Powder Blue not eating

[Basssa]

My new Powder Blue Tang isnt acclimating to my 150 gal reef tank with LOTS of hiding space and Live Rock. It was put in 48 hours ago along with a beautifully acclimating (already eating)Sailfin and a cleaner shrimp. The P.B. wont eat, and is hiding, also doing a little bit of "scratching." In the LFS it was EATING I witnessed it, looked beautiful, and was doing fine. I currently have 1 yellow tang, 1 yellow damsel, 1 bi-color angel, 1 ebli angel, 1 mandarin, 1 maroon clown, and 2 Pajama cardinals, all doing well.
I have tried veggie flakes, calerpua (sp?), fro :?: zen brine, and marine mix flakes...even put in dried seeweed on the clip. He is real timid...when he comes out he doesnt "run" from the Yellow tang nor any other fish, they arent bothering him, I dont think. He is actually a bit bigger than the Yellow T. Ideas? I dont want to loose him, if possible.

I am thinking of leaving the lights off for most of the day tomorrow....
Thanks

 

[Adam1]

Basssa,

PBT's are one of the more difficult fish to keep, and even when they are eating well, they often still die. It will be timid for a couple of days at least, and if it doesn't immediately get sick, it will get much bolder.

Some die mysteriously, but more often than not, they get a serious case of Cryptocaryon and/or Amyloodinium and take out some tankmates in the process.

All fish should be quarantined. Most people don't, and alot of times get away with it. IMO (I learned the hard way trying a PBT), it is MANDATORY to quarantine PBT's. Have Chloroquine Diphosphate available in case Ich/velvet occurs (treat in quaranteen, not main tank!). This drug is sold as Marex by aquatronics. It is equally/more effective than copper or Nitromidazole (the stuff in kick ich) with less side effects.

Good luck with this difficult fish, and in the future, quarantine!

Adam

 

[Mogo]

I have had the same problem with my tangs over the years. I learned the hard way that you MUST quarantine your fish unless you want to do what I did- lose a few other fish as well in short order.

 

[Anonymous]

Other PB issues aside, I bet it will eat within a couple-3 days if you keep nori sheets available for it to munch.

 

[outerbank]

I agree that the sure way to have a PBT do well is to querentine to get the fish used to living in a glass box. Give it a big tank and it will do great after it is used to tank life after spending some weeks in a q tank fattening up, eating flakes, and putting ona healthy slime coat. Do not over crowd this fish.

If you do this, you will see that the PBT is incredibly easy to keep after it is properly introduced.

Hopefully it will begin to eat soon. They can be picky at first, then become pigs.

Scott