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FAQs on Achilles Tangs Foods/Feeding/Nutrition

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Related FAQs: Acanthurus Tangs 1Achilles Tangs 2, & FAQs on: Achilles Tangs Identification, Achilles Tangs Behavior, Achilles Tangs Compatibility, Achilles Tangs Selection, Achilles Tangs Systems, Achilles Tangs Disease, Achilles Tangs Reproduction, & Acanthurus Tangs 2, Acanthurus Tangs 3, Acanthurus ID, Acanthurus Behavior, Acanthurus Compatibility, Acanthurus Selection, Acanthurus Systems, Acanthurus Feeding, Acanthurus Disease, Acanthurus Reproduction, Powder Blue Tangs, A. sohal, A. nigricans & A. japonicus, Surgeons In General, Tang ID, Selection, Tang Behavior, Compatibility, Systems, Feeding, Disease,

 

Surgeonfishes: Tangs for  Marine
 Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care

New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Achilles Help Please... fdg., beh...   7/8/10
Hello:
<Hi there>
I have a Achilles Tang that is about 4 to 5 inches. I got him in the middle of May. He has been fine up until about a week ago.
I have noticed the following red flags jumping at me.
1. He was one of my most aggressive eaters. Now food pretty much bumps off of his nose and he will not go like he use to. He will nibble at some formula two, mises shrimp, the rock with the Nori on it (after it is pretty much picked clean). In short his eating has gone way down. He does not attack the frozen food like the others when it is introduced into the water.
<I'd move, try a good staple like Spectrum with this Acanthurus... stat.>
2. I did just re aquascape my tank on Sunday. I am wondering if maybe he is feeding on some of the new rock in there? Or maybe ate something that stung him?
<Perhaps>
3. The other cause for concern is that he is swimming face first into the Koralia. He has been hanging right in front of it face first into it. (Not usual behavior)
<Perhaps bored, but more likely debilitated...>
4. Tank mates include ( Koran Angel, Blue Hippo, Naso, Two Clowns, Six Line, Leopard Wrasse, Purple Fire Fish, Fox Face Rabbit)
<... how large and what dimensions is this system?>
He is the only bristle tooth in there,
<Mmm, not a Bristletooth, as in of the genus Ctenochaetus>
so he is not being bullied around. He is certainly the alpha of the tank, but not so much over the past week. ( I was
thinking if something was slipping past me with the water conditions, the leopard wrasse, Naso, and blue hippo would also be showing signs, but they are healthier than ever.
<The Naso and Koran are or will be more "alpha">
5. After reading your fishes 3 article, Mr. Fenner really put emphasis on oxygen. I did hook a powerhead with an airline up to it tonight to let it run through the night and see how he is tomorrow.
<Good>
He is still active and swimming. He does still pace the tank, but does not seem like he normally is. I have noticed that he seemed to of lost some weight, but not showing signs of HLLE.
Not sure what to do. Any guidance is greatly appreciated. I am running 23 to 24 on salinity, and the rest of the parameters are in line.
Thank you so much. I appreciate the information you guys share, and the guidance you offer to hobbyists like myself.
Cordially:
Brendan O'Donoghue
<Try changing the food here. Spectrum is a good overall food for what you list. Bob Fenner>

