hi, can someone please help? ive newly set up a marine tank after running a tropical for many years, ive have clown fish that are living happily, but ive just got a regal tang today and he just wants to lie on his side, is this normal while he gets used to the tank water? (ive not yet put him in the tank hes in a seperate container and im slowly dripping my tank water into it so he gets used to it as not to shock him. please can anyone give me some good honest advice, i will be very grateful. thankyou.
2007-06-10 05:06:20 · 6 answers · asked by bells 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
NO it isn't normal. First off if your tank is not more than 6 months old, you cannot house a tang. he will not survive. Chances are the bacteria is not mature enough for him to live in . The fish store should have told you that. Clowns are damsels nothing more. They are very hearty.
When adding salt fish if not using a mature quaranteen tank, they should be added to the regular tank by floating them. 15 minutes add your tank water to the bag about 1/2 cup, float another 15 minutes add 1/2 cup of your tank water float 15 minutes add 1/2 cup of your tank water do this appxx 5 times. This will allow your new fish to adjust to your PH as well as the water in general.
I would suggest taking the fish back to the store you bought him from.
DO NOT add too many fish too fast. Your tank and bacteria as well as the bio filter does not work the same as in a fresh water aquarium. Salt tanks take 6 months to MATURE (not cycle) Bacteria in a salt tank grows at a much slower rate due to the salt.
Take your time and do not rush your tank or your fish.
2007-06-12 02:20:26 · answer #1 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aside from the issue of this being a new tank, and maybe not of an appropriate size for a tang (they need large tanks to accommodate their adult size and activity level: http://www.tropicalfishoutlet.com/FishSpecies.asp?FishSubCategoryID=635&FishType= ), the behavior of your tang is not normal. These are high oxygen requiremnt fish and need filtration and good water movement.
You are acclimating him properly so as not to shock him (many people would have floated him for 15 minutes and dumped him in the tank), but he may need additional water movement to increase the dissolved O2 level.
2007-06-12 09:21:42 · answer #2 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hiya! Climatisation is a crucial stage for a fish, so its important not to stress him out - keep the light off the tank for at least 2 hours. Its normal for certain fish to lay on their sides - for some its to rest, for others its just in their nature!
2007-06-10 05:10:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not had a Marine tank at all. I understand they are a little more tricky than a Tropical though.
Hope all goes well.
2007-06-13 09:13:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anoni M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get him in the tank and wait and see fish are fragile .
just starting out do not spend a lot on the fish
good look
2007-06-10 08:30:34 · answer #5 · answered by mikail brown 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes its normal for tangs in general to lie on there side when in unacustomed surroundings. i have had two for about seven years now and they are very hardy as marine fish go.by the way that is how they pack wild discus from the reo negro in brazil, in about three inches of water and the fish are on there sides. good luck
2007-06-10 05:54:03 · answer #6 · answered by paul f 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