Powder blue Tang not eating.

[Ukreeferguy2020]

My adult powder blue Tang doesn't appear to eat very much. He will graze on the rocks, but I never see him eating any of the seaweed from the clip. My lipstick tang does but he don't go near it.

Any suggestions or anything else I can try with him?

Thanks.


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[mike61289]

Is it a new fish?

 

[Ukreeferguy2020]

Is it a new fish?

Yes, to be fair it's only been in there a couple of weeks. You recognise that?


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[mike61289]

Yes, to be fair it's only been in there a couple of weeks. You recognise that?


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It's still a bit stressing if it's not eating by now.

What have you been offering it? Make sure it's getting a lot of greens! Spirulina should get him going. You can try some meaty foods too, like mysis. If the tang likes to pick at algae in a few specific areas, try wrapping a rock in that area with nori (use an elastic to pin it down).

 

[Ukreeferguy2020]

Actually, it's probably been more like a week. It does still hide a lot so probably still settling. Only tried nori so far. Will get some spirulina though and try the rock and band trick. Thank you. You


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[Ukreeferguy2020]

I do feed Mysis too but not seen him eat any


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[scooter31707]

did you quarantine? if so, what did he eat then or did you see it eat before purchase?

 

[Ukreeferguy2020]

No didn't quarantine, straight in after acclimation. I saw him grazing in the shop but think they got the price wrong so just snapped him up there and then.


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[scooter31707]

No didn't quarantine, straight in after acclimation. I saw him grazing in the shop but think they got the price wrong so just snapped him up there and then.


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This might come back and bite you. This is one tang, along with the Hippo and Achilles that needs to be quarantine. Keep an eye on him and Good Luck.

 

[Ukreeferguy2020]

Lol. Thanks. He don't seem too stressed, just a little shy. Hopefully he'll come out of his shell like the lipstick has.


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[BrianD]

What size tank and what other (larger) tankmates?

They are a very shy fish by nature. If you have other actively grazing (large) fish, the PBT may starve rather than forage for food (they are active grazers and should be in a mature tank).

 

[Ukreeferguy2020]

Hi Brian. Tank is 100g and he is the biggest fish in there. The next is a smaller lipstick but they are the only tangs.


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[zchauvin]

Hi Brian. Tank is 100g and he is the biggest fish in there. The next is a smaller lipstick but they are the only tangs.


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Tank is mighty small, just saying considering powder blue are schooling fish who graze.


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[Ukreeferguy2020]

Small!? It's 5 foot long and two foot high!


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[zchauvin]

Powder blue Tang not eating.

Small!? It's 5 foot long and two foot high!


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Just look at David Saxbys tank. Now think of putting that same fish he has in a 100g.. You have to remember where these fish come from, especially considering the schooling and feeding habits of something like a Powder Blue.


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[Ukreeferguy2020]

I know what you mean, but it's still no doubt the biggest tank that this one has ever been in. I don't think it's a wild one never been in the open waters. I know there are guidelines but if everyone stuck to those, nobody apart from maybe half a percent of tank owners who have ridiculously large tanks that take over their houses would have anything higher than a common clown. I had a 120l before and was told it would be cruel to have anything more than ONE clown fish!!! Of course I had a lot more than that and everything was great in there.


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[Ukreeferguy2020]

I'm not a knob btw, if the PBT shoes any signs of actual distress or unhappiness than I will be sure to re home him. He's only been in a week and does seem to be a bit more explorative tonight. He's hanging out with the lipstick too which I never thought would happen. Was obviously a good idea to add them at almost the same time.


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[BrianD]

I know what you mean, but it's still no doubt the biggest tank that this one has ever been in.

Perhaps, but before that he was in the ocean.

I don't think it's a wild one never been in the open waters.

I don't know of any PBT that are captive bred.

I know there are guidelines but if everyone stuck to those, nobody apart from maybe half a percent of tank owners who have ridiculously large tanks that take over their houses would have anything higher than a common clown.

The guidance is to prevent aquarists from housing fish in tanks that may not be suited, which generally results in a lack of feeding response. Since you are having problems with your tang eating, the size of the tank is a definite potential cause.

I had a 120l before and was told it would be cruel to have anything more than ONE clown fish!!! Of course I had a lot more than that and everything was great in there.

The advice you may have received about a different tank and a different fish really don't apply to this issue.

 

[BrianD]

I'm not a knob btw, if the PBT shoes any signs of actual distress or unhappiness than I will be sure to re home him. He's only been in a week and does seem to be a bit more explorative tonight. He's hanging out with the lipstick too which I never thought would happen. Was obviously a good idea to add them at almost the same time.


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Your tank is much too small for the Naso. They "hang out" because of size limitations. They are competitors for the same food sources, and will probably not coexist.

 

[Ukreeferguy2020]

The price I paid for him I wouldn't have thought it was wild. I paid double for my gold stripe maroon clowns! He had been eating in the tank it was kept in in the LFS that was a quarter the size so I don't think that size is an issue. He is actually darting about with the lipstick as we speak so I'm hoping he's getting a bit more comfortable.


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