Powder Blue Tang

[hanas]

From what I've been reading on-line this fish is extremely difficult to maintain in the aquarium.

I'm curious to see what type of luck people have had with the PBT. Are they difficult to feed at first? I know they are more prone to ich than other tangs, but if properly quarantined how are they? What makes them difficult? Any tips for success that have worked for you?

 

[JENnKerry]

One of the key things to maintaining this fish is to get a healthy one to begin with. I'm pretty sure the reason they are so difficult is because they do not ship well.
They are one of the more harder to care for tangs for this reason. I've had mine since May and he is my favorite fish. It took him a few days before he started picking on the rocks. It was almost two weeks before he started eating nori. Now he eats whatever I put in there. I highly recommend giving him nori at least several times a week.

 

[fppf]

I have had mine for a year now.
Just understand and know what your getting into first. That goes with any fish.

 

[Broodingwolf]

Find a healthy specimen that has been in the store for a while. They are a great fish.

 

[jmicky41]

I had one. It acclimated quickly, ate from day one, and never had a trace of Ich. But, that sucker was mean. It even would flash at established fish, so out he went.

 

[hanas]

When you say find a specimen that's been in the store for awhile, how long would you suggest? 2 weeks?

 

[JENnKerry]

When you say find a specimen that's been in the store for awhile, how long would you suggest? 2 weeks?

The thing is you want to see it eat. A newly arrived fish at the LFS probably won't eat right away. If you ask to watch it eat, chances are it's been there for a while and has settled down some.

 

[hanas]

okay, that's what I was thinking. A lot of the PBT tangs I see in the LFS don't have very vibrant colors, again this is probably due to stress and lack of nutrition. When you bought yours did it have vibrant colors, or did those come out once the fish became settled in?

 

[Broodingwolf]

I'd say try for at least 2 weeks if not longer. My LFS does not sell the more expensive fish very quickly, so its a lot easier to keep an eye on one specimen.

 

[MIKE NY]

I have had mine for several years and at first it was pale and thin like most of them on arrival. It took me about six months to get it in shape. They need alot of swimming space with good to strong current. Some rockwork with caves to swim around and through to give them security. Their diet must be varied with meaty foods and lots of greens. They are very active strong swimmers and stress out easily......here's mine..one of my favorite fish.......

 

[hanas]

Would a 20G Q-Tank be too small for the PBT? I would probably QT him for at least 2 to 3 weeks after buying him from the store.

 

[jda]

IMO - they get fatter and healthier when fed with a good amount of protein. I try and get them on Formula II pellets as soon as possible. They don't seem to grow as fast or get as fat on nori alone. They love mysis, clam, shrimp, etc. Most of the stressed, diseased BPTs that I have seen are skinny. ...so I keep mine from getting skinny. Formula II pellets have garlic in them as well.

I have never had a problem with agression with the last couple that I have had. Give them plenty of room and lots of food. I have a 2" specimin in a 210G tank.

 

[KAiNE]

My wife "had" to have one. At the LFS that i refuse to do business with every one is ICH infested but noooo... she couldn't just let me order one, she had to have it NOW!

So... home i went with a sick fish.... QT'd him and he didn't eat well at all so against my better judgment i cut his time is solitary short and added him to the main display. he immediately flashed anything near him. From that moment on he started eating very well and has grown. I never saw anymore signs of ICH and the only other fish he doesn't "like" is a black sailfin blenny.. don't know why. He gets along fine with another tang and other than being the dominant fish he is great.

 

[KAiNE]

Oh yea.... formula II... he loves that, goes nuts when he sees the green lid.
Show him a blue lid (formula I) and he will swim away...lol

 

[Asuran]

formula II eh?

i'm on my second PBT first one was lost to ich... this time I QT'd and still ich shows up in QT... took care of that and is in the maintank for about 1 week now. he is a mean little guy and my sailfin is twice as big as he is. Started out fighting but after a day they've worked things out. he still flashes the sailfin to let it know who's boss.

mine was eating flakes at the store but was able to convert him over to other foods in about 3 days... garlic soaked.

they are hard to start off with but once they are around long enough they are great.

 

[NaClH20NMYVEIN]

I would love to get one for my 300g shark tank. But I already have a naso, a orangeshoulder, and a duissimer tang in there so I dont think it would work out.

 

[hanas]

Would a 20G QT tank be too small for a 2-3 inch specimen? Again, he would probably be QT for at least 2 to 3 weeks after being at the LFS.

 

[Asuran]

should be ok i guess in the time being as long as its got a hiding place. i had mine in a 30

 

[reefanaddik]

good luck

 

[hanas]

Thanks!!