What would you do?

[mcozad829]

I am in possession of a sailfin tang. I have a 70 gallon aquarium.

Ok before you all say that tank is to small... I know. Let me give you some background on how I came to this fish. A person that I know purchased this guy at petco. He took it home to his 55 gallon and threw it in with a school of bluefin damsels. I got a phone call a few days later that he needed me to look at his fish. It was floating at the top all of its fins had been ripped off and I was pretty sure it was going to die. Long story short I took it home and put it in my 10 gallon quarantine tank medicated it and waited for it to die. As the weeks went on he started swimming in the tiny tank and started to grow fins back. It has been close to a year now and he is a 4 1/2 - 5 inch fish. I have put him in the 70 gallon as the original owner didn't take him back. As of now his tail and pectoral fins are 100% however he probably only grew back about 25% of his sail. Nobody wants a sailfin without a sail. Fish stores won't take him, and I am not sure what to do. Should I just keep him in the 70? I have plans of upgrading to a 300 but that is at least a year out. So my real question is what would you do in my situation?

 

[mrdobie]

if he is happy and you are updating keep him. you took a sick and almost dead animal and nursed it back to life.IMO you have history keep it.

 

[Reef Frog]

A 4.5-5 inch fish isn't that bad on a temporary basis in a 55 gallon IMO. Not ideal but can't see any harm in it unless he's likely to grow a great deal in the coming months.

If you're upgrading to a big tank in a year you should be fine. Nice job on saving that fish from your friend mistake.

 

[johnike]

Yep, you're that fishes best friend now.
A year in a 70 isn't horrible.

 

[mcozad829]

Here is a pic of him (sorry about the quality)... still looks rough I am wondering if the sail will ever grow back.

 

[mcozad829]

Nice job on saving that fish from your friend mistake.

I never said friend lol

 

[aquaph8]

While not the ideal conditions for him in the long run, sometimes these less than perfect fish are better off where they are than the alternative. Nice job with him, I say if he seems happy let him be.

 

[ska d]

Well here's something to think about. I had a beauty of a blonde naso tang. Got it when it wasn't even showing blonde yet. Kept it for about 4years in a 90g with the intention that I would give it up someday. He was a beauty and the day came when I figured its 6-7inch frame was to big for its home. So I know this younge fella with a really nice 250g +100g sump system, that I sold my naso to. He sent me pics after he settled in and he was real happy in his new digs. After about 6 months and about 2 weeks ago I dropped the fella an email to see how the fish was doing. To my shock and disappointment the fish had passed. Well, all his fish had passed along with all the coral, he estimated about 10k worth of livestock. Turns out we had a long power outage this winter and his power was out for over a week. Even with a generator he wasn't able to keep the tanks warm enough, along with a couple of snakes that were saved by hearing them with those heating packs. I definitely agree with not keeping tangs in smaller tanks but after that experience I may loosen up a bit. It total hind site but if I had kept that naso he'd still be alive and probably happy. Tried to do the right thing and he's gone, it just a real head scratcher. So your situation is completely different but the reality is that fish may very well end living a very nice happy healthy life in your tank. Nice Save!

 

[Dmorty217]

you took the time to save the fishes life now twice by my count so if it were me and i was attached to the tang i would keep him until you get the other tank setup, assuming that really happens. IME tangs will grow slower when not as happy and in lower flow, undersized tank

 

[tiffyreefer]

I say keep him as well! Even if you can't do a 300, upgrade to a 6 footer and don't pack it with rock. Where ever he is....it's obvious that you take his best interests to heart

 

[mcozad829]

My thoughts have been in line with what you all have said and I thank you for reassuring me. It has been my dream for years to have an 8 foot tank it just seems that every time I almost have $8,000 saved up to start the project something happens (last time it was twin girls) so I am on track to have the money saved for the build within the year but life happens and in the broad scheme of things the fish tank is of lower priority. (says my wife) I will plan on keeping, him hopefully before he is cramped I can get the bigger tank set up. Side note do you guys think his sail will ever fully grow back?

 

[MikeandNicole]

His sail may never grow back, but even if it does not, he still looks like a lovely fish!
Kudos to you for the rescue, for nursing him back to health, and for braving the boards to ask for suggestions about his well being.
Good work.

 

[drej424]

Great story, kudos to you for saving that fish! Enjoy!

 

[johnike]

Noticed your avatar as well, thank you sir.

 

[Dmorty217]

Yes I believe with enough time and proper diet the sail will grow back but it could take several months for that to occur

 

[mcozad829]

Yes I believe with enough time and proper diet the sail will grow back but it could take several months for that to occur

What would you consider a proper diet? Right now he is getting frozen mysis and sally's seaweed salad on a veggie clip. He won't eat flake food and I haven't tried any pellets. If anyone could recommend a good tang food I'd love to hear it.

 

[Macimage]

I buy plain nori from the grocery store and wrap my flake food inside it. They ended up getting a taste of the flake food and eventually my tangs all started vigorously eating floating flake food.

 

[davocean]

Not specific to tangs but I do like NLS pellets, maybe try that.
Good on you for saving it and i agree, keep it and good luck on the upcoming upgrade for him.
Perhaps that swim room and a good diet will help that sail come back over time.

 

[mcozad829]

So he made a Liar out of me. I gave it another shot today with the flakes, its been about a month since I tried, and he went nuts for it.

Also my tank that he went into was a FOWLR that had a lion, picasso, and snowflake. They didn't bother him while they were in there together (that I saw) but I sold the predators yesterday and am in the process of converting to a mixed reef. I will say that in just a day without the predators he is much more active and seems happier now than ever.

 

[Nina51]

nice!! glad to see you are keeping him.

i have an orange spotted goby that got beat up by a dottyback (impulse buy, lesson learned!). i moved the goby over to my 14g. all of his fins grew back just fine, he swims like a champ, but he remains tailless. i call him my special fish.