Achilles Tang

[Steve77]

Has anyone here had success with an Achilles Tang? I tried one about a year ago that lasted 3 months. The thing that really gets me is that he ate about 1 hour before I found him belly up in the bottom of the tank. Petco has a 6" Achilles that they got in by mistake for $75, which is a decent price. Please post your experience if you have kept one alive longer than a year.

[oyam123]

you never know, if your tank is 6'+ id give it a shot.
feeding and room to swim are focus when keeping this fish.
However, the fact that no one has posted and I know of none making it; leads to thinking how much do you need the $75. It will do better in your tank than Petco, ask the manager for 25% off they can do that.

[Havre]

Had one for about two years (in the late 1990s) and it was the same **** thing!! Was just fine and eating and dead the next day! Never did figure out what it was?!?!?!?!? If you want, buy another one cause........................................well just read below.......

[Steve77]

The tank that I want to put the tang in just got over an Ich outbreak. When is it safe to start adding fish again? There are 5 fish currently in there that had Ich and made it through it.

[oyam123]

Originally Posted by Steve77

The tank that I want to put the tang in just got over an Ich outbreak. When is it safe to start adding fish again? There are 5 fish currently in there that had Ich and made it through it.

Never and ASAP: unless tha tank stands fish free for 6-8 weeks you will always have Ich. Adding the tang could add stress and make all the fish get tha Ich, or it may not....Looks like ill need to come up and get that fish

[Havre]

Its never safe....whenever you have tangs the possibility is always there...but i think you will be fine now....just give the newbie a FWD before you put him in, then keep a close eye on everything in the tank.

[David Grigor]

I had one for several years in a 320g tank. It did great ( although ich was always an ongoing battle could go months in between but always an issue. Nori with garlic seems to work as it was always a good eater ), and after seeing the swimming patterns, I personally don't think anything smaller than a 220g with lots of open space would do them justice.

When I downsized from the 320g down to a 125g it lasted about 3 months after that. I tried 2 more since that time and now gave up. I don't want to kill anymore.