Save Naso Tang Nathan (1 Viewer)

[Tangs]

Hi there I got a pricy Naso Tang today. I have had them before a long time ago. I found that they only lived a few years so just gave up on them. But I am now using rodi water and a lot better water filtration so thought why not give it a shot. He has been in the tank for an hour and seems to be getting along well with everybody...Has anybody here had good luck with them and if so could you give me some much appreciated advice. Thanks.

 

[Glenn]

@webster1234

 

[RR-MAN]

How big is it? Does it eat?

I had better luck with bigger ones - most of the time the small ones are finicky eaters and slowly starve.

I had two 6-8” in a 500/g and they did very well.

 

[Tangs]

Ya mine is only 2.5 inches roughly. And he got it the day before. Not good. I usually only give my fish a small pinch of dry food a day. I will double it for now. Other than that he looks good. I am very cautiously slightly optimistic. What is their absolute favorite food to eat?

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

Ya mine is only 2.5 inches roughly. And he got it the day before. Not good. I usually only give my fish a small pinch of dry food a day. I will double it for now. Other than that he looks good. I am very cautiously slightly optimistic. What is their absolute favorite food to eat?

Tons of nori. They need algae everyday or they will slowly go down hill. I also recommend soaking their food in vitamins like Selcon to boost their immune system. Mine seem to do best with frozen mysis twice a day and nori sheets.

 

[Tangs]

Ok. I got some Nori and thanks.

 

[Tangs]

Yesterday

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

Cute little guy, hope he does well!

 

[Tangs]

Ya.. as I said before. I have had them before just not as small. I just thought it was a water quality issue that they could be doing better. So stopped getting them. I never had them starve to death. I plan on switching to just sheets of Nori for the time being.

 

[webster1234]

Tangs live a long time. 15+ years at least. Mine started out as small ones over 8 years ago and are still growing. If yours only lasted a few years, something was wrong. I feed mine twice daily NLS spectrum pellets, mysis, and nori. They eat A LOT. A pinch of food daily isn't going to cut it.

A starving fish is an immune compromised fish. Keep them fat and healthy and they will live a long time. But with that extra food comes extra pollution which means more water changes and nutrient control.

I think I've read in the past where you didn't do a lot of water changes (apologies if that wasn't you). But clean water is your friend. Not sure if you are keeping corals or just fish, but corals are usually a good indicator of water quality. Fish only systems can go a while with poor water quality because the fish are pretty resilient. Then one day you lose a fish and don't understand why. It's just as important to monitor water quality and do your weekly water changes in a fish only system as it is in a mixed reef.

 

[webster1234]

Ya.. as I said before. I have had them before just not as small. I just thought it was a water quality issue that they could be doing better. So stopped getting them. I never had them starve to death. I plan on switching to just sheets of Nori for the time being.

This isn't going to cut it. These fish need variety. NLS pellets have a good variety of vitamins and other necessary nutrients for a well rounded diet. Selcon as someone else mentioned is good too. While nori is good and a necessary addition, it is only part of a well rounded diet.

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

Tangs live a long time. 15+ years at least. Mine started out as small ones over 8 years ago and are still growing. If yours only lasted a few years, something was wrong. I feed mine twice daily NLS spectrum pellets, mysis, and nori. They eat A LOT. A pinch of food daily isn't going to cut it.

A starving fish is an immune compromised fish. Keep them fat and healthy and they will live a long time. But with that extra food comes extra pollution which means more water changes and nutrient control.

I think I've read in the past where you didn't do a lot of water changes (apologies if that wasn't you). But clean water is your friend. Not sure if you are keeping corals or just fish, but corals are usually a good indicator of water quality. Fish only systems can go a while with poor water quality because the fish are pretty resilient. Then one day you lose a fish and don't understand why. It's just as important to monitor water quality and do your weekly water changes in a fish only system as it is in a mixed reef.

Thanks, great explanation. Didn't think to mention them but the NLS pellets are great, but I only use them twice a week. Unfortunately no one food has everything they need.

 

[Tangs]

All fish are doing awesome with a pinch of food a day. Blue tang yellow tang Nemo yellow tail damsels tomato. I will increase it a bit for a while for Naso.

 

[Tangs]

Just taken. Priority is not what I have been doing. Priority is to keep that 100$ fish alive to see another day. I just have hardy corals to propagate and sometimes sell. Only the super hardy stuff. No sump no protein skimmer. Ya I am more into hardy fish than corals okkk.

 

[Tangs]

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it. 61 today. Yaaa

 

[Tangs]

Now I have much better filtration plus I used to have 2 inches of crushed coral above an under gravel filter. Back then I was told that was the thing to do. My aquarium is sooo much cleaner without that crushed coral. It was next to. impossible to keep clean in my tank.

 

[Steph72]

Congratulations on your new baby Naso! Mine was less than 2 inches when I got him and I was also nervous because he was so small. A good diet with lots of variety will help him thrive. I feed a variety of frozen foods, herbivore pellets, and nori supplemented with Selcon and Vitachem. They eat a lot since they forage constantly in the wild. Mine get fed 3x daily, just enough for them to eat in about five minutes. It creates a lot of poop but fat tangs are happy tangs. Lol Wishing you all the best

 

[Tangs]

Thanks for the info Steph. I will keep everyone posted with my progress. But I have a bigger issue now. I heard something chopping on my dogs dog food the other night. I put out the stickies but from the sounds of it it thrashed and got out of them. My dog accidently stepped on one twice and could not get them off. My neighbour says sounds like a big rat and got him to cover his garbage. Half an hour ago I heard the snap. I have been here 38 years and have never had to use a rat trap. Well here it goes time to get out of bed and see what I got. I hate this.

 

[Tangs]

Day 3 and Naso is looking a bit thin. I hate the song but might be singing 2 out of 3 ain't bad soon. Rat looked like a grey squirrel with a rats tail. It was big. I am not used to this I am a city boy.

 

[Tangs]

Around 25 years ago I got a 6 inch Dori. 20 c dollars how is that for a deal. Anyways I could not get him to eat. I remember going to the grocery store and telling the clerk that I am buying this stuff to get my new fish to eat. Turns out he just loved oatmeal. Now I am doubling the dry flake food and pellet mix. Plus feeding Nori. Sorry Mr Naso no oatmeal. I have to consider the health of the other fish as well.