Very Strange Tang Behavior

[ericmf66]

My Convict Tang that I just purchased from my fish store on Sat. is acting very strange. He has become lethargic and just sort of hangs out at the bottom of the tank where there is little water flow in a little cave area. He has just been hanging out there for a couple of hours. When we first put him in he was swimming everywhere constanly. I thought I would feed him to see if he would eat and he did and ate well. Why would an active fish be acting so inactive and eat well at the same time. He has no visible signs of ich or any other parasite. And if he was sick why would he eat? I am at a loss as to what is wrong. Could it be that a water temp of 82 is too high? I know that it is pretty high but it's hard to keep it lower. Could that be the problem? All the other fish are fine. I checked levels and they are:
PH- 8.1
Sal- 1.024
am-0
nitrite-0
nitrate-.10
Temp-82

 

[nicetry]

Tank size? Other inhabitants? Is the tang breathing hard?
Have you noticed the tang being bothered by anything else?

 

[ericmf66]

My tank is 55 gallons. I have a pajama cardinal fish, two percula clownfish,a mandarin dragonet, sea cucumber and green serpent star. I don't think he is being bullied. The tang is the biggest fish in there but those two clownfish do have hosts, (hammer coral and flower polyps) His breathing seems normal to me.

 

[kanicky]

Typically tangs do better in a 75 gallon tank or larger. They require a lot of lateral swimming room, as they are very active. I think he may be stressing. I'm sure, though, that someone more experienced than myself will chime in soon

 

[surfinusa]

convict tangs usually dont do good in captivity, and need at least a 125 gal tank

 

[ericmf66]

Wow, I wish I would have known that when I bought him. The fish store owner knows what size tank I have and he didn't say anything to me about the size of my tank when I bought him. He has come out today and is swimming around with the lights off. I turn the lights on around 4pm so I guess I'll see how he is doing then.

 

[sharkboy13]

Originally Posted by surfinusa
convict tangs usually dont do good in captivity, and need at least a 125 gal tank
usually larger since like lookdowns, dont do well unless in schools

 

[sepulatian]

I highly suggest that you bring him back to the LFS while you still can. He is not going to do well in that tank.

 

[kpk]

Even though he may need a bigger tank 3-4 days shouldn't make him do that. I have had a purple in a 30x24" tank for over a month while setting up the new tank and there hasn't been any problems. Don't get me wrong, I haven't kept one, but I don't think the smallish tank is going to make it go downhill that quick.
What are you levels in the tank? The other fish may be used to something that the newcomer isn't?

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by kpk
Even though he may need a bigger tank 3-4 days shouldn't make him do that. I have had a purple in a 30x24" tank for over a month while setting up the new tank and there hasn't been any problems. Don't get me wrong, I haven't kept one, but I don't think the smallish tank is going to make it go downhill that quick.
What are you levels in the tank? The other fish may be used to something that the newcomer isn't?
He said that the fish is now out and swimming. It seems like it was stress from being new to me. That is one of the reasons for a quarantine tank, to give the fish time to settle in, not to mention to be certain that you don't transfer disease into a display. You are correct though that tank size would not have that much of an impact in that short of time.

 

[ericmf66]

He seems to be doing ok right now. He is swimming around actively and seems happy again. I think I may have over reacted a little but I 'm still going to bring him back if my tank is to small for him. He is only about 2.5 inches right now from nose to the edge of his tail fin. Maybe he was just tired. :thinking: Thanks for all the replies

 

[kpk]

Ok cool deal shoulda read into that last couple posts! Glad to hear hes ok!