How to entice a Purple Tang to eat?

Ne0eN · 08/19/2006, 09:20 PM

I rescued a very stressed Purple Tang (along with several other fish) from a crashed tank. All of the fish except the Purple Tang seem to have recovered nicely. It has been four weeks today, and I still can't get the Tang to eat anything. I have tried everything from live brine shrimp to a variey of frozen foods all soaked in garlic. I put a fresh clip with Nori in it everyday. Nothing seems to be working. He is in a 20 gallon long Q-tank with live rock. I do water changes from the main tank every other day. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
-- Rob

affan · 08/19/2006, 09:28 PM

IME, PT's don't do well in closed confinements. This may be attrributing to increased stress on the fish resulting in him not wanting to eat. Of course, the point is moot if the fish is in juvenile state. Still, moving him to a bigger tank may help.

HTHs.

vijaym85 · 08/19/2006, 11:05 PM

I have a purple tang in a 150g
here is a list of foods he eats perhaps yours may have smillilar taste buds
Hikari marine A for large fish
Life Spectrum for large fish
Ocean nutrition seaweed Green algae
Ocean nutrition formula 2 pellets
Mysis shrimp
I hope one of these foods works good luck.

Serioussnaps · 08/19/2006, 11:24 PM

first get him out of a 20G

Ne0eN · 08/20/2006, 11:18 AM

So you're saying I should move a fish that hasn't eaten in 4 weeks to a 260 community tank with aggressive eaters like blue throat triggers, imperator angel and tangs (hippo, naso & kole)?

-- Rob

TWallace · 08/20/2006, 11:37 AM

You can try romaine lettuce or broccoli. I've had yellow tangs in the past that loved both of those.

liquidlunch · 08/20/2006, 12:57 PM

This could not hurt. I used a bottle of this stuff when I nursed a baby picasso trigger back to health.
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=KM3631

Ne0eN · 08/20/2006, 01:02 PM

Nope, one of the first things I tried. I soaked all kinds of food in Garlic Xtreme, Selcon, etc... He almost seems as if he doesn't see what goes on around him. (blind?) when I resuced him, the tank had a huge ammonia spike, and the water was at 92F.

-- Rob

Quote:

Originally posted by liquidlunch
This could not hurt. I used a bottle of this stuff when I nursed a baby picasso trigger back to health.
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=KM3631

cb9tunerguy · 08/20/2006, 01:08 PM

if you keep him in the 20g confined and he doesnt eat. he will die. if you move him to the 260g with agressive eaters. he may not eat and die. either way he is doomed. you know he is not eating in the 20g. you dont know if he will eat in the 260g. you have nothing to loose by moving him there. only to gain. if he doesnt eat in the 260g take him back out. or you gould put a .38 snubnose to his temple and say, eat or you'll get a lead salad! J/K. good luck! i hope he turns around for you.

davocean · 08/20/2006, 01:20 PM

As long as he's not diseased you have nothing to loose by putting him in your big tank, that would be my main concern.
You do stand a better chance of him nibbling growth off your live rock, and being less stressed.
I'd give it a try.

docmenace · 08/20/2006, 03:27 PM

Usually if they aren't going to take Nori eventually, there just not going to eat. One thing, some fish don't like the Nori still in a sheet form in a clip. Try pinching it between your fingers to turn it into Nori Flakes. Good Luck

Ne0eN · 08/20/2006, 05:06 PM

Here's the poor guy...

davocean · 08/20/2006, 05:23 PM

He looks pretty clean from pic, and he doesn't look all sucked in.
As long as there's no blotches, fins are clear and no obvious signs of disease, I think I'd put him in display where he may have a hiding area to relieve stress and maybe he'll get comfortable enough to eat.
I find that even really picky tangs will start eating growth off live rock, and may soon develop more of an appetie.

yoboyjdizz · 08/20/2006, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ne0eN
Here's the poor guy...

Put him in the big tank he looks big enough and healthy enough to very well hold his own with the big boys...

CW from the OC · 08/21/2006, 10:09 AM

4 weeks? He appears to not have any diseases, so you should definately put him in the big tank.

thor32766 · 08/21/2006, 10:14 AM

yeah throw him in there, he can hang. Make sure and feed him his nori!

carman9941 · 08/21/2006, 10:33 AM

I would not put him in my main tank, if you cant get him to eat mabey a LFS might be able to put him in a bigger QT, and get him to start eating, Any med in that QT?

benray4fun · 08/21/2006, 10:52 AM

Give'm pizza & a coke! j/k

Tangs eat macro-algae, like the small grape ones and others. Try to get a hand full at your lfs. Also, scatter the food at feeding time, so he doesn't have to compete as much in your BIG tank.

