|
06/23/2018, 05:42 AM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 710
|
Why do I keep losing Yellow Tang's?
I dont know what the problem is but I cant seem to keep Yellow Tang's alive long term. They normally live between 5 - 10 months but then suddenly become lethargic, thin, and die. My most recent one was acting weird on Thurday night but was still eating, the next day he had disappeared so I assume my clean up crew dealt with him after his death.
I feed my fish ever other day, swapping between flake and mysis. I am wondering if Tangs need feeding every day? Could this be the cause? All my other fish are fat and healthy with this feeding regime, and I have had most of them for 3 years at this point.
__________________
75 Gallon mixed Reef / Ocellaris Clownfish, Firefish, Royal Gramma, Bangaii Cardinal, Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty, Allen's Damselfish. Progress thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.p |
06/23/2018, 05:44 AM | #2 |
I'm really very likeable
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Down Under
Posts: 676
|
Tangs graze on algae & should be fed nori daily
|
06/23/2018, 05:56 AM | #3 | |
SALTWATER since '73
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Katonah, NY/ San Fernando Ca./ Sea Isle City NJ
Posts: 6,210
|
Quote:
__________________
______________________________________ Jan. '11 TOTM Manhattan Reefs Current Tank Info: 500g & 200g acrylic DTs/2 separate reef systems |
|
06/23/2018, 07:52 AM | #4 |
Crab Free Zone
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,906
|
Twice per day + algae sheet on a clip so they can nibble all day.
Smaller and more frequent is always better than more and less frequent. Do you eat only once per day? Do you ever want a snack? Think in those terms, and YT will be fine |
06/23/2018, 08:00 AM | #5 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Glocester, RI
Posts: 3,336
|
Yea you’re starving them and not giving them the right diet even when you do feed them.
__________________
My build thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2548422 Current Tank Info: 65 gallon mixed reef, Eshopps sump and HOB overflow, RO-110int skimmer, Reefbreeder 32" photons V1. |
06/23/2018, 08:55 AM | #6 |
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 664
|
when adding new fish, you'll need to feed frequently, not every other day, tangs have a high metabolism, you said they get lethargic and thin, sounds like you've been starving them and they are slowly withering away.
|
06/23/2018, 09:05 AM | #7 |
Grizzled & Cynical
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 17,319
|
Not to pile on, but no fish suddenly becomes thin .... that takes a while. I turned the corner with tangs years ago with multiple daily feedings. Mine now get fed at least three times a day.
__________________
Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs |
06/23/2018, 09:46 AM | #8 |
RC Sponsor
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 14,173
|
As noted above, they are constant grazers and naturally cover large swaths of reefs in search for food. Assuming based on your signature that you are keeping them in a 75 gallon tank, that is on the small side for them as they just won’t have enough food sources to graze on let alone the fact they yellow tangs are typically wild caught and you are putting them into an environment that doesn’t really mimic what they are used to since they don’t have the diversity of natural food sources and swimming freedom. Couple that with every other day feeding and they will starve to death. Increasing your feeding habits to at least once a day and including things like nori, mysis and other foods will help a lot but I don’t think the display size is ideal for long term success with them due to their active nature.
__________________
Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 |
06/23/2018, 12:51 PM | #9 | |
Chartered Accountant
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 2,219
|
Quote:
__________________
- Shaginwagon - Current Tank Info: 550 Gallon SPS Reef l 200 Gallon Sump l Skimmer: Vertex Alpha 250 l Return Pump: Reeflo Hammerhead l Tank Circulation: (2) Maxspect Gyre XF280 l Lighting: (3) 400w Halides & (3) AI Hydra 52 HD |
|
06/23/2018, 04:47 PM | #10 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Posts: 394
|
Quote:
BTW, I think 75G is fine unless it is older and big. Also, make sure you have plenty of rockwork for him to swim over, under, through and around. |
|
06/23/2018, 05:09 PM | #11 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Montréal
Posts: 79
|
I have my yellow since =-12 years Feed twice per day and more Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk |
06/23/2018, 05:43 PM | #12 |
RC Sponsor
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 14,173
|
...
__________________
Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 Last edited by slief; 06/23/2018 at 05:48 PM. |
06/23/2018, 06:16 PM | #13 | |
I'm really very likeable
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Down Under
Posts: 676
|
Quote:
|
|
06/23/2018, 06:28 PM | #14 |
Chartered Accountant
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 2,219
|
Feed twice a day as stated above.
