Tang needs some TLC

[Sharkbait19]

Today must be my lucky day!! I was at a nearby petco when I stumbled across a biota yellow tang available for $199. I noticed it was in really tough shape but behaviorally wasn’t looking too bad, so just out of curiosity, spoke to the person working there, and somehow managed to convince him to give it to me for $50! Obviously the first step is rigorous quarantine, beginning with copper (it has a few ich spots on the fins) and antibiotics to treat its mark. I wanted to see if anyone here has tips for creating a robust quarantine regimen over the next few months. Supposedly the wound came from a tiger pistol shrimp that was in the tank with it, and the people at the store told me that it had been there for a while and was eating readily. It was nice to see a petco where the employees cared more about the fish receiving quality care and a good home rather than simply turning a profit.

 

[Sean Clark]

Hopefully it will make a full recovery.

 

[Kooma]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[exnisstech]

JMO but I would hold of on Copper and try to get it healthy first.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Today must be my lucky day!! I was at a nearby petco when I stumbled across a biota yellow tang available for $199. I noticed it was in really tough shape but behaviorally wasn’t looking too bad, so just out of curiosity, spoke to the person working there, and somehow managed to convince him to give it to me for $50! Obviously the first step is rigorous quarantine, beginning with copper (it has a few ich spots on the fins) and antibiotics to treat its mark. I wanted to see if anyone here has tips for creating a robust quarantine regimen over the next few months. Supposedly the wound came from a tiger pistol shrimp that was in the tank with it, and the people at the store told me that it had been there for a while and was eating readily. It was nice to see a petco where the employees cared more about the fish receiving quality care and a good home rather than simply turning a profit.

Is it eating yet?

 

[JohnNYC8]

Today must be my lucky day!! I was at a nearby petco when I stumbled across a biota yellow tang available for $199. I noticed it was in really tough shape but behaviorally wasn’t looking too bad, so just out of curiosity, spoke to the person working there, and somehow managed to convince him to give it to me for $50! Obviously the first step is rigorous quarantine, beginning with copper (it has a few ich spots on the fins) and antibiotics to treat its mark. I wanted to see if anyone here has tips for creating a robust quarantine regimen over the next few months. Supposedly the wound came from a tiger pistol shrimp that was in the tank with it, and the people at the store told me that it had been there for a while and was eating readily. It was nice to see a petco where the employees cared more about the fish receiving quality care and a good home rather than simply turning a profit.

Thank you for giving this fish a good home.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Is it eating yet?

So far I haven’t seen it eat. The only thing I tried is mysis. The nori I have is expired so I’ll need to order some newer ones. What foods are most recommended for them?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So far I haven’t seen it eat. The only thing I tried is mysis. The nori I have is expired so I’ll need to order some newer ones. What foods are most recommended for them?

Try some small sinking pellets, that’s what they are raised on.

 

[exnisstech]

I believe they are fed dk1 pellets while at biota

 

[Marco_99]

TDO-C2 small pellets and also my Biota ate Ocean Nutrition Formula 2 flakes like a mad man

 

[Sharkbait19]

Ok, I use the NLS marine pellets. So far it hasn’t shown much interest, but it is swimming around and exploring the quarantine tank so at least it’s being active

 

[Sharkbait19]

The poor thing stopped swimming and looks to be on its way out unfortunately. $50 that seemed well spent now down the drain…

 

[Elevated Ecosystems]

The poor thing stopped swimming and looks to be on its way out unfortunately. $50 that seemed well spent now down the drain…

I always do frozen and selcon for tangs and kanaplex in food for any bacterial infection

 

[vetteguy53081]

brine shrimp is easy to ingest but im concerned how the area is internally

 

[Reef Breeder 2013]

I'm crossing my fingers that he survives. Try to get some nori or even lettuce (I've heard that they like lettuce). I saved my new clownfish that seemed to be on his last minutes with Sulfaplex, and other clown that had an a unidentified illness with Sulfaplex too (and I still have him!).

 

[BloopFish]

I believe they are fed dk1 pellets while at biota

To add on to this, they should be already trained to eat TDO pellets and DKI pellets if they are from Biota.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Sadly the tang passed away. Seemed rather sudden because it began exploring and being active but not long after took a turn for the worse.
I slightly blame myself because I could’ve acclimated it slower and been more attentive to its condition when adding it to the system, but it also may have just had too many issues where the shock of the transfer was enough to make it die. Although it’s $50 I wish I hadn’t spent, I’m glad to have made the effort to give it a better life, because I doubt it would’ve gotten sold at the store and likely would’ve met a similar fate.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I was so hoping for a success story.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Me too :(
I was definitely happy to have come across the fish, not only because yellow tangs are so dang expensive, but also because I enjoy nursing fish to health, and really wanted to try and give the little guy a good home and watch him grow.
I honestly wish petco just wouldn’t sell fish like yellow tangs, because a) it would be cheaper and honestly healthier buying straight from biota and b) suckers like me feel bad for the things and try to rescue them…
Rest in peace, bubbles

 

[JumboShrimp]

Bubbles made one last prison break... from PetCo Max Security.