yellow belly blue tang

[Lynn52]

I got a very small yellow belly blue tang that was included in a shipment accidentally. This is about the cutest thing I have ever seen but I fear too small to survive. She is maybe a half inch.

Currently I have her in her in a small 2 gallon tank on her second transfer of 5 tank transfers. She seems to be eating. Is there any thing I can do to improve the odds she will survive? Eventually if she makes it she will go into my 125.

 

[jdl513]

So long as the water quality can be maintained I would keep her in a tranquil environment to put on some weight. If there is no live rock I would put a partial sheet of nori held by a clip or algae magnet in there for grazing. They are hardy but at that size flakes twice a day is really not enough. They have little reserves when tiny so need to be able to forage pretty much all day

 

[eatbreakfast]

Small frequent feedings. Their metabolism is through the roof at that size, and hippo tangs aren't as algae oriented in their diets as other tangs, so foods such as mysis and enriched brine would be good to add.

 

[Lynn52]

Thanks guys
I have been feeding emerald entree, and very tiny pellets. I'll try adding a tiny bit of algae on a clip, or rubberbanded to a rock. I have several really small tanks and can easily do tank transfers that are shorter in duration ( 7 transfers one every 48 hour instead of 5, one every 72 hours) to keep the water quality better. To be honest I am thrilled every time I see she's still swimming around. Her color is much better than the first couple days.

 

[ihmix]

I had one a similar size, ate like a pig and appeared to be a real hardy fish. Real pleasure.

 

[Lynn52]

Another related question. If I get her through QT will she be OK moved into my DT or am I better letting her to grow a bit bigger in a 2o gallon. My DT is 125 gallons with lots of rocks and hiding spaces.
I currently have
1 McKoskers Flasher wrasse
1 good sized flame angel
1 small Lamarks angel
1 pajama cardinal
1 fire fish
3 blue grudgeons
1 spotted mandarin
1 orange spotted sand sifting goby.

 

[TheWhiteFord]

She will be fine going into the dt at her current size. None of the fish your have (at least I my experience) would be aggressive towards her

 

[Lynn52]

Thanks

 

[TheWhiteFord]

Thanks

No problem!

 

[jdl513]

If the circulation in the 125 is moderate she should be okay once through qt assuming none of the established residents is uncharacteristically aggressive. my main concern would be her getting into an overflow or getting too close to a circulation pump. Difficult to "kid proof" when that size.

 

[Lynn52]

I moved her to the 125 and she is doing great. She seems to be growing pretty fast. I have a ton of flow but she doesn't seem to have any issues swimming around. She does seem to spend most of her time at the top of the water column but covers the whole tank.
None of the other fish even looked at her when I put her in. I think she was too small for the existing fish to consider her competition for territory.