Can't get new powder blue tang to eat

[AquaVaj]

Got him for about 1.5 weeks now but I have yet to see it eat. Started him in QT in a 20g but looked miserable so this past Sunday I move it to my 40g that I was preparing to break down. It seems a lot more comfortable now with the additional space, sand and rocks. But it still won't eat and shows no interest. I've tried the following plain, soaked with garlic, soaked with selcon.

Omega 1 flakes and pellets
red and green seaweed tied to rock
frozen mysis
frozen brine
frozen bloodworms
frozen reef mix
siprulina flakes

 

[BeanMachine]

Try fish eggs or roe of some type, frozen cyclops, or live black worms.

 

[solitude127]

just out of curiosity, was he eating when you bought him?

 

[reefes pieces]

Also are you running any medications like copper or prazi?

 

[HomeSlizzice]

I second the meds question, but two other foods I would try would be NLS Thera A pellets and Marine Fish Formula, and LRS Reef Frenzy. I have had great luck with both those foods. Kept a Powder Blue Tang and a Regal Angel on both that did great

 

[AquaVaj]

It was straight from the wholesaler and was told it was eating. No meds in either tank. A Flame Angel was with it for a few days in the QT but they got along fine and it's now alone in the 40. I had a YT in there that I'm trying to rehome which I moved to the QT to avoid unnecessary aggression. Should I put them together and see if the PBT will become the aggressor and compete for the food?

Also where would I find live food?

 

[gonumber24]

Most pet stores carry live black worms. I wouldn't put another fish in there with him.

 

[reefes pieces]

Definitely leave the fish by itself. Don't want to stress it anymore. Try some of the live foods suggested above. Never hurts to try some of the foods like masstick that stick on the rocks either.

 

[Justkeepswimming]

How does the tang look and act, besides not eating. Sitting in front of powerheads, flashing on sand, darting across the tank...?

 

[AquaVaj]

How does the tang look and act, besides not eating. Sitting in front of powerheads, flashing on sand, darting across the tank...?

In the 20 it was mostly pacing back and forth on the left side of the tank. Like it was bored out of its mind. In the 40 it seems to be more relaxed. It still goes across the tank occasionally but it's more of a leisurely pace and not darting like before. No flashing but it does like to catch the current of the powerhead now and then. It's not as skittish as before and comes half way out of the cave when I approach the tank. It also approaches the left side of tank if it sees the fish in the 120. They are about 2ft apart.

 

[reefes pieces]

It's tough to get a hold of but if you ever see live red gracilaria Algae aka Tang Heaven then get it. Tangs will go to town

 

[Tangwich]

It's tough to get a hold of but if you ever see live red gracilaria Algae aka Tang Heaven then get it. Tangs will go to town

Or BETTER yet...get the red OGO...tangs go nuts for it, just like Shawn goes nuts for nuts : p

here's a place to order it.

https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/macroalgae/red-ogo/

 

[lowbudget]

It's tough to get a hold of but if you ever see live red gracilaria Algae aka Tang Heaven then get it. Tangs will go to town

not all the time.

 

[AquaVaj]

It's finally starting to take frozen mysis thawed. It's also learned that it's feeding time when all flow is turned off too. Not quite a feeding frenzy yet like with a healthy fish but it's a good start.

 

[cshplumber]

Are you kidding!?! Thats a GREAT start! Glad to hear it! How does it look? Did it get really skinny?

 

[AquaVaj]

It took about 2 weeks so yea it got pretty skinny. I could clearly see the spine and lost a bit of color. I was starting to think it was going to starve itself to death. Hopefully it'll perk up quickly so it won't come down with ich.

 

[reefes pieces]

Glad it's eating!!! That's a first step to success. Keep trying with the Nori. Soak it in mysis juice if you have to. It'll fatten and color up real fast as soon as it takes to Nori.

It took about 2 weeks so yea it got pretty skinny. I could clearly see the spine and lost a bit of color. I was starting to think it was going to starve itself to death. Hopefully it'll perk up quickly so it won't come down with ich.

 

[AquaVaj]

Just great. PBT came down with ich. I saw 1 or 2 specks on his fins and another 1 or 2 on his sides. Gonna start hyposalinity treatment tonight.

 

[reefes pieces]

Why not copper? PBTs are pretty tolerant of copper medication.