New PBT

[Aparker2005]

Hey everyone. We got a 5-6" PBT in Friday. I know the risk of these fish being ich magnets, but it went immediately to the display. Bad practice, I know.

Our PBT a few years ago from Divers Den was wonderful. Ate day 1, but was do mean we had to rehome it. Our tank is a 125.

We've tried 2 small ones since then, both getting bullied by our majestic angel, and they ended up dying. So, we went with another larger one. We're planning to eventually upgrade tanks.

Anyway, the tang hasn't eaten yet. I've seen it pick at a few rocks here and there, but I've not seen it eat anything I've offered yet.

I've offered nori on rocks, on a clip, crushed up loose in the tank, pellets, flakes, frozen mysis and brine. Still nothing.

It hid the first day or 2, but now it's swimming about the tank. It will notice food and turn around towards it, but won't eat it.

It's also starting to flare up occasionally to the majestic angel. It looks very healthy. Parameters are all good. Could it simply just still be settling in and will eventually eat? I figure if it's already trying to become the boss over the angel, surely it's in good health?

No ich on the fish (yet).

 

[Aparker2005]

And now it's eating frozen finally! Thank goodness

 

[Chrisv.]

Beautiful fish. I will always have a soft spot for them, but they get so aggressive that I've sworn them off.

 

[Aparker2005]

Beautiful fish. I will always have a soft spot for them, but they get so aggressive that I've sworn them off.

That's how our last one was. Completely obliterated our copperband at the time.

This one I was getting worried about until this evening when I finally saw it eat, but it's already chasing off the majestic angel and flaring at it. I don't think an unhealthy or sick pbt would be doing all that, but I could be wrong.

 

[Chrisv.]

That's how our last one was. Completely obliterated our copperband at the time.

This one I was getting worried about until this evening when I finally saw it eat, but it's already chasing off the majestic angel and flaring at it. I don't think an unhealthy or sick pbt would be doing all that, but I could be wrong.

Looks very healthy to me. Hope it works out for you!

 

[littlefoxx]

Beautiful! Love these guys. Planning on getting one for my 300 when Ive got it back up and running. If its too mean like the one I had in my 125 I wont get another! Lol

 

[Aparker2005]

Just an update, this PBT is eating every single thing we throw in the tank now. Overnight it just switched. I think it got comfortable finally and now wants food all day.

Definitely seems the bigger ones are much easier to get acclimated.

 

[littlefoxx]

Just an update, this PBT is eating every single thing we throw in the tank now. Overnight it just switched. I think it got comfortable finally and now wants food all day.

Definitely seems the bigger ones are much easier to get acclimated.

Is it fat yet?? Lol

 

[Aparker2005]

Is it fat yet?? Lol

Absolutely lol

 

[dakoop]

Beautiful fish. Good luck with it

 

[littlefoxx]

Absolutely lol

Mine is beefin up in his holding tank! Made friends with my baby emperor actually!

 

[Aparker2005]

Sometimes I hate this hobby and want to just tear it down and stop the money pit.

Today, the tang is acting like it's attacking the glass, relentlessly swimming to one spot and bowing it's fins out, slapping, and swimming as fast as it can the other way. Over and over. It's breathing fast as well due to the nonstop stress of I guess it's reflection.

It's stressing the foxface out to where it will chase it away when it sees it do the tail slap.

Yesterday it was as calm as could be, eating normally and acting fine. Already fearing it's a downward spiral to losing it.

I taped some paper to the glass to maybe help. It didn't eat any thing when trying to feed either.

Parameters are fine, no other fish are affected. Any ideas?

 

[Aparker2005]

Here's a video

 

[Duane family]

Yes as you say it is acting out against itc own reflection. Don't stress about it and expect this to change in the short term.

What I have found is that as light inside and outside the tank changes the mirror effect increases and reduces.

I could be wrong but I doubt that this behavior is going to result in any long term effects.

 

[Aparker2005]

I taped some paper to the glass also to maybe help but it's still been doing this erratic swimming

 

[Duane family]

I taped some paper to the glass also to maybe help but it's still been doing this erratic swimming

Yeah I read that, I'm not convinced it helps with reflections.

 

[Aparker2005]

Yeah I read that, I'm not convinced it helps with reflections.

I didn't realize I put that in the op, but yeah I'm not thinking it's helping anything.

Frustrating it was eating so well and so calm, and then this today. Hopefully it stops but it seems like it's starting the usual downhill die slowly track any fish I lose seems to do. I'll keep everyone posted!

 

[Duane family]

I didn't realize I put that in the op, but yeah I'm not thinking it's helping anything.

Frustrating it was eating so well and so calm, and then this today. Hopefully it stops but it seems like it's starting the usual downhill die slowly track any fish I lose seems to do. I'll keep everyone posted!

What you could do if you felt that it would not affect other inhabitants was to reduce the light down to low light blues and keep the room lights off. Aim for what you feel is a halfmoon evening lighting strength. This will help calm the fish down.

Otherwise keep the thread updated with details so that others can have a reference when dealing with the same or similar situation.