Why is my Regal Blue Tang not adjusting to my tank?

Question

I have a very well established 20 gallon saltwater tank, about 15 lbs of live rock, various polyps, mushrooms, and some gorgonia. I have a sixline wrasse, a chromis, 2 hermits (small), a turbo snail, and a nassirius snail. Yesterday, around 12 pm. I added a sea hare and a Blue Regal Tang and the tang is still acting like she is in shock. I didnt acclimate her any differently than I do with all of my fish, but she is not happy!! No signs of Ick yet, but I dont want to lose her! Any ideas? Water has been tested and all things are well within good levels. Salinity is good. Not sure if she is just REALLY stresses out?

The tang is a tank bred and raised fish. She is about 1/2 to 1" fish, and she has been at my LFS for about 1 month, eating well. I did ask them to feed her before I took her home, and she ate well.

Answer 1

You have already received some great points here.

This is way too small and possibly crowded a tank for this fish which has a lot of potential to grow quite large (I have personally had several in mine and my customer’s tanks grow over 8 inches).

is a possibility as well and as also stated the method in which this fish was caught. I am familiar with many of the major importers in Los Angeles (I have known them for over 20 years) and often the problem is how the fish are packed, as chemical (cyanide) capture is much more rare now. The fish will be exposed to high levels of ammonia from their own waste which will often cause irreversible kidney damage. Another shipping problem is pheromones that the fish produce in a confined space will tend to make fish more aggressive to their shipping mate (which is why keeping them dark is very important for shipment).

Have you checked your tank parameters?

*Ammonia/nitrites- 0
*Nitrates- under 15-20 ppm
*pH- 8.2 -8.4
*Alkalinity- 250 ppm+
*Calcium – 400 ppm
*Redox Potential- -300mV

These can ALL affect your new fish.
For more about Blue Tangs, please read this article:
http://www.aquahobby.com/marine/e_hepatus.php

For more general Marine information and resource links, please read this article:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Basic_Saltwater.html

Answer 2

Tangs in general are more of a problem to keep in aquaria - they have extremely high dissolved oxygen requirements, and they seem to be more susceptible to disease than many of the other marine species.

Overall, I would suggest you not keep a regal tang - a 20 gallon is nowhere near a large enough of a tank for one as an adult. These fish will get over a foot long, and are very active, so will need a lot of room for swimming. They shouldn't be kept in tanks that are smaller than 90 gallons, and a 125 or larger would probably suit them better.

It's best if you list the actual test results with your questions, since that will allow people who answer a better idea of what parameters you're testing, and if there's anything that may be close to causing a problem. Just to be sure of your results, see that they fit within these ranges: ammonia and nitrite = 0, nitatre less than 20 (lower is even better), pH 8.2-8.4, salinity 1.024-1.026, and temperature less than 82o. As the temperature gets warmer, the water holds less dissolved O2, so if it's high, it may be a problem not only for your tang, but your corals as well.

Also, make sure that your other fish (most likely your wrasse) isn't harassing the tang.

Answer 3

I'm afraid like most saltwater fish stress and shock are massive contributors to fish loss. your dealing with a fish that swam miles and miles a day in a big comfortable family group and now (maybe only a week later) it finds itself alone and confined to a two foot box which its never dealt with before not to mention tank mates not of its choosing and water conditions although similar,unlike what its use to.
A tang really likes to swim and needs a much larger tank (60 and above) so that it feels that it can get away if there is trouble. it will also feel more comfortable with its tank mates if they are not so close.
freshwater fish varieties are put together in strange combinations all the time and individual character traits are known they also have grown up on packaged foods and in tank conditions,but saltwater fish coming from the wild (and all over the world) often react out of stress and dont adapt in time , you've got the beginnings of a beautiful tank but it needs to be larger. shame on the pet shop that didn't ask about your tank before selling you the fish,they should have known better. good luck!

Answer 4

Hi Many tangs are wild caught. Some are caught by hand and other are caught by using dangerous chemical that can harm fish. If your tang was wild caught it most likely was caught by the chemical method. That is the most command method of caughting wild salt water fish. That method will make it much harder for them to acclimate to a tank. When you were at the store did you ask them to feed the tank that he was in? If so did you see him eat? If he didn't eat then most likely he was still under stress from being caught. A wild caught fish that eats is much healthier fish. Also wild caught fish will many time be caring unwanted pests and other infections as well. When ever possible it is always better to buy salt water fish that are tank breed and raised. Most pet stores will have that fact on the tank. If they don't then ask them.

Answer 5

Small tanks are essentially the most problematic to deal with. A 10 gallon saltwater tank is viewed an trained tank. While a one hundred twenty gallon saltwater tank is viewed a newbie tank. More room for errors with colossal our bodies of water. If I have been you I could get the largest tank you might potentially have enough money when you consider that it is going to be the simplest to deal with and essentially the most fulfilling. Especially when you consider that among the fascinating saltwater fish want one hundred+ gallon tanks. Also saltwater fish are not able to be saved as densely as tropical fish. The inch in keeping with gallon rule for freshwater is one million inch in keeping with gallon. The inch in keeping with gallon rule for saltwater is one million inch in keeping with five gallons. EDIT: A blue tang demands a minimal tank measurement of 6 toes lengthy. Which is probably a one hundred twenty gallon tank. The rationale it's 6 toes lengthy is they're tremendously lively swimmers.

Answer 6

yeah I have an idea why its acting funny.
you have a 20 gal over stocked tank with no room for the fish to move.
the tang needs pristine water and lots of it. they need 70gals of water by there self just to stay alive. And you dont have close to that.
by the time you get the live rock in there you only have about 15gal of water and maybe if your lucky the swiming room of a 10gal tank. Im sorry but live rock dose not make a 20gal tank more fit for a fish that has basic needs you cant meet.
Your tang will die.

Answer 7

HE NEEDS MORE ROOM TO SWIM THEY NEED A MIN OF 100GAL TANK WITH LOTS OF PLACES TO HIDE