I also have two clips with Bok Choi in the tank everyday. My tangs are as healthy as can be and all is eaten each day.
__________________
- Shaginwagon - Current Tank Info: 550 Gallon SPS Reef l 200 Gallon Sump l Skimmer: Vertex Alpha 250 l Return Pump: Reeflo Hammerhead l Tank Circulation: (2) Maxspect Gyre XF280 l Lighting: (3) 400w Halides & (3) AI Hydra 52 HD |
06/23/2018, 06:38 PM | #15 |
Cloning Around
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Valencia, California
Posts: 25,267
|
Although I agree that you could use to feed your fish more often, I'm going to go against the grain and say the main reason you are having these losses is do to the diet you do provide. As has been mentioned, yellow tangs need a more herbivorous diet. Whether that comes from an algae sheet every other day, pelleted algal-based food or frozen is up to you, but your tangs need more veggies.
Kevin
__________________
Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s |
06/23/2018, 06:54 PM | #16 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 168
|
I personally have 4 tangs in my 180 (along with 7 other various fish) and they are fed once daily with a cube of mysis and a cube of spirulina brine. After that they get 2/3 of a 8x7 nori sheet and all are plump and well. My tangs all have this shape when observing them from behind.....()
If you see a sunken stomach you're not feeding nearly enough. |
06/23/2018, 07:05 PM | #17 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 710
|
Lesson learned, definitely feed more. I did occasionally put nori sheets in the tank, once or twice a week. Im not decided on whether to get another yet, I really like them and they are so far the only fish i've found that eat red bubble algae, so I suppose if I dont get one mine will grow back.
__________________
75 Gallon mixed Reef / Ocellaris Clownfish, Firefish, Royal Gramma, Bangaii Cardinal, Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty, Allen's Damselfish. Progress thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.p |
06/24/2018, 06:32 AM | #18 |
Moved on
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Coastal Texas
Posts: 16,000
|
Fishes should have a full stomach all the time. If this is not the case then you either not feeding enough or not feed the right food or not enough natural food in aquarium for them to eat. I see many tanks with thin skinny fishes, empty stomach. This always make me sad. I often suggest to the reefer to feed more. For some this help. For others I am just a stuck up know it all.
I am glad we were able to help you.
__________________
Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip |
06/24/2018, 06:37 AM | #19 |
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 664
|
|
06/24/2018, 07:41 AM | #20 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,985
|
+1 you're starving your system. The Sailfin and Purple tangs in this post are still going strong at 24 years with only Spectrum pellets in a autofeeder dropping small amounts 8 times a day. When New Life came out with their "Algaemax" I switched them to that from the standard Spectrum pellets. (Sadly the Yellow Tang was lost a year ago when AC failed.)
__________________
"Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek |
06/24/2018, 10:13 AM | #21 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: MD, USA
Posts: 46
|
Tangs do nothing but eat, poop, swim, and...Grow. I have two sheets of sea weed (green, red, or purple) either warped around rocks or hanging from a clip, at all the time for my tangs to graze on. In addition, I feed them at least twice a day varied diet (pellets, flacks, and frozen food). I am sorry my friend, but I must agree with all the comments here, Your tangs are starving. The good news is that they are fast healing, and as soon as you start feeding them, they will come back fat and happy. Best of luck!
|
06/24/2018, 10:16 AM | #22 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: MD, USA
Posts: 46
|
OrionN, Agree with everything you said.
|
06/25/2018, 12:06 PM | #23 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Huntington, WV
Posts: 677
|
A trick I use is to take a strip of nori, soak in water with fish oil (selcon, whatever) and feed that to tangs.
|
06/25/2018, 12:37 PM | #24 | |
Chartered Accountant
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 2,219
|
Quote:
For some reason I found when I added selcon to the food my skimmer would shut down for hours and not make any skimmate so I stopped using it.
__________________
- Shaginwagon - Current Tank Info: 550 Gallon SPS Reef l 200 Gallon Sump l Skimmer: Vertex Alpha 250 l Return Pump: Reeflo Hammerhead l Tank Circulation: (2) Maxspect Gyre XF280 l Lighting: (3) 400w Halides & (3) AI Hydra 52 HD |
|
06/29/2018, 02:32 PM | #25 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Huntington, WV
Posts: 677
|
Quote:
|
|
|
|