My Yellow Tang is ignoring seaweeds!

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Hi all,

For couple days he has been ignoring the seaweed I put in the tank. I tried green, red, brown and everything from "please rob me" 9.99 sheets from LFS to my California roll to no avail. Could he be on the hunger strike to voice his protest of being in captivity?

 

[jbozz]

What is your water parameter? sudden change in fish apetite indicate something is not right with the water condition. Have u try spectrum food product?

 

[Ziggy953]

Do you see him picking at your rock work?

How long has the tang been in your tank?

 

[Innovator]

Eating tends to cease when stress occurs, either from poor water quality to harassment by tankmates to disease. Post more information about your tank such as water parameters, inhabitants, feeding regimen, etc. How long have you had the tang?

 

[Ziggy953]

I went back and looked at your other thread...I'm thinking its the fact that your tank hasn't cycled yet and your fish are over stressed by a new system. You should be checking your ammonia levels daily. I would also suggest doing PWCs weekly until your tank gets more established.... the other option would be to take the fish back to your LFS and let your tank cycle

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Eating tends to cease when stress occurs, either from poor water quality to harassment by tankmates to disease. Post more information about your tank such as water parameters, inhabitants, feeding regimen, etc. How long have you had the tang?

I have had the Tang for 3 days now. He does took some flake food particles but ignores the seaweed. Yesterday when he saw the canary blenny, he came straight over from his hiding place and did the body trashing with all fins fully erect (looked like he was on Viagra). That tells me he is comfy in his enviroment? This am, the seaweed is still there so I checked the water chemistry again. Ammonia (safe), Nitrite/ate =0. Just checked on him and the seaweed is still there. Since the blenny is virtually absent (after his head first dive into the sand), he is all by himself so he is not harrased by anyone. His stomach is slightly sunken so I know the guy is hungry. What to do? Dai

 

[cmor1701d]

I also just read your other thread. How much Live Rock do you have (in pounds)?
Was it fully cured? Did you get it at the local fish store or online?
How long was the rock out of water before you put it in the tank?

I tend to agree that the tang is exhibiting signs of stress. I'm not sure that your tank is cycled. The cirlce ammonia indicator is not fast enough or accurate enouhg to to be used. You should get an ammonia test kit and use it daily.

If you can tell that the belly is sunken you should take the fish back to the lfs for now till your tank is ready.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

I also just read your other thread. How much Live Rock do you have (in pounds)?
Was it fully cured? Did you get it at the local fish store or online?
How long was the rock out of water before you put it in the tank?

I tend to agree that the tang is exhibiting signs of stress. I'm not sure that your tank is cycled. The cirlce ammonia indicator is not fast enough or accurate enouhg to to be used. You should get an ammonia test kit and use it daily.

If you can tell that the belly is sunken you should take the fish back to the lfs for now till your tank is ready.

I have about 50 lbs of live rock (cured with coraline all over). I got them at LFS. After I got them I drove home right away and put them in. So far, the false corals, mushrooms and feather dusters are opening up. Still no sign of the blenny. Dai

 

[melosu58]

We need to get him to eat something. Try some mysis or vitamin fortified brine or high quality flake to get him to eat something. After we figure out the stress factor then we can try the seaweed.

 

[pat8you]

You should ask your LFS if they could maybe hold your fish in one of their tanks for a week or two while your tank cycles. Might help take some of the stress from you water conditions off but if he is already really stressed moving him again with another acclimation might push him over the edge. Something to considers if the mysis or flake doesn't take.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Tang not eating

Hi all,

He is still not eating and his belly is sunking in more. I brought the water to LFS to test and all are in order. I also tested the water at home too. No trace of Nitrite/ate and ammonia. PH is good and CA is good too. Saliniaty is 1.026. He practically ignoring ALL food (flakes, shrimps,seaweed,caulerpa). The canary blenny is eating up a storm though. He only comes out few hours a day then dissappered into the sand bed. I know that two tangs are bad but I wonder if I should get one more so the other one can feel more at home? I am near considering forced feeding on my Tang so any ideas will be appreciated. Dai

 

[melosu58]

Supposedly soaking your food in garlic oil will stimulate them to eat. Try that.

 

[Innovator]

Can you post a picture of the Tang? Are there any red blemishes or other physicalities you might want to mention?

 

[fishcrack]

I'm not sure how you are feeding your tang but anything that will stress him out further will only make matters worse. When we had a sick tang, we did use Garlic Guard and soaked mysis in it. My son used a long eye dropper to gently squeeze some mysis in front of the tang to coax it to eat. We kept the actinic lights on only and minimized movement in the room. The cleaner shrimp also seemed to help. He forced the tang into a corner and gave him a good cleaning! We never figured out what was wrong, but the fish did recover. Good luck.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

It Died!

Hi all,

My Tang listed to one side and I put him in the sump hoping him would eat the Caulerpa but it was too late. Water chemistry is right on. Even two LFS experts shook their heads in disbeliefs on why my tank is crashing down. Especially after they both give me the green light to stock corals and fish. I also have a thread about my aquarium that maybe you all can help. I am so sad. This hobby can really drive you to drink. DP

 

[cmor1701d]

I posted to your other thread. You need to start over and cycle the tank, then go slow. Everything will be fine then.