Powder Blue Tang

[Ltspd]

Well a lfs had 2 Very nice PBT's, 1 med and 1 large. According to the book these tangs are even more prone to ick. Is this true, how reef safe are they? any comments or opinions.

They are both very handsome fish and would make a nice addition to my tank.

[Ironreef]

They need large tanks and are aggressive. IMO I wouldn't try in anything under 180g if you want to keep the fish for long term. JMO

[rededteck]

In my opinion they are also hard to keep. Some have success with them... A large tank is a definate must.

[Rin]

The LFS near me has one in their big display reef. The PBT has been chewing on the polyps for a while now. The owner has, thus far, been unsuccessful in capturing it--net, trap, bait on a hook, he's tried it all. So far, only the star polyps are suffering. The owner sure would like to get it out.

[FishTechie]

Do they need a big tank...Yes
are they aggressive....Yes
Do they pick on polyps and other inhabitants ....Yes
Do i reccommmend them.....Nope

sorry but yes theyare a beautiful species , but mine nips at my clam terrorizes my bicolor blennie, and is more of a pain than a pleasure....

[alf3482]

Yes they are more prone to ick. yes they are harder to keep. I have one in a 6' 125 gal with no problems. Mine caught ick comming home. I q-tined it for a few weeks , no problem after that. I have never seen mine pick at corals or clams.

[Powder Blue]

Well a lfs had 2 Very nice PBT's, 1 med and 1 large. According to the book these tangs are even more prone to ick. Is this true, how reef safe are they? any comments or opinions.

They are both very handsome fish and would make a nice addition to my tank.

I read this post for the first time today. I bought a Powder Tang when I first started in the hobby and have had nothing but joy from him. He has been to 3 new tanks and has only suffered with White Spot once when I put him in a new water before the parasite had died off. ( Sea Water)

[acropora]

Powder Blues are also a favorite of mine. They definitely need a large tank that is 6' or longer to insure their success.I was just checking one out yesterday in a reef tank with clams with no problems.However you will find that tangs have their own unique personalities and different ones of the same species can behave differently. You will find many who have no problems keeping them in a reef tank and some who will.A case in point is a yellow tang that I have in my sump. I have viewed many pictures and heard many times that they can be successfully mixed with other tangs in a larger tank. Well I had a yellow tang,purple tang and sohol tang in a 220 reef tank.The yellow tang was the smallest,but the fiestiest.He killed both the purple and sohol tang and has been living in my sump(X-LGE) for three years..

[Powder Blue]

Powder Blues are also a favorite of mine. They definitely need a large tank that is 6' or longer to insure their success.I was just checking one out yesterday in a reef tank with clams with no problems.However you will find that tangs have their own unique personalities and different ones of the same species can behave differently. You will find many who have no problems keeping them in a reef tank and some who will.A case in point is a yellow tang that I have in my sump. I have viewed many pictures and heard many times that they can be successfully mixed with other tangs in a larger tank. Well I had a yellow tang,purple tang and sohol tang in a 220 reef tank.The yellow tang was the smallest,but the fiestiest.He killed both the purple and sohol tang and has been living in my sump(X-LGE) for three years..

Thanks for your reply. I also enjoy the Tangs the most. My tank may be small (200 l ) but I have had smaller with my Powder in it. I wanted a Purple, Yellow and Blue when I strated, perhaps a bit young and dumb in the hobby. I started with the Powder and had months of enjoyment from him. He started wild and within a few weeks was eating from my fingers. Also a very confident fish that is active and interesting to watch with the colour changes in diff moods. I have to trade him in for a Yellow and I am hoping the Yellow and Blue(Regal) get on. Interesting to read how your Yellow killed your Purple and Sohol. I thought the Yellow was a fairly easy going critter.

I guess I will have to be carefull. I believe moving the rocks around and introducing togeather sorts many problems. A common reply to my post is that my tank is to small for either fish but I believe I could have a few years of enjoyment before the Tangs outgrow their space. Then it is easy to replace them with juveniles and start enjoying again.There are many Tangs living on our local reef here and it would give great pleasure to release a big specimen back into the wild.

What would you reccomend is a good collection for a 4ft 200 l tank that may become a coral tank at some stage? I presently have 2 small juvenile common Clowns(imported), An adult Cleaner Wrasse (locally caught), a juvenile Semicircularis (locally caught) Angel,2 Butterflies (local), 1 Threadfin + 1 unknown. I also have a juvenile Blue Damsel which is a pleasure. A very bright blue fish under the lights. The Fish store owner told me they are terrorists in the tank and will hassel all the tank mates but this guy has only been a pleasure and is very freindly. "Don't know what happens at night"!!

