Why do I keep losing Yellow Tang's?

serbusfish · 06/23/2018, 05:42 AM

I dont know what the problem is but I cant seem to keep Yellow Tang's alive long term. They normally live between 5 - 10 months but then suddenly become lethargic, thin, and die. My most recent one was acting weird on Thurday night but was still eating, the next day he had disappeared so I assume my clean up crew dealt with him after his death.

I feed my fish ever other day, swapping between flake and mysis. I am wondering if Tangs need feeding every day? Could this be the cause? All my other fish are fat and healthy with this feeding regime, and I have had most of them for 3 years at this point.

Scrubber_steve · 06/23/2018, 05:44 AM

Tangs graze on algae & should be fed nori daily

albano · 06/23/2018, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serbusfish

I feed my fish ever other day, swapping between flake and mysis. I am wondering if Tangs need feeding every day? Could this be the cause? All my other fish are fat and healthy with this feeding regime, and I have had most of them for 3 years at this point.

IMO, you should feed most fish every day and some will need multiple times a day.

Uncle99 · 06/23/2018, 07:52 AM

Twice per day + algae sheet on a clip so they can nibble all day.

Smaller and more frequent is always better than more and less frequent.

Do you eat only once per day?
Do you ever want a snack?
Think in those terms, and YT will be fine

sde1500 · 06/23/2018, 08:00 AM

Yea you’re starving them and not giving them the right diet even when you do feed them.

rvareef · 06/23/2018, 08:55 AM

when adding new fish, you'll need to feed frequently, not every other day, tangs have a high metabolism, you said they get lethargic and thin, sounds like you've been starving them and they are slowly withering away.

ca1ore · 06/23/2018, 09:05 AM

Not to pile on, but no fish suddenly becomes thin .... that takes a while. I turned the corner with tangs years ago with multiple daily feedings. Mine now get fed at least three times a day.

slief · 06/23/2018, 09:46 AM

As noted above, they are constant grazers and naturally cover large swaths of reefs in search for food. Assuming based on your signature that you are keeping them in a 75 gallon tank, that is on the small side for them as they just won’t have enough food sources to graze on let alone the fact they yellow tangs are typically wild caught and you are putting them into an environment that doesn’t really mimic what they are used to since they don’t have the diversity of natural food sources and swimming freedom. Couple that with every other day feeding and they will starve to death. Increasing your feeding habits to at least once a day and including things like nori, mysis and other foods will help a lot but I don’t think the display size is ideal for long term success with them due to their active nature.

shaginwagon13 · 06/23/2018, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle99

Twice per day + algae sheet on a clip so they can nibble all day.

This is what I do also.

RioReefr · 06/23/2018, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serbusfish

I feed my fish ever other day, swapping between flake and mysis. I am wondering if Tangs need feeding every day? Could this be the cause? All my other fish are fat and healthy with this feeding regime, and I have had most of them for 3 years at this point.

Another point, Yellow Tangs are strictly herbivores...mostly other aquarium fish are omnivores. That being said....you need to feed them seaweed pellets ("Hikari") or Nori or even romaine lettuce. I feed my tang AT LEAST 2x/daily....as others have said they are grazers, constantly pecking away on something. If you watch a healthy tang, they swim constantly. They may slow a little at night, but I almost never see my tang in one place for one second.

BTW, I think 75G is fine unless it is older and big. Also, make sure you have plenty of rockwork for him to swim over, under, through and around.

Sam2832 · 06/23/2018, 05:09 PM

I have my yellow since =-12 years
Feed twice per day and more

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

slief · 06/23/2018, 05:43 PM

...

Scrubber_steve · 06/23/2018, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slief

As noted above, they are constant grazers and naturally cover large swaths of reefs in search for food. Assuming based on your signature that you are keeping them in a 75 gallon tank, that is on the small side for them as they just won’t have enough food sources to graze on let alone the fact they yellow tangs are typically wild caught and you are putting them into an environment that doesn’t really mimic what they are used to since they don’t have the diversity of natural food sources and swimming freedom. Couple that with every other day feeding and they will starve to death. Increasing your feeding habits to at least once a day and including things like nori, mysis and other foods will help a lot but I don’t think the display size is ideal for long term success with them due to their active nature.

I've had a Y Tang for six years in a 45g, with several other fish. Feed Them once a day.

shaginwagon13 · 06/23/2018, 06:28 PM

Feed twice a day as stated above.

I also have two clips with Bok Choi in the tank everyday. My tangs are as healthy as can be and all is eaten each day.

Anemone · 06/23/2018, 06:38 PM

Although I agree that you could use to feed your fish more often, I'm going to go against the grain and say the main reason you are having these losses is do to the diet you do provide. As has been mentioned, yellow tangs need a more herbivorous diet. Whether that comes from an algae sheet every other day, pelleted algal-based food or frozen is up to you, but your tangs need more veggies.