Something for Bob F <Yucky Algae Scenery>(& Achilles Tang Question)   4/19/07 Hey Bob, <Jeremy> Here is something that I found out in the field a little while back (see attached photo).  I guess the small amount of Cyanobacteria that used to be in my tank isn't so bad after all. <More persistent through space and time than civil servants!> The only thing about it that bothered me is that there wasn't anything I could do about it because it is referred to as "a natural occurrence" and not a result of an illicit discharge. <And so it goes...> That outfall was flowing directly into the San Jacinto River just north of Houston.  I am involved in a big job where I have to track all of the outfalls and storm sewer lines and their collection sources (storm inlets and manholes) for Harris County (Houston) anywhere it crosses a stream, river and/or bayou and then go out and take/collect the point with the latest and greatest GPS software. <Neat...> These new toys are really something.  TxDOT wants to know where their water is going and where it is coming from so they can track illicit discharges when and where they happen.  I am glad our team has two years for this job.   Also, I saw in the news that these new twisty-looking light bulbs that are so good for energy conservation and all that stuff are contributing to a mercury level spike in the storm drains that outfall into the major water bodies. <Mmm, the Dura ones are no longer manufactured... haven't been for years... likely old stock... But most all fluorescents have some Hg... http://www.google.com/search?q=do+fluorescent+lamps+have+mercury+in+them%3F&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=utf8&oe=utf8> People are simply throwing them away instead of following the protocol for recycling them. <Likely less toxic than the oil et al. burned, released into the environment... This is not a "Zero sum" game we're playing... E.g., who pays your wages? What else might the public do with its money?> This trash method is in turn releasing mercury into the storm drains.  It is something I will look for when sampling.  Have you heard anything about this? <... oh yes. Besides being a vociferous reader of "common science" and citizen of this planet (in good standing) for five and a half decades, I am qualified to teach H.S. level chemistry and physics... and "do my best to keep up"> I saw an Achilles tang at the LFS which happened to look very healthy and not only ate, but attacked the food that they used to feed him. (Live Brine Shrimp)  Since getting him home (about a week ago), I have been using Hikari Spirulina (sp?) Brine Shrimp soaked in Selcon and Vitamin C.  He loves it.  Is this good enough for now? <Mmm, I'd switch to Spectrum pelleted foods... even more nutritious and palatable>   Most Achilles tangs I see in the LFS usually are malnourished and die because they won't eat. <Mmm, have gots to (as usual) toss in my dos centavos here (esp. since "the drop" for this Acanthurus this year (am out in HI) has been large... am seeing many juveniles... that will likely translate into more in hobbyists' grips... This species is just not "well-suited" for captive use... Too "high strung"... and soft-bodied (really... give yours a squeeze when it's netted... Freaks out, damages easily...>   I am trying to wean him off the brine shrimp as his main source of food, yet I don't want him to stop eating since they can be so particular.  I will put up a sheet of seaweed for him to see if he goes for that.  I tried Mysis Shrimp and Angel Formula but he turned his nose at it although the emperor angel was more than happy to get all of it. Should I just continue this route?  I have some frozen LifeLine Spirulina as well as more kinds of Algae sources to try as well. Thanks, Jeremy <The Spectrum. No jive or mis-placed praise... Really is that good and appealing... Have seen Pablo's (Tepoot's, the maker of the food) Achilles, reared on this solely... Bob F> Here is the previous message. <Thank you for this. Cheers>

Feeding A Finicky Tang I just purchased an Achilles Tang, because I could not resist. <Can't blame you- they are gorgeous fish and great to have if you can meet their needs> It is about 4 inches, beautiful color, and in my quarantine tank for 4 days (will stay there for 4 weeks). <Excellent! A key to success with this fish!> It gobbles up Nori, but nothing else.  I have tried frozen brine, Mysis, and Cyclop-eeze all soaked in garlic or Selcon.  But he still only eats the Nori, should I be concerned?  Is there anything else I can do? Thanks for your help! <Well, the fact that he is eating is a great sign! Nori is marine-based, so it does provide valuable nutrition. However, you do want to get him eating as many different foods as possible, of course. I would look for a source of my favorite macroalgae, Gracilaria, which is an excellent supplemental food. You can get a starter supply from e-tailers like Indo-Pacific Sea Farms or Inland Aquatics. You can easily cultivate it yourself with a little effort. In the meantime, just keep trying a variety of frozen foods. Hopefully, he'll come around at some point. Keep it up! Regards, Scott F>

Surgeonfishes: Tangs for  Marine
 Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care

New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner
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