Powder blue tang primer

Here is an interesting story on unpredictable tang behavior. As I related earlier on on this thread, the PBT was OK with the other tangs but was homicidal toward a Scott's Wrasse. The PBT ended up in the refugium for about 1 1/2 months. He was then reintroduced into the display but unfortunately his attitude toward the wrasse did not change at all. As soon as he saw him it charged to kill him. I was resigned to give the PBT away. In the meantime I have been eying a very nice sohal tang at the LFS. I have been watching this fish for a while. He was housed with several regal tangs and never bother them. With this fish indeed aggressive behavior was of paramount concern. I became convinced that this particular specimen had a mellow disposition so I gave it a shot and took him home.
Here is the interesting part. As soon as the Sohal hit the display the attitude of the PBT toward the Scott's Wrasse changed immediately. Like if a switch went off. From that very moment the incredible aggressiveness he had for the wrasse became complete indifference. It was funny to look at the wrasse who could not believe he was finally able to swim freely without having to be chastised by the PBT. A few times they came face to face and the wrasse was ready to zoom away where as the PBT remained completely indifferent like if the other fish did not exist.
The best explanation is that the PBT recognized the sohal as most dominant fish and did not feel he had to defend the territory anymore.
All this was interesting and fascinating. Now I am happy I have 8 tangs in my tang all coexisting peacefully together and with the other fish.
 
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Multiple Tangs

Multiple Tangs

Here is an interesting story on unpredictable tang behavior. As I related earlier on on this thread, the PBT was OK with the other tangs but was homicidal toward a Scott's Wrasse. The PBT ended up in the refugium for about 1 1/2 months. He was then reintroduced into the display but unfortunately his attitude toward the wrasse did not change at all. As soon as he saw him it charged to kill him. I was resigned to give the PBT away. In the meantime I have been eying a very nice sohal tang at the LFS. I have been watching this fish for a while. He was housed with several regal tangs and never bother them. With this fish indeed aggressive behavior was of paramount concern. I became convinced that this particular specimen had a mellow disposition so I gave it a shot and took him home.
Here is the interesting part. As soon as the Sohal hit the display the attitude of the PBT toward the Scott's Wrasse changed immediately. Like if a switch went off. From that very moment the incredible aggressiveness he had for the wrasse became complete indifference. It was funny to look at the wrasse who could not believe he was finally able to swim freely without having to be chastised by the PBT. A few times they came face to face and the wrasse was ready to zoom away where as the PBT remained completely indifferent like if the other fish did not exist.
The best explanation is that the PBT recognized the sohal as most dominant fish and did not feel he had to defend the territory anymore.
All this was interesting and fascinating. Now I am happy I have 8 tangs in my tang all coexisting peacefully together and with the other fish.

I too have a Powder Blue who thinks he is the "official initiator" of all newcomers. He usually chases for about a day and then it is all a happy community of tangs swimming the full length of the tank. I recently added what I plan to be my last tang and he is now swimming around the tank with all the other tangs like one big happy community.

02/07/07 Powder Blue Tang - 4 1/2"
11/28/07 Yellow bellied regal blue tang - 5"
10/23/07 Purple tang - 4"
08/08/06 Sailfin Tang - 5"
06/13/09 Vlamingii Tang - 4 1/2"
01/15/10 Clown Tang - 4"
 
Flat red leaf like coral in the upper left top of your tank

Flat red leaf like coral in the upper left top of your tank

Give it time my friend it will!! I wish I could say it was an easy road for me but.... we all have our fish storys LOL.

Emilio:

I recently purchased a red leaf like coral which you have in the upper left hand corner of your all tank photo. Is that an SPS Montiopora of some species?
 
Thank you!

Thank you!

Yes it is, it's Montipora cap they grow fast in the right conditions.

I really like this coral as it seems it is always seen in tropical reef shows on television. Although I like my Powder Blue and other fish, I like have corals in the tanks as well.
 
I recently gave away three of my six tangs which leave me with the following:

02/07/07 Powder Blue Tang - 4 1/2"
10/23/07 Purple tang - 4"
01/15/10 Clown Tang - 4"

Everybody seems to be eating well and enjoying the extra room, including the Powder Blue.
 
Powder Blue Tang - 4 1/2" in tank since 02/07/2007

Powder Blue Tang - 4 1/2" in tank since 02/07/2007

My Powder Blue has been in the tanks since February 2007 and has grown to 4 1/2 ". He has plenty of attitude and I think I started him off with frozen and freeze dried brine shrimp. He now eats just about anything.
 

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Mysis Shrimp

Mysis Shrimp

I sprinkle a bit of freeze dried mysis shrimp and brine soaked in Vitamin C and Selcon. Also, Ocean Nutrition Flakes One and Two occasionally which are vitamin enriched.

It is definitely a good sign it is eating seaweed since it is a herbivore!:thumbsup:
 
Add with Caution

Add with Caution

I just removed mine after about 2 yrs. . just became too aggressive towards yellow tang and the larger asfur angel where he wouldnt really let them move about freely. tank is a 125..just too small.. fish is super healthy eats everything, but just wasnt working out.. nice fish ,too bad.
 