[acropora]

Is your tank a 4' 200 liter tank? You do have several fish already, and you would need a bigger tank for a collection of tangs. As far as conversion to a Reef Tank; you will have trouble with the butterfly fish and the angel fish. They will pick on most all polyps and Clams. Keep in mind that with all the L.R. in a reef tank there is not much room for tangs to swim, and a collection of tangs is better suited for tanks in the 350 gallon + range. I see that you collect fish locally. Where do you live? It is great to have that option. Yellow tangs when sized properly in relationship to other tangs are usually not a problem. usually is the operative word, so the more breathing room the better. If you want to talk about not knowing better, below is a picture of a tank I set up 25 years ago, on the advice of a LFS. We all learn as we go along and it is now easier with boards like this and excellent books on the topic; all of which were not available back then.
Regards

[acropora]

Here is the tank circa 1980. http://www.acropora.net/1980tank.jpg
A 30 gal. long

[Minh Nguyen]

This guy is a joy to have. One of the most beautiful fish in my tank. They are agressive, they are dificult to kee. They need large tank and pleanty of food, good clean fast moving water. They are not easy like Yellow and Purple tang, but they are worth it. My PBT is a model fish in my tank, even if he is the boss of the tank.

[Powder Blue]

Is your tank a 4' 200 liter tank? You do have several fish already, and you would need a bigger tank for a collection of tangs. As far as conversion to a Reef Tank; you will have trouble with the butterfly fish and the angel fish. They will pick on most all polyps and Clams. Keep in mind that with all the L.R. in a reef tank there is not much room for tangs to swim, and a collection of tangs is better suited for tanks in the 350 gallon + range. I see that you collect fish locally. Where do you live? It is great to have that option. Yellow tangs when sized properly in relationship to other tangs are usually not a problem. usually is the operative word, so the more breathing room the better. If you want to talk about not knowing better, below is a picture of a tank I set up 25 years ago, on the advice of a LFS. We all learn as we go along and it is now easier with boards like this and excellent books on the topic; all of which were not available back then.
Regards

Hi Anthony

Thanks for your reply.

I have 2 small Butterflies(caught local) a Semicurcularis Angel(local)?? (spelling). 2 common Clowns(imported), Cleaner Wrasse(local), Blue Tang(Regal). The Powder is with regret in the hospital tank.(3ft) Hates my Regal with passion which started this post.

I stay in Durban South Africa on the east coast of Africa 5mins away from the beach and a couple of reefs. My favourite is a man made rock reef which has a number of fish to see with a short swim. Morish Idols, Cleaners by the hundreds, Angels, the odd Powder Blue, Goldies and many more. Can anyone be so lucky????

The water is good aswell for changes as long as I let it stand for a week to kill the White Spot. A flipen headace for all of us.

My collection is all small juvenile stuff. In fact when they feed the tank looks empty. I am very new in the hobby(6 months) and learning a lot. Partly thanks to this site and the helpfull members. Please email me at dynamic.cv@wol.co.za for anything.

I miss my Powder in the main as he was a machine. Healthy and active. I don't have the space and money for a huge tank to accomodate my critter on a long term. The plan is to collect them and enjoy them for a couple of years and replace them when they get to big. Sounds a bit stupid but we have lots of good stuff here locally and I can always return them to the ocean. I also enjoy catching them, snorkeling and watching them in there natural enviroment. If you think a Powder is a great fish in the tank, you must see them in the sea. Awsome colours and super fast. They look like were created to rule their space.


Regards

Sam

[acropora]

Sam, Your situation is ideal and combines three of my favorite pass times,Fish,Scuba and Fish.Continue reading about the hobby,the more the better. It will make things less stressful for you and the fish.

Regards

[Minh Nguyen]

........The plan is to collect them and enjoy them for a couple of years and replace them when they get to big. Sounds a bit stupid but we have lots of good stuff here locally and I can always return them to the ocean. ........
Regards

Sam

Release them back to the wild is something that should not be done; even release them back to the area where you catch them. The impact of this can really be devastating on the wild population (diseases in aquarium, release of concurrent micro organisms that are not native to the area). Aquarist should never release their captive fish or animal back to the wild.
Minh