Just bought a powder blue..suggestions?
- Thread starter sqwee28
- Start date
jacksonpt
Active Member
3 keys (from my experience) to keeping these guys happy and healthy. First, make sure you bought him healthy and stong. If you bring him home sick or weak, chances are slim that it will survive. Second, make sure your water parameters are good, and make sure they are verrrry stable... PB do not respond well to changing water conditions. This makes things like topping off and water changes much more difficult. Third, keep the temp down... 82 at the most. This is how I lost mine... got a streak of disgustingly hot weather, took all I could do to keep the tank from passing 86... lost my powder blue and my ritteri anemone that week.
Good luck.
Good luck.
kdlbem
Member
It won't last long in a 50 gal. I tried one in a 75, and that one lasted 3 months. If I were you, I would take it back for credit. I would not try one again, unless I had at least a 100 gal, that's been running without problems, for at least 6 months. The fact that you had to ask about it, tells me you aren't ready to care for one. I know very experienced fishkeepers that stay away from keeping the bowder blues/browns, because of the fact they are so ich-prone. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but these are VERY difficult fish to keep.
HTH,
B
HTH,
B
andymi
Member
One thing that has worked for me with tangs, is do not over crowd them, do not keep them with a similar shaped species (i.e., power blue and brown in same tank) and get a pair of cleaner shrimp. I actually keep a yellow tang and a small hippo tang in my 70. They love being in there with each other and are almost always swimming around with the other. I noticed my hippo tang seems to attract parasites more than the yellow tang does, but the cleaner shrimp do wonderful jobs of getting the parasites of them both. I have never had a powder blue, but if you keep him as I said do not overcrowd him and get the cleaner shrimp pair. You will probably be a little better off.
--Andy
--Andy
T
troels
Guest
Like all the other said: keep water quality absolutely perfect. Feed him a varied diet (Artemia, krill, spirulina, spinach, nori) LOTS of greens. If you have som Caulerpa in the tank that is a good idea (my PBT loves Caulerpa) and I think it is important than he will be allowed to graze on algae all day long.
One word of caution: PBT's can be very aggressive especially when you introduce new fish to the tank. You can be lucky to get one that is not aggressive. I was..
I also think it is very important that the tank is not overstocked. I have mine in a 120 G with only a clown and Moorish idol
One word of caution: PBT's can be very aggressive especially when you introduce new fish to the tank. You can be lucky to get one that is not aggressive. I was..
I also think it is very important that the tank is not overstocked. I have mine in a 120 G with only a clown and Moorish idol
goofieones
Member
All I have to say is......Pray, if your religious!! LOL Get ready for ich, it will happen.
jimi
Active Member
I have had my powder blue for 10 mon now and he is doing great. He is fat and really colorful. Over a 100 gal is recommended, they are powerful swimmers and need room to be happy. A well established tank ( like at least a year old pretty much problem free) is also recommended. Excellent water quality, and lots of greens. It also helps to get a healthy one from the start as someone mentioned, with great color. They should be bright blue with a jet black face. Pale or really faded specimens should be avoided.