New Blue Tang Question

M

mattyg18

New member
I have a small blue tang that was added to my DT on Sunday. Should mention the 60 gal cube tank is just shy of 6 months old. The parameters are good. I only have 2 small clowns and several corals which are all doing well. Back to the tang...He was in QT for about 6 weeks. He did have two noticeable spots which I think may have been ich and was treated with TTM and 2 rounds of prazipro (one during TT and one following). The spots cleared up and he was eating well in QT. However he would always hide in the back of the tank behind the heater and air stone or in some PVC I had in there. Since i've added him to my DT (this past Sunday) and he is terrified and hangs out behind the powerhead most of the time on the right top side of the tank. Occasionally he will go to the bottom on his side kinda underneath a rock i've got back there. I only have two small clowns in the tank which pretty much hang on the opposite side on the top. The clowns will come out to eat. The tang was eating seaweed in QT. I tried putting some seaweed on a rock in the DT just like in QT and the snails get to it before he does. I have a clip I set up last night for the seaweed and see how that works. He will eat some mysis shrimp if I spot feed him however I need to put so much in the tank that its all over for him to come out and get some. I'd rather not have to do that for obvious reasons.

So I have three small fish in a 60 gallon cube. Two of them hang on the left side on the top most of the time and the other hangs behind a powerhead on the top right side most of the time.

I'm just not sure if i'm doing anything wrong, if they will ever come out and swim around, or if thats how its going to be since they are so small.

If anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear. Its just a little disappointing.

Thanks in advance.
 
mattyg18 said:
Would you be able to provide an explanation? He's only 2.5" at most? Is the tank too small for him?
Click to expand...

Yes it is.
From Live Aquaria: New to the hobby? Blue Tangs are best cared for in aquariums at least 6' in length by experienced marine (saltwater) aquarists.

I know, you're going to upgrade to a larger tank down the road...
:deadhorse:

Please folks, research before you buy things.
 
This is my first and last tank so no upgrades here. Its just upsetting that after caring for this guy and getting him better now i've got to give it away. Shame on me for not doing my homework.

PS...Anyone interested in a Blue Tang?
 
Sorry this fish didn't work out for you. But there are many fish that are a good fit for your tank. Do some research on Live Aquaria.
And the Blue Tang says 'Thanks!'.
 
Just posted on the local forum for free pickup. I'd rather not take him back to the LFS. This sucks but I learned my lesson the hard way.

Thanks fellas
 
Try a bunch of Gobies and a Pistol Shrimp!
My 93 cube is dedicated to smaller fish.

Maybe the LFS will trade or give you credit.
And shame on them for selling you that fish if they knew what size tank it was going in.
 
They absolutely knew. Sad part is that I bought two fish from them at the same time. A diamond goby (who went carpet surfing from my QT) and this guy. Not their fault about the Goby. I'll call them later and see. Just hate to bring him back there for them to tell someone else the same thing they told me. And I don't think I even want to give them any more business. There are a few decent LFS around here.
 
Hey all the more credit to you for taking the advice well. Too many would dig in and not listen.

As for your question some fish just take a while to settle in. My firefish hid in the rocks for a couple months only darting out for food. Now she is front and center in the tank all the time.

Plenty of cool small fish out there. Look into the blennies or gobies. If you want a bigger fish a flame hawkfish is cool if you don't mind not having shrimp.
 
I do plan on stopping by the place next time i'm in the area to speak with him. Also going to post on here in the local section because I know there are a bunch of people that shop there. Plan on having a conversation with the owner prior to the post.

Regardless...Its not good business.
 
mattyg18 said:
I do plan on stopping by the place next time i'm in the area to speak with him. Also going to post on here in the local section because I know there are a bunch of people that shop there. Plan on having a conversation with the owner prior to the post.

Regardless...Its not good business.
Click to expand...

I would definitely talk to the owners before blasting them on your local forum, or the locals might gang up on you.
 
I absolutely plan to speak to the owner before posting what happened as I previously mentioned . I have to give the guy a fair shot. The thing that bothers me is that the owner of the place is the actual guy who sold me the fish so he can't blame the worker this time.

I'll try calling today when they open and let you guys know what happened if you're interested.
 
I'm going to be the bad guy here...

Why is this the fish stores fault? There job is to sell fish, it's your job to know how to care for it.

You wouldn't buy anything else without being educated first would you? House, car, dog, cat.

It's a business, not a charity or rescue operation.


I'm not trying to be a jerk here, so don't take any of this the wrong way.
 
Not saying it's the LFS's fault, just saying he's an unscrupulous type that doesn't give a rats arse if the fish he sells lives or dies.
 
Bent said:
I'm going to be the bad guy here...

Why is this the fish stores fault? There job is to sell fish, it's your job to know how to care for it.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm a different kind of bad guy.

I would try to get a full cash refund first. If that doesn't happen... You already have the fish and have prophylactically treated for disease and it's eating. I would not give it away to someone else. I would sell it to someone else. If you have to grow it out another couple inches over a few months to a year to get your money back, so be it.
 
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