Feeding a new blue tang

Timbor · 12/31/2009, 02:23 PM

Hi there,

2 days ago I picked up a 2" blue tang from my lfs. At the store, I saw it eating frozen brine shrimp.

Since introducing the fish to the tank, I can't definitely say I've "seen" it eat anything I feed. I've put in a homemade frozen mix made from various seafoods and nori, PE mysis, shaved raw table shrimp, and I just put in some nori on a clip. The tang has shown interest in the food (swimming up and investigating) but I can't confirm it actually ate any of it. I have seen him pick at the rocks and gravel, so perhaps he is eating something.

The tang is the only other fish in the tank other than a small black mollie that doesn't do much. The tang has been rather cryptic over the past couple days - ie he typically hangs out near the rockwork rather than out in the open. I'm assuming he is still nervous from the move and because there are no dither fish?

Any ideas? I was thinking of trying some live brine shrimp to see what effect they have.

Thanks,

Tim

boxfishpooalot · 12/31/2009, 02:27 PM

Make his home comfortable. That is all. More hiding spots, more friends- other fish of his kind. He will wake up. And do water changes to balance imbalances.

Timbor · 12/31/2009, 02:34 PM

Well, there are lots of hiding places. I was planning on waiting a few weeks to add more fish - I wanted to add a pair of pearly jaws. Would it be a good idea to add a dither-fish in the meantime?

I've been working hard to keep my levels in line, esp Ca and Alk. My clam sure loves to grow though! I've already got some water mixing for a change in a day or two.

At what point would you start worrying if he continues to not eat (at least not eat in front of me...)?

Crush Coral · 12/31/2009, 02:41 PM

If you see it picking at stuff then I would not worry too much. Make sure that the only food offered is not "meat" as it could bind him up. Pick up a small jar of garlic from the supermariket and add a few drops of the juice to your food and let soak for 10 mins (no extra water at this point) and then add that to the tank. Makes the food more attractive to the fish. Good luck - I love my regal tang.

sanababit · 12/31/2009, 03:36 PM

give it time, maybe dont feed him for a couple of days and he will start to get hungry, i went thru the same thing with a powder blue tang, good luck

sana

Teelabrown · 12/31/2009, 06:32 PM

Our purple tang really responded well to the nori on a clip. It took him a bit to get used to the idea, but now he plows through it. Give him time. Is he picking on the rocks?

petemattersen · 12/31/2009, 06:34 PM

I have had good luck with garlic for picky eaters also.

12/31/2009, 02:23 PM	#1
Timbor Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 554	Feeding a new blue tang Hi there, 2 days ago I picked up a 2" blue tang from my lfs. At the store, I saw it eating frozen brine shrimp. Since introducing the fish to the tank, I can't definitely say I've "seen" it eat anything I feed. I've put in a homemade frozen mix made from various seafoods and nori, PE mysis, shaved raw table shrimp, and I just put in some nori on a clip. The tang has shown interest in the food (swimming up and investigating) but I can't confirm it actually ate any of it. I have seen him pick at the rocks and gravel, so perhaps he is eating something. The tang is the only other fish in the tank other than a small black mollie that doesn't do much. The tang has been rather cryptic over the past couple days - ie he typically hangs out near the rockwork rather than out in the open. I'm assuming he is still nervous from the move and because there are no dither fish? Any ideas? I was thinking of trying some live brine shrimp to see what effect they have. Thanks, Tim __________________ "I bet a funny thing about driving a car off a cliff is; while you're in midair you still hit those brakes... Hey, better try the emergency brake! - J.H." Current Tank Info: None currently

12/31/2009, 02:27 PM	#2
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	Make his home comfortable. That is all. More hiding spots, more friends- other fish of his kind. He will wake up. And do water changes to balance imbalances. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

12/31/2009, 02:34 PM	#3
Timbor Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 554	Well, there are lots of hiding places. I was planning on waiting a few weeks to add more fish - I wanted to add a pair of pearly jaws. Would it be a good idea to add a dither-fish in the meantime? I've been working hard to keep my levels in line, esp Ca and Alk. My clam sure loves to grow though! I've already got some water mixing for a change in a day or two. At what point would you start worrying if he continues to not eat (at least not eat in front of me...)? __________________ "I bet a funny thing about driving a car off a cliff is; while you're in midair you still hit those brakes... Hey, better try the emergency brake! - J.H." Current Tank Info: None currently

12/31/2009, 03:36 PM	#5
sanababit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uranus Posts: 3,094	give it time, maybe dont feed him for a couple of days and he will start to get hungry, i went thru the same thing with a powder blue tang, good luck sana __________________ Senior Member of the "Hardly any Water Changes, Temp Swinging, T5ing, No Qtining, Frag Exchanging for Fish Food Current Tank Info: 90RR inwall, Octopuss Skimmer, 2 MP40 wQD, 1 MP10 WQD, 2 Radions G4 Pro, Apex Doser, Apex Controller, 400w heater, 30 Gal Sump, Biopellets, Carbon, Gfo, Macroalgae

12/31/2009, 06:34 PM	#7
petemattersen Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Waterman Posts: 154	I have had good luck with garlic for picky eaters also. __________________ Hot rodder/Fish nerd Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef, 30 gal mangrove swamp

12/31/2009, 02:41 PM	#4
Crush Coral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,233	If you see it picking at stuff then I would not worry too much. Make sure that the only food offered is not "meat" as it could bind him up. Pick up a small jar of garlic from the supermariket and add a few drops of the juice to your food and let soak for 10 mins (no extra water at this point) and then add that to the tank. Makes the food more attractive to the fish. Good luck - I love my regal tang.

12/31/2009, 06:32 PM	#6
Teelabrown Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 96	Our purple tang really responded well to the nori on a clip. It took him a bit to get used to the idea, but now he plows through it. Give him time. Is he picking on the rocks?