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well i didn't want to post pictures until the fish was in the DT, but here is:

P1020160.jpg


I thought this guy was pretty cool because he had a cherry blossom pink tail (much nicer than the picture). I'm not going out on a limb to say it was a achilles hybrid, probably just a colour morph.

Turned out when my father went to feed the guy in the QT, he went bezerk and banged himself up real bad, so much that he went belly up. After a few hours he would just hide in the PVC pipes, (though i did catch him sampling some pellets still on the aquarium floor).

So a grand total of 4 hours after the incident, I next found him dead.

Man that was a bummer, the fish was pretty much 2 days from being put in the DT after 14 days of quarantining, eating everything (pellets, nori, mysis, brine, bloodworms)


..was really looking forward to this.

I've heard a lot of horror stories about QT'ing PBT's actually.

They just don't respond well to the small size and lack of rockwork... I think they really need an established tank with tons of LR and corals... they get freaked out by the bare QT tanks.... I put a relatively sickly PBT in my DT right away and he is very skinny, but seems to be "making it" so far, it's only been a week so we'll see... i am doubtful about his survival, but he eats all day long, and doesn't show obvious signs of stress or ich, but i think PBT's are very smart, and need to replicate a natural environment, probably why they do so poorly in shipping and being housed in LFS tanks with little to no rockwork.

They pick at pods and little specks of algae in the rocks, this grazing behavior is essential to making them feel comfortable, I'd say even more so than tank size... they need a varied aquascape with lots of little nooks, crannies, algaes, corals and so on in order to feel "at home" and therefore survive.

The key for me so far has been to put scraps of tenera blue algae throughout the rockwork, so that he can "graze naturally" most tangs seem happy to just go to the same veggie clip every day and devour whatever is on there... But PBTs seem to need to have a more natural set up... they generally don't seem to regularly accept prepared foods such as flakes, mysis, etc, at least when first introduced into the aquarium, algae strips are a must... and from what I've read on this thread, Nori seems to be the winner.

I use an algae product called "tenera blue" every tang i've seen seems to love the stuff, it's very dense and dark green, like collard greens or mustard/turnip greens in coloration... it is thick and dense and a little bit seems to go a long ways, I plan to try nori next after reading this thread.


I really think good aquascaping and algae placement is key. They will eat from the same spot continually, but they will certainly eat more if you spread it all around the tank, it seems to make them more comfortable, especially if you have other tangs in your tank who may want to crowd them at feeding time. Mine seems to not like being watched when he eats, even by small fish.

I have a what would be considered by most to be an incredibly small tank for a PBT, and he seems to exhibit almost no signs of stress, he is shy still, but getting bolder and more active daily. I contribute this to a good aquascape with plenty of hiding places and strategic food placement. All of my other fish are very peaceful as well, and pristine water quality doesn't hurt either.

That being said, and as I said already, he was very skinny when I bought him, so his survival is uncertain, most would say unlikely, but I believe in the little guy! He has tons of caves, and passageways to hide in when he gets spooked, and most of my other fish prefer to float around in the water column keeping mostly to themselves.
 
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I have heard 100 gallons for a Yellow, Purple, or Powder Blue

I have heard 100 gallons for a Yellow, Purple, or Powder Blue

23575_103963379633052_100000581719186_108298_131821_n.jpg
What do you think is the minimum tank size for these fish?

Hello:

I have lived in a five foot 120 gallon reef tank for over two years since I was a small Powder Blue Tang. I think I am the boss of the tank and I dare all newcomers to dispute this fact! I do permit a Purple Tang, a Regal Angelfish, and a Blue Girdled Angelfish to inhabit my tank out of the goodness of my powder blue heart as well as a pair of Clarkii clowns and Cinnamon clowns, assorted damsels, and a pair of Six Lined Wrasses!
 
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Mine has started chasing the algae scraper when I do a scraping. He used to just follow and pick up the algae strings. It looked like he was slurping spaghetti. Do fish have a breeding season or go through a rut at certain times of year. He has been sparring with his reflection and the scraper has a yellow band where it snaps into the handle. He backs up to it and slashes with his tail. I have to be careful so he doesn't hurt hisself on the sharp metal.
 
I know everyone is going to think this is a big no no but I just added a PBT to my 110g 2 days ago and he is very healthy and as soon as I put him on he went straight to picking at the rocks. He showed no signs of stress at any point and still has not. He eats red algae right now. I tried feeding brine shrimp yesterday and he would eat them then spit them out. Hes not shy at all and doing very well. My avitar shows him picking at the rocks.

Hes in the tank with 1 yellow tang, 1 purple tang, 1 sailfin, 1 red sea sailfin, 2 true percs, 1 cleaner wrasse, 1 dragon goby, and 1 foxface rabbitfish.
 
I do not want to rain on your parade. I had six tangs in a five foot 120 reef and have now downsized to a Powder Blue and Purple Tang. I also have a Regal and Blue Girdled Angelfish.
 
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