blonde naso turning black...not eating

[mic_1011]

picked him up about 4 days ago. saw him eat at the lfs. picked algae of of the rocks the first day. other than that he hasn't eaten. he turns black with these blotchy white spots (not ick). he'll come out but spends most of the time in the rocks. everyone else eats just fine blue hippo 4 chromis and a firefish. feeding sprulina, regular brine with vitamins, various flakes and gels, dry algae and soaking the frozens in garlic....nothing, but he did poop about an hour ago. is this a good sign?? ammonia 0, nitrates 0, ph is 8.1, temp is 77, using ro, tank is 125. i don't want this guy to die on me

 

[JBL]

When I got my Naso, he hid for days. He only came out when there was no one in the room. (yes I was peeking!) He would pick at the algae sheets and pic at the sand. But very very skiddish. Are you sure yours isn't doing the same? Do you have a QT tank to put him in for a while?

 

[mic_1011]

i do have a qt to dut him in but i don't wanna stress him even more trying to catch him and move him. he kinda is doing the same thing. i'm peeking too.. lol

 

[kalapnath]

I'd qt him to make sure whatever's on him doesn't get on the other fishes............

 

[PHILYD1]

Do you have an anemone in your tank? I had a Blonde that got stung by my carpet anemone and it got black spots from it.. looked kinda like a black & Blue

 

[aceface]

What you described is the color change that Naso tangs display when they feel stressed or scared.

 

[mic_1011]

i'm stressed and scared by that avatar, lol. i kinda figured that was what it is but what is stressing him? there is a blue hippo half his size 4 green chromis and a firefish. everyone else is eating aggressively. i don't know what else it could be! it's going on day 6 now????

 

[mic_1011]

thanks, i was just researching that on google. read that it could take a while for them to acclimate to a new tank. but i'm still worried about it feeding. i haven't seen it eat a thing since i put it in the tank. doesn't appear to have a sunken stomach though. could it be grazing while i'm not around?

 

[DCG1286]

thanks, i was just researching that on google. read that it could take a while for them to acclimate to a new tank. but i'm still worried about it feeding. i haven't seen it eat a thing since i put it in the tank. doesn't appear to have a sunken stomach though. could it be grazing while i'm not around?

Well since it's a living creature with a mind of it's own, it could DEFINITELY be grazing while you are not around.

The fish DEFINITELY sounds like it is stressed out ... How big is the fish ... maybe I missed it in the thread.

 

[mic_1011]

its about 3.5 to 4 inches

 

[mic_1011]

its 3.5 to 4 inches

 

[DCG1286]

I would just let the fish do it's own thing for now ... It just sounds like he is REALLY stressed out ... does he only change colors when you go near the tank?

 

[mic_1011]

he was a light grey the first day, after that he stays dark grey-black and just hides in the rocks, swims around in the morning but later after stays in rocks

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

Definitely stressed out atm. He will come around. As long as you don't see any kind of hollow belly he is going to be fine.

 

[JBL]

When you feed, use a turkey baster and squirt some food into the rocks where he might be. I did that with mine, and now, 3 months later he comes out with all the other fish and feeds direct from the baster.

 

[mic_1011]

thanks guys, he's actually out in the open now. still a bit dark though, but i did catch him picking at the algae on the rocks(sound like a drink ) didn't go for the spirulina but nibbled on some flakes.....making progress

 

[mic_1011]

put some algae on a clip..half is gone...not sure who???

 

[mic_1011]

back to his normal color, but very pick with food. eating flakes but only if there crushed up very small

 

[jschottenfeld]

I had a blonde naso for many many years who ate like an ox and I never had a problem with him. Years later I tried another blonde naso, (after my original one died) and he never took on to my tank, he exhibited the same behavior you are seeing. After a few months he died. About a year later tried again with another blonde naso and had the same thing happen. I did have other tangs in the tank but nobody appeared to be picking on him.

If you see that he has slowly started to eat I would take that as a very good sign. IMO....once they become aclimated they are a very hardy fish. It's just getting to that stage that can make one crazy.

Good luck!

 

[mic_1011]

i added a few more fish and he seems very happy now. weird! but his color is very lively now? hope all goes well, he's one of my favorites.