Saved a Purple Tang but he lost his color will he get it back?

asonitez · 12/30/2009, 02:41 PM

I recently saved a purple tang from another reefer. He is currently in my 135 gallon. See seemed in good shape physically however, he seemed to have lost his color! His tail isn't yellow anymore and his body is faded but he is eating like a beast. I am feeding him enriched Mysis w/ Garlic and soaked in selcon twice a day. I'm also feeding him spectrum pellets. I overfeed alot and he seems to be doing well with no aggression in the tank. Just to be sure I employ the GLASS MIRROR technique whenever I add a new fish. (Place a Sizeable or a few square polished edges glass in the tank at different points so fish get used to seeing more of their kind and ignore new visitors.) He is definately my trophy fish of the tank. Tank Inhibitants are as follows

2 Tomato Tank bred Clowns hosting 2 RBTA's
1 Bangii Cardinal (His mate died ;-_-

1 Desjarni Tang
1 Yellow Tang
1 Kole Eye Tang
1 Fairy Wrasse
1 Sailfin Blenny
4 Squareback Anthias
1 Fridmani Pseudochromis
1 Purple Tang

Everything is small and I have a 210 that I am taking my precious time building. Will he regain his color?

Daniel Reef · 12/30/2009, 03:14 PM

I have no experience with this but wanted to wish you good luck. Tagging along so I can find out what happens.

backej1 · 12/30/2009, 03:20 PM

FWIW - I have a Purple Tang that lost all it's color for almost 4 months after we moved (all white). It feed it really well (sheet algae, frozen and flake - a good mixture) - slowly it's color starting coming back. For whatever reason, none of my other fish were affected.

extreme5450 · 12/30/2009, 03:21 PM

with the diet u are feeding now it should regain its color... i would also add nori to its diet soaked in selcon or a good multi vitamin

mod0522 · 12/30/2009, 04:06 PM

+1 keep up the well balanced diet and you should see consistent improvement... was it being harassed in its old home? Poor Diet? To small of a tank? Identifying the initial problem and treating the source should hasten its recovery.

lordofthereef · 12/30/2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mod0522

+1 keep up the well balanced diet and you should see consistent improvement... was it being harassed in its old home? Poor Diet? To small of a tank? Identifying the initial problem and treating the source should hasten its recovery.

I am wondering the same things as well, as I would hate to add disease to my tank in an attempt to save a fish.

mod0522 · 12/30/2009, 04:19 PM

True that lotr. I'm not the most consistent quarantiner when it comes to apparently health fish (I know, shame on me), but I always like to quarantine rescues. Not only for disease prevention, but for the fish's stress level as well. A stressed fish, just like a person, has a lower immune system which can open the door for usually defendable bugs to really do some damage. Asonitez, smart move on the garlic and selcon.

Aliasger789 · 07/06/2018, 05:08 AM

I am having same trouble, i have about 20 purple tangs in my tank and 2-3 have faded their color but all are feeding. I feed them hikari seaweed soaked in garlic and sometimes mysis. Is there anyone with more information on this?
Thanks

Joe0813 · 07/06/2018, 10:09 PM

Definitely feed him some nori sheets

hkgar · 07/07/2018, 01:33 PM

Tangs are herbivores and 90% or more of their diet should be Nori or similar. I feed my tangs (3) a full leaf of Romaine lettuce every day and another half sheet of Nori. Ideally they should be able to graze all day, but that is not a requirement.

12/30/2009, 02:41 PM	#1
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	Saved a Purple Tang but he lost his color will he get it back? I recently saved a purple tang from another reefer. He is currently in my 135 gallon. See seemed in good shape physically however, he seemed to have lost his color! His tail isn't yellow anymore and his body is faded but he is eating like a beast. I am feeding him enriched Mysis w/ Garlic and soaked in selcon twice a day. I'm also feeding him spectrum pellets. I overfeed alot and he seems to be doing well with no aggression in the tank. Just to be sure I employ the GLASS MIRROR technique whenever I add a new fish. (Place a Sizeable or a few square polished edges glass in the tank at different points so fish get used to seeing more of their kind and ignore new visitors.) He is definately my trophy fish of the tank. Tank Inhibitants are as follows 2 Tomato Tank bred Clowns hosting 2 RBTA's 1 Bangii Cardinal (His mate died ;-_- 1 Desjarni Tang 1 Yellow Tang 1 Kole Eye Tang 1 Fairy Wrasse 1 Sailfin Blenny 4 Squareback Anthias 1 Fridmani Pseudochromis 1 Purple Tang Everything is small and I have a 210 that I am taking my precious time building. Will he regain his color?

12/30/2009, 03:14 PM	#2
Daniel Reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 1,430	I have no experience with this but wanted to wish you good luck. Tagging along so I can find out what happens. __________________ Daniel Restarting my tank 90g 20g Life Reef sump 5ft Life Reef Skimmer See my album for pre-build tank pictures.

07/06/2018, 10:09 PM	#9
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	Definitely feed him some nori sheets __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

07/07/2018, 01:33 PM	#10
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Tangs are herbivores and 90% or more of their diet should be Nori or similar. I feed my tangs (3) a full leaf of Romaine lettuce every day and another half sheet of Nori. Ideally they should be able to graze all day, but that is not a requirement. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

12/30/2009, 03:20 PM	#3
backej1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 120	FWIW - I have a Purple Tang that lost all it's color for almost 4 months after we moved (all white). It feed it really well (sheet algae, frozen and flake - a good mixture) - slowly it's color starting coming back. For whatever reason, none of my other fish were affected.

12/30/2009, 03:21 PM	#4
extreme5450 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Midwest Posts: 388	with the diet u are feeding now it should regain its color... i would also add nori to its diet soaked in selcon or a good multi vitamin

12/30/2009, 04:06 PM	#5
mod0522 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 77	+1 keep up the well balanced diet and you should see consistent improvement... was it being harassed in its old home? Poor Diet? To small of a tank? Identifying the initial problem and treating the source should hasten its recovery.

12/30/2009, 04:19 PM	#7
mod0522 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 77	True that lotr. I'm not the most consistent quarantiner when it comes to apparently health fish (I know, shame on me), but I always like to quarantine rescues. Not only for disease prevention, but for the fish's stress level as well. A stressed fish, just like a person, has a lower immune system which can open the door for usually defendable bugs to really do some damage. Asonitez, smart move on the garlic and selcon.

07/06/2018, 05:08 AM	#8
Aliasger789 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Tanzania Posts: 12	I am having same trouble, i have about 20 purple tangs in my tank and 2-3 have faded their color but all are feeding. I feed them hikari seaweed soaked in garlic and sometimes mysis. Is there anyone with more information on this? Thanks