mysis a try.

I don't want the vendor to think I'm bashing them. I'll PM you.