Powder Blue Tang

cwby416 · 08-04-2002, 01:39 PM

I am looking to get a Powder Blue tang, but i have read in some places that you must have a 100+ gallon tank in order to keep them. is this true?

We have a 72g bowfront
100lbs LR
6" DSB
2 scooter blennys
2 camel back shrimp
25+ blue leg hermits
30+ assorted snails
tank has been established for about 4 months

MontanaRocknReefer · 08-04-2002, 03:06 PM

Powder Blue Tangs are not the hardiest of the Tang family and can get stressed easily and get "Ick". I don't think I would put this tang in anything less than a 100 with even bigger tank being better! Johnny

Here is a good link on Powder Blue Tang:
http://www.marinedepotlive.com/754094.html

Brooke · 08-05-2002, 11:50 AM

Ditto what Johnny said. I wouldn't put one in anything less than a 180...and probably keep them as the only tang in the tank. They are difficult fish to keep unfortunately. A yellow tang would be ok in a 72g with just other small fish like clowns, firefish, chromis, etc.

HTH-
Brooke

thebigblue · 08-05-2002, 03:46 PM

my $.02...

as pretty as the PBs are, i think that most people agree that they can be kinda hit and miss...i think the 72gal may be a bit small...

ive seen quite a few lately in LFS...there are definately differences in color and appearance between fish...if you do decide to get one make sure he has good color and is eating well...i dont think this is a fish i would mail order...

as much as i love the PBs i think i might settle for a different tang personally..

blue

mapster · 08-05-2002, 06:12 PM

cwby416,

I keep a PBT in my 120. I woudn't recommmend keeping one in a tank less than 4 feet long. I cant say my tang seems unhappy in my tank but I would love, and plan on getting a 6' tank in the future for the extra swim space.

As for selection, I must have looked at over 50 PBT's before I found one I was happy with. Make sure the fish is active, alert, that its colors are vibrant with no off color patches or spots and make sure its eating. A healthy PBT glides through the water and always knows when someone is watching them.

I would strongly reccomend enhancing your food with garlic and selcon to keep its immune system strong.

I have had no problems with ich and my fish never seems to be stressed. I have only had it a few months but all has been well and has proven to be a great addition to my tank.

In my opinion it is easier to keep a PBT in a reef tank opposed to a FO because those who keep corals are accustom to keeping water parameters at consistent levels without fluctiations in salinty or temp which can cause stress to this fish.

My 2 cents, HTH

R1Bill · 08-05-2002, 11:39 PM

my powder blue really liked to swim. in my 180 it seemed right at home. keep in mind that it was by far the most aggressive fish in my tank.

bill

cwby416 · 08-06-2002, 01:15 AM

Thank you all for you advise. I think I am going to go with a different Tang, Probable either a blue Hippo Tang or good ole Yellow Tang. Thanks agian

~Randy~

SteveNichols · 08-06-2002, 01:12 PM

FYI, the hippo tang gets to be 12" or so. IMO, that is also too small a tank. I think the yellow and kole tangs would work well in your tank.

thebigblue · 08-06-2002, 01:15 PM

i love my purple tang...when i got him he was about 2-3" and hes not that much bigger now...6 months later

Big Dave · 08-06-2002, 01:29 PM

I have a pair of hippo tangs in my 135. You can usually find them at your LFS pretty small. I got mine about 4-5 months ago at about an inch long. They are doing great and they are still less than 2 inches long. They just pal around together and swim the entire tank cruising in and out of the rock work. Great fish so far!

-Big Dave

Jimbo · 08-06-2002, 01:36 PM

Hi,

Have purchased a couple of power blue's in the past and they all died within a week in my old 55g. Hard to keep. Recently just purchased a bristle tooth tang and had some problems with him, but he is doing better after soaking nori in garlic oil for a week. I have a bigger tank for him in the future. I'm looking over my shoulder for the tang police hehe.

I also reduced the photo period so he could sleep more during the first week, no way of telling if this helped him.

SteveNichols · 08-06-2002, 07:35 PM

Jimbo,
Shoulda looked above your head, we have already been here

I would guess that a very large part of the problems with you PBT's was the tank size and the stress the small room created.

Big Dave,
How often are you feeding and what? My hippo has gone from 1-2" inside a month. I feed 2x daily. They are one of the more mellow tangs. Very cool fish for a larger tank!