What do you feed a powder blue tang?

killafins

Active Member
I am very interested in getting one and want to know everything from tank size to what they eat, to who they are good with and who they will fight with... even if it doesn't work with me I want to make it a long time goal to make it work. So, yeah... can someone tell me everything about these wonderous fish?
 

superman

Member
Powder Blue tangs are EXTREMELY BELLIGERENT. If you add one make sure it is the last fish added. They need least 75 gallons of tank with plenty of swimming room when they get larger. They generally eat algae, brine shrimp, and other tang fare. I feed my purple tang spirulina flakes, and spirulina enhanced brine shrimp, aside from the tank algae he eats. again make sure it is the last fish added to the system.
 

killafins

Active Member
I don't understand what you mean by belligerant... why the last tang? ne more infor? aggressiveness to orther fish? etc...
 
Let me start off by saying that I am not an expert, but I have had a Powder blue tang for about 1 1/2 years, and it is BY FAR!!! my favorite fish. I have had no problems with it until recently. It was doing great with my tomato clown and lunare wrasse. I then added a passer angel to my 120. For the first week or two, they definitely skirmished. Clearly, the PB was making sure the angel knew whose tank it is. They now got along great. The PB did develop a minor case of ich (apparently they get it very easily). Anyway, it seems to have recovered fine.
I feed 1/2 sheet nori in the morning, in a clip.
I feed frozen enriched brine or mysis shrimp in the PM. It eats like a pig.
Good luck :)
 

flamehawk

Active Member
Nori is dried seaweed. You can get it @ chinese deli.
PB's s/b left to the most experienced hobbiest. They tend to be on the delicate side although once acclimated do fine. They are not as delicate as the achillies or clown tangs but are not as hardy as the purple, yellow or sohal.
How long have you been in the hobby? No offense intended but if you have to ask about nori, probably not too long. My suggestion would be to keep asking good questions, read allot and keep up the good work witht the tank you curently have. After a year or so of success, you'd probably be ready for a PB. At that point you'll need at least a 5 foot tank that is well establishedw/ l/r,l/s and protein skimmer along with a Q tank where he should be kept for about 3 -4 weeks before putting in display. The key to successful PB keeping starts with picking a very healthy specimen that is eating.
Mine eats everything. DAily nori, brine, mysis,clams, angel formula, spectrum pellets, etc. Everything is soaked in selcon, zoe and garlic.
 

killafins

Active Member
no offense taken. I am 18 now... i have been dealing with aquariums since i was 11, ithink... when i brought home my first turtle. The hobby then evolved to crawfish and fiddler crabs to a 20 gallon fresh water which i had for a year. THen fire happens, tank crahses and i start afresh with a 20 gallon salt water. I had this tank running for around 8 months and then got a 55 gallon where I moved the fish and began to keep seahorses. I now have had the 55 gallon tank for three or four months. So i've been having tanks for 3 or four years and have been keeping the saltwater tanks for about 2.
I just never heard of nori being called dry seaweed. But maybe i should start to read my labels of what i buy because i just walk into my LFS and be like: this is what i need and then have a convo with the guy while he collects everything.
 

killafins

Active Member
I don't believe there are experts in the fish hobby and doubt there ever will be. But I am indeed learning and do hope to become close to that. :D
 

killafins

Active Member
ohh, the reason why i ask this is because my friend is moving and was able to sell all his live stock except his PB and asked if I would store it in my 55 for a while, while he looks for a new owner. He claims i can have it for free if i want it permanently but... so i will probably accept his offer considering it's only 3 inches long and use the combined information of u guys and him (well there is no information from him...he's not the most knowledgable...)
 

flamehawk

Active Member
Are all those fish in signature in 55? If so, I would n't add the PB . De-populate first. PB's are great fish. Beautiful and by far one of my favs. How long has your friend had the PB?
 

killa

Member
IMO not my IME I think PB's should be left to people with tanks at least 6' long because they do alot of swimming. I have wanted to keep one before but after research decided not too. Its proberly different in the US but where I live I have never seen a healthy one.
So I would advise you not to get it for your 55gal cause it will out grow that fairly quickly and when older it is going to need a 6 footer min, proberly an 8. This is IMO. Just do lots more reading and research.(there are experts out there)
 

wrassecal

Active Member
PB's are extremely delicate when first introduced into a new tank. They stress easily and are prone to ich. They need lots of swimming room and can grow to 9 inches in a tank. They need lots of greens, excellent water quality, stable and mature tank, and tank mates that pose no danger to them. They can be aggressive to other tangs. They need lots of swimming room. I'd say at least 6 ft tank. My PB is not aggressive, but some can be even to other fish. It is unfortunate that you have the opportunity to get one of these beautiful fish, yet you don't really have a good environment for it in a 55 with your current livestock list. Sorry to say it but, I believe you would be risking the PB and your other fish to add it. Here's mine....
 

killafins

Active Member
In my 20 gallon i have: 2 seahorses, mandarin, tomato clown (excellent with seahorses... i watch very carefully), algae eater...
In my 55 gallon I have: 1 saddle back puffer, eel, yellow tail blue damsel and the pink and blue chromis {however i m giving those to *****}....
 

flamehawk

Active Member
55 is a no go for this beauty. Better find another home. Shouldn't be a problem finding a home for this great fish. How long has your friend had him? How big is he?
 

killafins

Active Member
i have him now... my friend left... he's about three inches, not even... he's a juvi...
no clue how long my friend had him... but it was his favorite fish. Starting to become mine too but I'm leaving that up to him... he will find someone but for the time being i'm left with him... so i just want to try to make his home comfy.
 

hunterdaddy

Member
Just like everyone else said. PB tangs need a large tank that is preferbaly a reef with lots of LR. If I felt I could make one happy in a 55 I would have had one a long time ago. Definatly the best looking fish in the hobby IMO.
 

grouperhead

Active Member
So after everyone told you not to get it, you did? Why not listen to advice? You don't have the environment for one. What a shame. Bo
 

killafins

Active Member
No, i did not just get one. As i stated earlier my friend asked me to take it in while he was moving into a new home. i said yes and began to ask questions about it. In the beginning i WAS interested in keeping it... but now I am just a temporary home. You guys have turned me away from keeping it. I should only have the fish for another week or so.
 
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