Powder blue tnag not eating

[Thraciandrummer]

hey guys,
Picked up a powder blue tang from a very close friend and reputable dealer on Sunday. Fish looks great. Definitely a juvenile as it's thin and only about 2 inches long; he's a little guy. Thus far the fish hasn't eaten. It spends most of the time hiding behind rocks, it will occasionally come out to swim around and I have seen it pick at rocks a few times, but it completely ignores food at feeding time. I feed Frozen PE Mysis, Thera-A pellets, ocean nutrition flakes and frozen Spirulina daily soaked in garlic. I also offer nori in a grazer. Can anyone give me tips on how to get this fish to eat? The last thing I want is for it to starve to death!

Ps. All my other fish leave him alone. There was a bit of aggression when it was first introduced but with pin a day and a half it completely stopped.

 

[4FordFamily]

Tiny powder blues like that are very very very difficult. All acanthurus tangs can be difficult due to their inability to handle any parasite infestation (reduced slime coat and high stress of being in a glass cage when they swim many miles each day in the wild) even if a bit larger.

Nori is a good move but try red nori from ocean nutrition. It's gold.

Also live blackworms are a great treat almost no fish can resist.

If that doesn't work their kryptonite is live brine. I would move fast and get these three things immediately. Call around LFS to locate them. Blackworms can be ordered online easily.

I've also found that a powder blue tang ( or most fish especially tangs) purchased with sunken stomachs and thin have very little chance. They've likely not eaten for a week or even weeks throughout distribution from collection at that point. Live brine has saved a couple for me over the years but i would try all three. Feed and then back away, stand still, and watch.

Also check your water parameters - high ammonia, or other water chemistry issues can also cause this.

 

[Thraciandrummer]

My water parameters are perfect. I will do my best to find these items quickly. Any other advice?

 

[4FordFamily]

My water parameters are perfect. I will do my best to find these items quickly. Any other advice?

That's the best chance you've got. They do like high flow. Make sure you have high flow. Make a power head break the surface for oxygen saturation as well. These guys need a lot of oxygen and are accustomed to having it, for the most part.

 

[ChrisAndJulie2012]

I was going to mention garlic, but then I went back and reread your op. Mine is just a lil bit bigger then yours but not by much I am sure. Day one I was sooo nervous on this guy not eating and took a chance on the kinda thin fishie. I have lots of algea that this guy mows down him and the bi color angel and yellow tang. They also

love when i drop chaeto into the tank and let them get a snack. I feed a frozen cocktail like you and add garlic xtreme. He is now putting on the weight and fitting right in our 125. Best of luck they are beautiful fish for sure.

Heres a quick pic of our three day new to us pbt.

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

All my other fish leave him alone. There was a bit of aggression when it was first introduced but with pin a day and a half it completely stopped.

Hey Thraciandrummer! That's good thing they "completely stopped".

Thus far the fish hasn't eaten.

I've already seen acting like this.. sometimes it needs time. Ask your close friend about did he has any problems like this?
Btw almost 10 days had gone... how it's going right now? Any good news?
And I hope everything will be alright. Don't give up!