Powder Blue Tang, temperment and hardiness

[SINNERMF]

I have been wanting a Powder Blue Tang forever. However I've heard people say they're "nothing but ick factories", or they are hard to get to eat, so on and so forth. Also I have heard of them being "holy terrors", killing fish nipping, and keeping passive fish in hiding. Anyone have any insight for me??
Thanks,
Mike

 

[JENnKerry]

That seems to be the general consensus. They are one of the harder to care for tangs. But I think the main key is to get a healthy one from the start. Mine came down with ick the first week I had him. Then it went away. A year and a half later, he's still fat, healthy and going strong. His temperment is also not what others seem to say about them. He's actually quite passive. A very cool fish. Give him lots of room (big tank) and a good diet (lots of greens).

 

[SINNERMF]

next question, I have heard that the smaller ones tend to not ship as well. is this true? Also should it be one of the last fish added or would it not matter?? someone had told me that I should have neon gobies and cleaner shrimp in the tank incase of a ick outbreak.

 

[SINNERMF]

o yea, how about color loss??? I read that they need certain algaes to maintain. color.

 

[JENnKerry]

They are aggressive by nature and should be added last.

 

[surgeon_fan]

i have had one for about a year and a half, it is hard to find one in the stores that is in good shape, that is the hardest part of the battle. they are aggressive especially to other members of the genus acanthurus. if you can find a healthy one they are great, very active fish. i have not hoticed any color loss, i feed 3 different types of freeze dried alge along with frozen omnivore food, he seems to eat just about anything

 

[Asuran]

definately make sure you start off with a healthy specimen and one that is eating at the store. My previous one was quite passive actually and didnt harass any other fish kept to itself and ate like a champ. Lost him when i upgraded tanks. My current one definately is "king" of the tank.

as for ich both times i have QT'd but still a light break out of ich but it fought it off as it was eating right away.

i dont see colour loss actually it was more pale at the LFS... and looks much better now. i feed frozen mysid, seaweed, formula 2 and formula 1 pellets.

 

[NoSchwag]

I had to get rid of the clown tang I just picked up tonight because of my powder blues aggressiveness.

My advise to you is make sure it's the last tang you want to own.

 

[jmicky41]

I tried one in my 125 and gave it away a few weeks later. That thing was mean - I would constantly flash at the established fish. As far as being hardy,like others already said, the key is to find a good one to start with. Most you see in the stores are already on their way out, usually they are way to thin.