Kevin

Tinkanator2000 · 06/23/2018, 06:54 PM

I personally have 4 tangs in my 180 (along with 7 other various fish) and they are fed once daily with a cube of mysis and a cube of spirulina brine. After that they get 2/3 of a 8x7 nori sheet and all are plump and well. My tangs all have this shape when observing them from behind.....()

If you see a sunken stomach you're not feeding nearly enough.

serbusfish · 06/23/2018, 07:05 PM

Lesson learned, definitely feed more. I did occasionally put nori sheets in the tank, once or twice a week. Im not decided on whether to get another yet, I really like them and they are so far the only fish i've found that eat red bubble algae, so I suppose if I dont get one mine will grow back.

OrionN · 06/24/2018, 06:32 AM

Fishes should have a full stomach all the time. If this is not the case then you either not feeding enough or not feed the right food or not enough natural food in aquarium for them to eat. I see many tanks with thin skinny fishes, empty stomach. This always make me sad. I often suggest to the reefer to feed more. For some this help. For others I am just a stuck up know it all.
I am glad we were able to help you.

rvareef · 06/24/2018, 06:37 AM

#doitforthefish

Timfish · 06/24/2018, 07:41 AM

+1 you're starving your system. The Sailfin and Purple tangs in this post are still going strong at 24 years with only Spectrum pellets in a autofeeder dropping small amounts 8 times a day. When New Life came out with their "Algaemax" I switched them to that from the standard Spectrum pellets. (Sadly the Yellow Tang was lost a year ago when AC failed.)

A. Henin · 06/24/2018, 10:13 AM

Tangs do nothing but eat, poop, swim, and...Grow. I have two sheets of sea weed (green, red, or purple) either warped around rocks or hanging from a clip, at all the time for my tangs to graze on. In addition, I feed them at least twice a day varied diet (pellets, flacks, and frozen food). I am sorry my friend, but I must agree with all the comments here, Your tangs are starving. The good news is that they are fast healing, and as soon as you start feeding them, they will come back fat and happy. Best of luck!

A. Henin · 06/24/2018, 10:16 AM

OrionN, Agree with everything you said.

WVfishguy · 06/25/2018, 12:06 PM

A trick I use is to take a strip of nori, soak in water with fish oil (selcon, whatever) and feed that to tangs.

shaginwagon13 · 06/25/2018, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WVfishguy

A trick I use is to take a strip of nori, soak in water with fish oil (selcon, whatever) and feed that to tangs.

Selcon is awesome and I used to do the same as you.

For some reason I found when I added selcon to the food my skimmer would shut down for hours and not make any skimmate so I stopped using it.

WVfishguy · 06/29/2018, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaginwagon13

Selcon is awesome and I used to do the same as you.

For some reason I found when I added selcon to the food my skimmer would shut down for hours and not make any skimmate so I stopped using it.

I buy high quality fish oil from Drug Emporium for a fraction of the price of Selcon. Exactly the same thing, just a lot cheaper.

06/23/2018, 05:42 AM	#1
serbusfish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 710	Why do I keep losing Yellow Tang's? I dont know what the problem is but I cant seem to keep Yellow Tang's alive long term. They normally live between 5 - 10 months but then suddenly become lethargic, thin, and die. My most recent one was acting weird on Thurday night but was still eating, the next day he had disappeared so I assume my clean up crew dealt with him after his death. I feed my fish ever other day, swapping between flake and mysis. I am wondering if Tangs need feeding every day? Could this be the cause? All my other fish are fat and healthy with this feeding regime, and I have had most of them for 3 years at this point. __________________ 75 Gallon mixed Reef / Ocellaris Clownfish, Firefish, Royal Gramma, Bangaii Cardinal, Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty, Allen's Damselfish. Progress thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.p

06/23/2018, 08:00 AM	#5
sde1500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Glocester, RI Posts: 3,336	Yea you’re starving them and not giving them the right diet even when you do feed them. __________________ My build thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2548422 Current Tank Info: 65 gallon mixed reef, Eshopps sump and HOB overflow, RO-110int skimmer, Reefbreeder 32" photons V1.

06/23/2018, 09:05 AM	#7
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Not to pile on, but no fish suddenly becomes thin .... that takes a while. I turned the corner with tangs years ago with multiple daily feedings. Mine now get fed at least three times a day. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

06/23/2018, 09:46 AM	#8
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	As noted above, they are constant grazers and naturally cover large swaths of reefs in search for food. Assuming based on your signature that you are keeping them in a 75 gallon tank, that is on the small side for them as they just won’t have enough food sources to graze on let alone the fact they yellow tangs are typically wild caught and you are putting them into an environment that doesn’t really mimic what they are used to since they don’t have the diversity of natural food sources and swimming freedom. Couple that with every other day feeding and they will starve to death. Increasing your feeding habits to at least once a day and including things like nori, mysis and other foods will help a lot but I don’t think the display size is ideal for long term success with them due to their active nature. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

06/23/2018, 05:43 PM	#12
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	... __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 Last edited by slief; 06/23/2018 at 05:48 PM.

