Regal tang is sad

[phileep]

Hey,

My tank has been up and running for about 3.5 months now. It is about 60 gallon tank, with 2 small (approx 1.5") ocellaris clown fish. I have a medium size cataphyllia and a golf ball coral, i forget its propper name.

I recently aqquired a small regal tang, he is approx 3" long. I acclimatized him in my tank for about 3 hours, slowly adding water from my tank to the bag he was in.

After releasing him, he paled in color. After 12 hours I suspected he had marine itch, but today his color has returned. I guess he is stressed about his new environment. A full 24 hours after release, he is a nice color but he is spending alot of time wedged against the sand and a piece of LR. He was swimming around about 4 hours ago, but have not seem him move since.

He seems to be breathing heavily. When he swims he is very vertical. Last night he ate a small ammount, Today I have not seen him eat. I am feeding them live brine shrimp.

The supplier said he spent alot a bit of time resting on the floor. They had him for about 4 days and said he was eating fine.

Has anyone else experianced this? Should I be worried.

Water Conditions:
PH: 8.3
Specific Gravity: 1,025
Ammonia < 0.25 (tank slightly overheated 2 days before, clouded up)
Nitrate: undetectable
Nitrite: undetectable
15% Water change was done 2 days before.

Any guidence would be most appreciated.

[Reefland]

Hi phileep,

When the Hippo tang is scared/stressed, it will often find a cave or other tight fitting spot and lay there. It sounds like common behavior for a stressed fish.

[leebca]

I agree with Scott.

[mrayburn]

My Regal Blue did the same thing, It did this for a week or so now he swims around and thinks hes the boss of the tank .

[phileep]

Unfortunatley when I got up this morning, the little guy had passed. On the side that he always had up against the rock, he had quite a lot of damage around his gill and fin.

Going to call the LFS when they open and ask some questions.

Thanks for your help everyone who replyed.

[Reefland]

Sorry to hear that phileep. It could have been the ammonia that you detected.

[Jessie Nicoletti]

[QUOTE=phileep;169206]Hey,

I have a medium size cataphyllia and a golf ball coral, i forget its propper name.

QUOTE]

you got me curios about the coral like to see a pic

[fishgeeksrus]

Unfortunately, a regal can be a very difficult fish to keep. Especially the yellow bellies. I took us a long time to find one. I would say a two week minimum waiting period at a LFS just to make sure that it is eating well and free of diseases.

[leebca]

Please do not post to an old thread. If you have the same or similar topic or a new topic, please begin a new thread. Thanks.