Tang not eating, acting weird

[Lps_lover12]

I just got my white tail bristletooth tang 2 days ago, put him in the qt and left the lights off for the first day and then only turned it on for an hour last night to try and feed. I tried mysis and pellets but he didn’t even bother for either. Today I put some seaweed on a veggie clip hoping he would eat that and doesn’t even acknowledge it. Yesterday it was out swimming a bit and today it is just in the pvc tube hiding out, ever since I got him he always has his mouth opening and closing constantly. I’m not sure if this is just how tangs are for the first few days sometimes and he just needs time to settle in. Any help is appreciated just want to make sure he is ok and makes it thorough

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

My Tangs really go after the San Francisco Bay Butterflyfish/Angelfish Formula. Also I add Selcon to it, but not every time.

 

[Lps_lover12]

My Tangs really go after the San Francisco Bay Butterflyfish/Angelfish Formula. Also I add Selcon to it, but not every time.

Did they eat when you first got them?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I just got my white tail bristletooth tang 2 days ago, put him in the qt and left the lights off for the first day and then only turned it on for an hour last night to try and feed. I tried mysis and pellets but he didn’t even bother for either. Today I put some seaweed on a veggie clip hoping he would eat that and doesn’t even acknowledge it. Yesterday it was out swimming a bit and today it is just in the pvc tube hiding out, ever since I got him he always has his mouth opening and closing constantly. I’m not sure if this is just how tangs are for the first few days sometimes and he just needs time to settle in. Any help is appreciated just want to make sure he is ok and makes it thorough

Not unusual for tangs to do this often pecking at glass and rocks. Often if other fish in the tank, it will be intimidated. I would not have lights off but at least blue and stay back from tank as it settles in.
How did you acclimate it and how long?
Is breathing normal or labored?

 

[AScientificReefer]

For feeding if you haven't tried it yet garlic extract works wonders.
Ive kept so many whitetails at this point and wouldnt worry much about the eating until 5-7 days hell pick up feeding with just a little more work
If you have a rock with algae that should help the most. But mysis, and pellets can be done with some time

 

[Lps_lover12]

Not unusual for tangs to do this often pecking at glass and rocks. Often if other fish in the tank, it will be intimidated. I would not have lights off but at least blue and stay back from tank as it settles in.
How did you acclimate it and how long?
Is breathing normal or labored?

He is alone in the tank, fedex delivered it quite late so I floated bag for 30 mins, made sure salinity matched and put him in. The only lights I have on the tank are white. Here is a video of his breathing https://youtube.com/shorts/nVkyk4agPB4?feature=share

 

[Lps_lover12]

For feeding if you haven't tried it yet garlic extract works wonders.
Ive kept so many whitetails at this point and wouldnt worry much about the eating until 5-7 days hell pick up feeding with just a little more work
If you have a rock with algae that should help the most. But mysis, and pellets can be done with some time

I will have to try that, forgot about it and I’ve had luck with garlic in the past. Sadly i just set up the tank a few days before so there is no algae in there. Thanks! I’ll give the garlic a shot and hopefully that helps him out

 

[Lps_lover12]

For feeding if you haven't tried it yet garlic extract works wonders.
Ive kept so many whitetails at this point and wouldnt worry much about the eating until 5-7 days hell pick up feeding with just a little more work
If you have a rock with algae that should help the most. But mysis, and pellets can be done with some time

Would it be ok if I took the nori out, soaked in garlic then put back into the tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

He is alone in the tank, fedex delivered it quite late so I floated bag for 30 mins, made sure salinity matched and put him in. The only lights I have on the tank are white. Here is a video of his breathing https://youtube.com/shorts/nVkyk4agPB4?feature=share

As suspected breathing is labored. See if you can filter the light even with a plastic bag or frosted glass. Tangs can go several days before starvation and my clown tang was an example.

 

[Lps_lover12]

As suspected breathing is labored. See if you can filter the light even with a plastic bag or frosted glass

Do you mean just to die it down and give him more shade?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Do you mean just to die it down and give him more shade?

Yes and dont fret if not yet eating. I had a clown tang go several days before feeding and while some fish are enticed with garlic extract- It doesnt always work. I have over a dozen tangs and it does nothing for any of them.

 

[AScientificReefer]

Would it be ok if I took the nori out, soaked in garlic then put back into the tank?

Should help out!

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Did they eat when you first got them?

They ate that when they were in Quarantine. Yellow Tang, that was Sick with HLLE was eating some flake and a finicky Two Spot Tang. Now they eat anything, frozen food, flake, pellets and they even try eating ReefRoids.

 

[Uncle99]

He may see his reflection?
That might stress him out when new.
Eliminate that. Looks like mine.
I see nothing really wrong.

 

[Lps_lover12]

Yes and dont fret if not yet eating. I had a clown tang go several days before feeding and while some fish are enticed with garlic extract- It doesnt always work. I have over a dozen tangs and it does nothing for any of them.

Thank you. Hoping he will get eating soon

 

[Lps_lover12]

He may see his reflection?
That might stress him out when new.
Eliminate that. Looks like mine.
I see nothing really wrong.

I was thinking that because he was staring at himself the first day

 

[Uncle99]

I was thinking that because he was staring at himself the first day

He’ll also do that mouth movement along the glass collecting algae. He’s the only tank in my group that does glass like that.
Great cleaner.

 

[apb03]

My Whitetail is extremely shy with feeding, even now he won't usually come out during feeding unless I am out of sight. When I first got him he sustained himself on algae until he finally got comfortable enough. Eventually he came around, a camera helps keep an eye on him.

 

[Dave1993]

try see if you can buy some "veggie feast" its frozen algae stuff its good

 

[Lps_lover12]

try see if you can buy some "veggie feast" its frozen algae stuff its good

I’ll take a look into that, thank you!