Ne0eN · 08/21/2006, 02:01 PM

I haven't put him in the main tank yet. I do think that he's way to weak and will not be able to compete for food. He does not eat Nori - believe me I tried. The other issue is that the main tank (260g reef) already has a yellow tang and I think he's gonna beat the shi out of him.

I may just return him to LFS and hopefully they can get him in bigger QT. No meds in the QT.

-- Rob

vijaym85 · 08/22/2006, 05:03 PM

If you have expendable income you could get a larger QT. Do you use UV or ozone they could potentialy help prevent the spreading of disease should you place it in the main tank.

jimbo045 · 08/22/2006, 05:57 PM

Romaine lettuce stuck onto the tank glass with the tank magnet.

Ne0eN · 09/08/2006, 11:21 PM

Update...

It's been 7 weeks and poor Tang is still not eating. I did put him in my reef, (at night after lights went down). Cleaner shrimp immediately tried to clean him - he freaked out, started swimming like crazy, bumping into corals and rocks. My majestic angel started messing with him, and he tried to jump! I was able to get him out after 10 min. He's back in the QT recovering from the bruises. He looked really bad for about a week. Now he's starting to look better again. Could he be eating Nori off the clip when I'm not looking? (I have some snails in my QT that I know for sure been munching on Nori)

-- Rob

antonsemrad · 09/09/2006, 07:55 PM

Fresh greens like Red Gracilaria would be best IME. I put a PT in my 6x2 and he chased my yellow to death. I wouldn't mix the two ever again in the future.

08/19/2006, 09:20 PM	#1
Ne0eN Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vienna VA Posts: 73	How to entice a Purple Tang to eat? I rescued a very stressed Purple Tang (along with several other fish) from a crashed tank. All of the fish except the Purple Tang seem to have recovered nicely. It has been four weeks today, and I still can't get the Tang to eat anything. I have tried everything from live brine shrimp to a variey of frozen foods all soaked in garlic. I put a fresh clip with Nori in it everyday. Nothing seems to be working. He is in a 20 gallon long Q-tank with live rock. I do water changes from the main tank every other day. Any other suggestions? Thanks, -- Rob

08/20/2006, 01:08 PM	#9
cb9tunerguy Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: the mistake on the lake Posts: 198	if you keep him in the 20g confined and he doesnt eat. he will die. if you move him to the 260g with agressive eaters. he may not eat and die. either way he is doomed. you know he is not eating in the 20g. you dont know if he will eat in the 260g. you have nothing to loose by moving him there. only to gain. if he doesnt eat in the 260g take him back out. or you gould put a .38 snubnose to his temple and say, eat or you'll get a lead salad! J/K. good luck! i hope he turns around for you. __________________ " You are here to enable the divine purpose of the universe to unfold. That is how important you are." -Eckhart Tolle always hunting for some nice frags.....pm me with what you got. Current Tank Info: 30 gallon sumpless, 2 korillia 1 pumps, 45 lbs of LR, 30 lbs crush coral bed.

08/20/2006, 01:20 PM	#10
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	As long as he's not diseased you have nothing to loose by putting him in your big tank, that would be my main concern. You do stand a better chance of him nibbling growth off your live rock, and being less stressed. I'd give it a try. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

08/20/2006, 05:23 PM	#13
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	He looks pretty clean from pic, and he doesn't look all sucked in. As long as there's no blotches, fins are clear and no obvious signs of disease, I think I'd put him in display where he may have a hiding area to relieve stress and maybe he'll get comfortable enough to eat. I find that even really picky tangs will start eating growth off live rock, and may soon develop more of an appetie. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

08/21/2006, 10:09 AM	#15
CW from the OC Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 853	4 weeks? He appears to not have any diseases, so you should definately put him in the big tank. __________________ Cheers! C Dub Current Tank Info: 210 LeeMar starfire reef (7x2x2), 100 gal SoCalCreations sump, Aquacontroller 3, Geo 618 fed by Cole Parmer peri pump, ATB Large Cone , Aquatinics Constellation T5, 4 Vortecs with wireless controllers, Eheim 1262 return on a SeaSwirl

08/19/2006, 09:28 PM	#2
affan Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: From NYC, currently serving time in Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 1,125	IME, PT's don't do well in closed confinements. This may be attrributing to increased stress on the fish resulting in him not wanting to eat. Of course, the point is moot if the fish is in juvenile state. Still, moving him to a bigger tank may help. HTHs.

