Powder Blue in the future?

[michelle l]

Hello
My husband and I have been slowly working on stocking our 125 gal. FOWLR tank. To date we have:
1 3 to 3 1/2-inch Juvi Cortez Angel
1 Flame Angel
2 Perc. clowns
1 1-inch Green Chromis
1 large 5-6 inch Yellow Tang
We are considering one more fish. Hubby wants something blue, but definetely not damn-sels. He wanted a hippo tang, but I convinced him not to go that route (I am the caretaker of the tank, and didn't much feel like dealing with a fish that is so easily stressed.) After talking with a very respected LFS owner who told him the same thing about hippos, hubby changed his mind.

The LFS owner suggested a powder blue tang. I have always heard that they are hard to keep, but he seems to think that we have the ability to keep one successfully. (He's an excellent LFS owner and is very reputable..he doesn't suggest fish that he thinks isn't a good match to the customer.) He told us that he only purchases from one wholesaler who he has found to supply excellent, healthy powder blues, and right now the tsunami that happened a while back has limited what he can get for right now. He should be able to get one for us as soon as they get back on track, but he is unsure of when that will be. He won't purchase P. Blues from any other wholesaler.
Until then I wanted to do more research before I made the move. I LOVE powder blues, but our yellow tang is pretty large, and I am concerned that he wouldn't welcome a powder blue, even though they aren't the same body shape. Also, what are the common problems people here have had with keeping a powder blue? And, what have you found to make you successful at keeping one?
If we add one, what would be the best size to consider?
Thanks!

 

[denny80689]

:jumping: bump....
Im interested too. I also have a 125gal FOWLR and am interested in a PB Tang.
currently have:
~160lb of LR
3.5" hippo tang
3 perc clowns
2 green chromis
LMB

 

[carshark]

Originally Posted by denny80689
:jumping: bump....
Im interested too. I also have a 125gal FOWLR and am interested in a PB Tang.
currently have:
~160lb of LR
3.5" hippo tang
3 perc clowns
2 green chromis
LMB

Id stay away from having those two tangs together, the regal and the powder. they are very similar fish and may not get along at all...look into a purple, sailfin, yellow, tangs like that with your regal.

 

[lion_crazz]

I would definitely not consider doing a powder blue. If you ask me, hippos are easier to take care of then a powder blue. Powder blues need a huge amount of swimming room in order to do very well, whereas the hippo does not. Both are just as easily affected by ich and malnutrition.
I would also be very cautious with your yellow tang though. No matter what tang you do, there is still a very good chance that your yellow is not going to like him.

 

[pcpope]

If you add powder blue with yellow must do it at same time or rearrange tank yellow is ver territoral we just went through the same thing, had to remove fish and rearrange the whole tank. Yellow was relentless. Hippos are hardier than powders but could have same problem with yellow either way.

 

[michelle l]

I have to admit, we just got the yellow this weekend and he's already pretty bold. He's a big boy too. He doesn't hide much at all, even when I am right in front of my tank. Normally I don't care for yellow tangs, but with his size he was pretty striking. He's very fat and healthy, and is a nice shade of yellow, which added to his allure. I hope I don't regret buying him.

 

[motor25]

i have had two powder blues in the past and found the biggest challenges were ich and plenty of alge for them to graze on. the use of use of a Q tank and alge clip help.

 

[lazarus]

Michelle, LMK if you add the hippo/regal to your tank. i want one as well and am curious how your YT will respond. I think i have the brother to your YT here. this guy is fearless.

 

[cveverly]

I bought a complte 75 system and it included a Powder Blue and a Yellow. So I guess a yellow and powder blue will get along. I did not keep the yellow but the Powder Blue is doing very well with my Imperator Angel. If I were buying a Powder Blue I would look for large fat one with good color. Mine swims all the time so look for an active one. Mine loves Nori and Formula Two pellets.

 

[farnorth]

I recently had a powder blue that died. The reason I got him was that he was a beautiful specimen, very big at 5" and was eating well at the store. My water quality was perfect and I have a 90 gal. I did not QT him and put him right into my tank after acclimating him for 3 hours. He got ich within 12 hours. After the first round of ich he started eating very well and I fed him garlic and vitamin soaked nori, then he got ich again, then I did hypo on the entire tank, put on a UV and did water changes regularly. Finally he got black ich and died after 3 weeks of owning him. PB's are my favorite fish, but if you do get a PB I would make sure to put him in a QT for 3 weeks and do hypo on him and make sure that you have never had ich in your tank or do hypo on the tank if possibly before you get one.
This is just my experience

Hope you can get one and keep him thriving