06/23/2018, 05:44 AM	#2
Scrubber_steve I'm really very likeable Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Down Under Posts: 676	Tangs graze on algae & should be fed nori daily

06/23/2018, 07:52 AM	#4
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Twice per day + algae sheet on a clip so they can nibble all day. Smaller and more frequent is always better than more and less frequent. Do you eat only once per day? Do you ever want a snack? Think in those terms, and YT will be fine

06/23/2018, 08:55 AM	#6
rvareef In Memoriam Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 664	when adding new fish, you'll need to feed frequently, not every other day, tangs have a high metabolism, you said they get lethargic and thin, sounds like you've been starving them and they are slowly withering away.

06/23/2018, 05:09 PM	#11
Sam2832 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Montréal Posts: 79	I have my yellow since =-12 years Feed twice per day and more Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

06/23/2018, 06:28 PM	#14
shaginwagon13 Chartered Accountant Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,219	Feed twice a day as stated above. I also have two clips with Bok Choi in the tank everyday. My tangs are as healthy as can be and all is eaten each day. __________________ - Shaginwagon - Current Tank Info: 550 Gallon SPS Reef l 200 Gallon Sump l Skimmer: Vertex Alpha 250 l Return Pump: Reeflo Hammerhead l Tank Circulation: (2) Maxspect Gyre XF280 l Lighting: (3) 400w Halides & (3) AI Hydra 52 HD

06/23/2018, 06:38 PM	#15
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	Although I agree that you could use to feed your fish more often, I'm going to go against the grain and say the main reason you are having these losses is do to the diet you do provide. As has been mentioned, yellow tangs need a more herbivorous diet. Whether that comes from an algae sheet every other day, pelleted algal-based food or frozen is up to you, but your tangs need more veggies. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

06/23/2018, 06:54 PM	#16
Tinkanator2000 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 168	I personally have 4 tangs in my 180 (along with 7 other various fish) and they are fed once daily with a cube of mysis and a cube of spirulina brine. After that they get 2/3 of a 8x7 nori sheet and all are plump and well. My tangs all have this shape when observing them from behind.....() If you see a sunken stomach you're not feeding nearly enough.

06/23/2018, 07:05 PM	#17
serbusfish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 710	Lesson learned, definitely feed more. I did occasionally put nori sheets in the tank, once or twice a week. Im not decided on whether to get another yet, I really like them and they are so far the only fish i've found that eat red bubble algae, so I suppose if I dont get one mine will grow back. __________________ 75 Gallon mixed Reef / Ocellaris Clownfish, Firefish, Royal Gramma, Bangaii Cardinal, Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty, Allen's Damselfish. Progress thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.p

06/24/2018, 06:32 AM	#18
OrionN Moved on Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Coastal Texas Posts: 16,000	Fishes should have a full stomach all the time. If this is not the case then you either not feeding enough or not feed the right food or not enough natural food in aquarium for them to eat. I see many tanks with thin skinny fishes, empty stomach. This always make me sad. I often suggest to the reefer to feed more. For some this help. For others I am just a stuck up know it all. I am glad we were able to help you. __________________ Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip

06/24/2018, 06:37 AM	#19
rvareef In Memoriam Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 664	#doitforthefish

06/24/2018, 07:41 AM	#20
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	+1 you're starving your system. The Sailfin and Purple tangs in this post are still going strong at 24 years with only Spectrum pellets in a autofeeder dropping small amounts 8 times a day. When New Life came out with their "Algaemax" I switched them to that from the standard Spectrum pellets. (Sadly the Yellow Tang was lost a year ago when AC failed.) __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

06/24/2018, 10:13 AM	#21
A. Henin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: MD, USA Posts: 46	Tangs do nothing but eat, poop, swim, and...Grow. I have two sheets of sea weed (green, red, or purple) either warped around rocks or hanging from a clip, at all the time for my tangs to graze on. In addition, I feed them at least twice a day varied diet (pellets, flacks, and frozen food). I am sorry my friend, but I must agree with all the comments here, Your tangs are starving. The good news is that they are fast healing, and as soon as you start feeding them, they will come back fat and happy. Best of luck!

06/24/2018, 10:16 AM	#22
A. Henin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: MD, USA Posts: 46	OrionN, Agree with everything you said.

06/25/2018, 12:06 PM	#23
WVfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 677	A trick I use is to take a strip of nori, soak in water with fish oil (selcon, whatever) and feed that to tangs.