08/19/2006, 11:05 PM	#3
vijaym85 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queens NYC Posts: 1,296	I have a purple tang in a 150g here is a list of foods he eats perhaps yours may have smillilar taste buds Hikari marine A for large fish Life Spectrum for large fish Ocean nutrition seaweed Green algae Ocean nutrition formula 2 pellets Mysis shrimp I hope one of these foods works good luck.

08/19/2006, 11:24 PM	#4
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	first get him out of a 20G

08/20/2006, 11:18 AM	#5
Ne0eN Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vienna VA Posts: 73	So you're saying I should move a fish that hasn't eaten in 4 weeks to a 260 community tank with aggressive eaters like blue throat triggers, imperator angel and tangs (hippo, naso & kole)? -- Rob

08/20/2006, 11:37 AM	#6
TWallace Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,464	You can try romaine lettuce or broccoli. I've had yellow tangs in the past that loved both of those.

08/20/2006, 12:57 PM	#7
liquidlunch Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Neptune, NJ Posts: 503	This could not hurt. I used a bottle of this stuff when I nursed a baby picasso trigger back to health. http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=KM3631

08/20/2006, 03:27 PM	#11
docmenace Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 93	Usually if they aren't going to take Nori eventually, there just not going to eat. One thing, some fish don't like the Nori still in a sheet form in a clip. Try pinching it between your fingers to turn it into Nori Flakes. Good Luck

08/20/2006, 05:06 PM	#12
Ne0eN Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vienna VA Posts: 73	Here's the poor guy...

08/21/2006, 10:14 AM	#16
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	yeah throw him in there, he can hang. Make sure and feed him his nori! __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

08/21/2006, 10:33 AM	#17
carman9941 Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cleveland Posts: 705	I would not put him in my main tank, if you cant get him to eat mabey a LFS might be able to put him in a bigger QT, and get him to start eating, Any med in that QT?

08/21/2006, 10:52 AM	#18
benray4fun Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hartford, CONNECTICUT Posts: 1,147	Give'm pizza & a coke! j/k Tangs eat macro-algae, like the small grape ones and others. Try to get a hand full at your lfs. Also, scatter the food at feeding time, so he doesn't have to compete as much in your BIG tank.

08/21/2006, 02:01 PM	#19
Ne0eN Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vienna VA Posts: 73	I haven't put him in the main tank yet. I do think that he's way to weak and will not be able to compete for food. He does not eat Nori - believe me I tried. The other issue is that the main tank (260g reef) already has a yellow tang and I think he's gonna beat the shi out of him. I may just return him to LFS and hopefully they can get him in bigger QT. No meds in the QT. -- Rob

08/22/2006, 05:03 PM	#20
vijaym85 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queens NYC Posts: 1,296	If you have expendable income you could get a larger QT. Do you use UV or ozone they could potentialy help prevent the spreading of disease should you place it in the main tank.

08/22/2006, 05:57 PM	#21
jimbo045 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiea, HI. Posts: 1,788	Romaine lettuce stuck onto the tank glass with the tank magnet.

09/08/2006, 11:21 PM	#22
Ne0eN Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vienna VA Posts: 73	Update... It's been 7 weeks and poor Tang is still not eating. I did put him in my reef, (at night after lights went down). Cleaner shrimp immediately tried to clean him - he freaked out, started swimming like crazy, bumping into corals and rocks. My majestic angel started messing with him, and he tried to jump! I was able to get him out after 10 min. He's back in the QT recovering from the bruises. He looked really bad for about a week. Now he's starting to look better again. Could he be eating Nori off the clip when I'm not looking? (I have some snails in my QT that I know for sure been munching on Nori) -- Rob

09/09/2006, 07:55 PM	#23
antonsemrad Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Little Chute WI Posts: 436	Fresh greens like Red Gracilaria would be best IME. I put a PT in my 6x2 and he chased my yellow to death. I wouldn't mix the two ever again in the future.