Achilles tang

[reefernc02]

My Achilles has been in qt for 2 1/2 days and hasn’t started eating he’s been swimming in one spot I’ve provided plenty of hiding space. For reference the qt is 100 gallons with a 18000 gallon per hour pump running at full blast no ammonia present and copper safe level of 0.91 present I. The water also running a skimmer in the sump and two no 40s on each end at 100%

 

[Miami Reef]

What have you tried feeding?

 

[reefernc02]

Just Lrs herbivore frenzy I do have spectrum pellets and flakes as well as Todd chroma boost an d I have fresh clams and live black worms I can also do live macro and dried nori

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

What type of copper are you running?
What type of food have you offered it?
Achilles can take a few days to start eating. They’re more like browsers than robust feeders normally anyhow

 

[Largeangels]

Copper should be about 2.25.

A video in white light might help. But it is not uncommon for fish to not eat for a few days.

Where did you get it from?

 

[Amstar]

try and find some live food -- live brine shrimp -- white worms etc to get it to start to eat -- they are usually picking when you first get them -- then add on that you are medicating it.

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

My Achilles has been in qt for 2 1/2 days and hasn’t started eating he’s been swimming in one spot I’ve provided plenty of hiding space. For reference the qt is 100 gallons with a 18000 gallon per hour pump running at full blast no ammonia present and copper safe level of 0.91 present I. The water also running a skimmer in the sump and two no 40s on each end at 100%

Also maybe calm the water flow down a little bit. I’m assuming this is a subadult/juvenile fish and at this stage in their life they don’t live in the surge zone. They’re born out in the deeper reefs and migrate into the shallows as adults when they’re larger, stronger swimmers. When you find them in their juvenile habitat, they’re slowly milling around right by the coral head they sleep in. Not very energetic or active fish when young

 

[reefernc02]

The only other meds I am using is nitrofuran I assume that’s how’s it spelled he was beat up pretty bad by a clown tang that was in the tank with him

 

[reefernc02]

My Achilles has been in qt for 2 1/2 days and hasn’t started eating he’s been swimming in one spot I’ve provided plenty of hiding space. For reference the qt is 100 gallons with a 18000 gallon per hour pump running at full blast no ammonia present and copper safe level of 0.91 present I. The water also running a skimmer in the sump and two no 40s on each end at 100%

Also maybe calm the water flow down a little bit. I’m assuming this is a subadult/juvenile fish and at this stage in their life they don’t live in the surge zone. They’re born out in the deeper reefs and migrate into the shallows as adults when they’re larger, stronger swimmers. When you find them in their juvenile habitat, they’re slowly milling around right by the coral head they sleep in. Not very energetic or active fish when young

He’s a show size fish

 

[krak256]

try live foods like blackworms and live brine. I found PE mysis also works well

 

[DylanE]

The only thing my Achilles would eat for the first 2 months was nori rubber banded to a piece of live rock. Wouldn’t even touch it if it was in the nori clip lol. I soaked it in selcon for added nutrition. Now he eats anything and everything. Maybe give that a shot.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I’ve had luck hanging a little nori in there with them.

 

[W31Olds]

18000 GPH Pump? That sounds like way too much flow intially for QT. I would turn it down as it's causing your fish to burn a lot of energy.

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

18000 GPH Pump? That sounds like way too much flow intially for QT. I would turn it down as it's causing your fish to burn a lot of energy.

Agreed. I’ve caught, held, raised and sold thousands of Achilles and we would never quarantine this fish with flow anywhere near this amount.

Cut the flow down considerably, turn the 40’s off. Aerate, offer some nori to browse on. For copper I like Mardel copper safe as it’s soft on Achilles, be careful with Seachem. I wouldn’t offer live food or frozen until after the fish is nibbling on algae. Otherwise you’re just making mess that will foul the water and have you sticking your arm in tank to siphon up uneaten food thereby stressing the fish out more. You can put them in high flow once they’re strong and healthy in the main display.

 

[reefernc02]

Good deal I’ll cut flow down just trying to be proactive. I’ll add nori to the rocks and as far as copper I’m using copper safe from Fritz

 

[Hawaiian AQ]

Yep, sounds like a plan. I forgot Fritz bought them out lol

 

[reefernc02]

18000 GPH Pump? That sounds like way too much flow intially for QT. I would turn it down as it's causing your fish to burn a lot of energy.

Agreed. I’ve caught, held, raised and sold thousands of Achilles and we would never quarantine this fish with flow anywhere near this amount.

Cut the flow down considerably, turn the 40’s off. Aerate, offer some nori to browse on. For copper I like Mardel copper safe as it’s soft on Achilles, be careful with Seachem. I wouldn’t offer live food or frozen until after the fish is nibbling on algae. Otherwise you’re just making mess that will foul the water and have you sticking your arm in tank to siphon up uneaten food thereby stressing the fish out more. You can put them in high flow once they’re strong and healthy in the main display.

How long did most of your Achilles make it the owner of the lfs I got mine from had his for about 12 years also is it normal for it to be resting against the glass tucked back in his cave

 

[ReefED!]

Tangs can be drama queens for a bit if they don't feel uncomfortable.

I haven't kept Achilles but that sounds similar to how I've had regal tangs act and some other tangs when first introduced to a hospital/QT tank

You should consider a prazi or formalin bath to check for flukes, and get that copper up to therapeutic levels - you could have a fish with ich or velvet in the gills and not even know it.

 

[reefernc02]

Good to know I try and give every fish I have 110% care no amount of money or time is too much to give to keep a healthy fish

 

[reefernc02]

18000 GPH Pump? That sounds like way too much flow intially for QT. I would turn it down as it's causing your fish to burn a lot of energy.

Agreed. I’ve caught, held, raised and sold thousands of Achilles and we would never quarantine this fish with flow anywhere near this amount.

Cut the flow down considerably, turn the 40’s off. Aerate, offer some nori to browse on. For copper I like Mardel copper safe as it’s soft on Achilles, be careful with Seachem. I wouldn’t offer live food or frozen until after the fish is nibbling on algae. Otherwise you’re just making mess that will foul the water and have you sticking your arm in tank to siphon up uneaten food thereby stressing the fish out more. You can put them in high flow once they’re strong and healthy in the main display.

How long did most of your Achilles make it the owner of the lfs I got mine from had his for about 12 years also is it normal for it to be resting against the glass tucked back in his cave

Any experience with them being still in one spot kinda against the glass for a couple days in your experience with them