Please help!

[oO BRIGHTY Oo]

Just bought a regal tang about 8 hours ago, have been out for the evening and left the lights off in the aquarium, just came home and turned the lights on to find the tang nearly White in colour and looking pretty scared, there is nothing in the tank that could be bullying it, is this normal?!

 

[carey]

How big is the tank? Tangs are stressed very easily....is he swimming or anything or is he hiding?

 

[oO BRIGHTY Oo]

The tank is 57 gallon (US) we bought a very small tang, it's just over an inch long. It is swimming around, did a water check and everything is fine.

 

[carey]

I would leave the lights down for awhile. When I put in my tangs they did mellow alot in color but within a day or so they came back to full color.

I hope youre aware that the recommended size for a blue tang is 180 gallons or at least a six foot tank. The smaller tank can stress them very easily, small or not. They literally spend their day swimming back and forth.

do you have plans for an upgrade soon?

 

[crister13]

+1. At least a six foot tank for one. You should be fine with a 125g if you you upgrade.

 

[oO BRIGHTY Oo]

Sorry I've only got back to you both, have gad a very busy week, thank you both for your input, we shall eventually get a 6ft tank to better accommodate our tang and other fish that need more swimming space before we purchase them

I think the initial stress of moving from the lfs and being put into a new environment was the main cause of colour (color!) loss, but as the week has gone on it has really perked up, is best buddies with the clown pair, a big relief!

It lives brine shrimp and mysis but seems to be totally oblivious to the algae wafers I put in there for it!

 

[Maya]

For the tang.. Strips of nori and dried seaweeds are best. I personally think the veggie clips that suction cup to the side of your tank are the easiest. These fish are herbivores that are not going to be at optimal health unless they have veggie based diets. Our tang gets a small sheet almost daily to pick at through the day.

 

[oO BRIGHTY Oo]

Did I write algae, sorry I meant to say seaweed but is seriously not interested, will look for other veggie based foods!

 

[FTMMWS]

Try spinach and broccoli and peas and Nori,don't clip it,just cut it up into tiny bite sized pieces and toss it in ..Also tangs do need some meat in there diet ,,krill,scallops ,table shrimp..I feed my tank all of the above ,plus many other greens and meats

 

[oO BRIGHTY Oo]

Ok so I have just Worked out that we have a 68 gallon tank not a 57 as I was staring the uk gallon conversion of 260litres!! So it is bigger then I stated!!

 

[standridge32]

I would go with formula 1 and 2 mixed with mysis shrimp. Tangs love it and has a variety of everything omnivores need. Does your tank have circulation filters?

 

[standridge32]

I meant to ask what size circulation filters you have?

 

[oO BRIGHTY Oo]

We have a fluval 305 canister filter which is drilled through the base of the aquarium