[luciafam]

Hello, Just found this site today and am so glad! We have a 60 gal tank, about 48" long x 15 wide by about 18" high. It took about 4 weeks to get it all cycled to receive fish. We have about 55 pounds live rock along with the sand. We got three fish to start off: a clown fish, a blue or "hippo" tang and a scissor tail goby. The clown is doing great and has eaten. The tang and goby swam around for a very short time and quickly retreated to behind and under the rocks. I think the goby kind of dug down a bit to creat a little cave. Both the goby and tang have stayed in that same position since last night. The two seem inseparatable and were not even in the same tank together. The tang is kind of laying on its side, but it seems more to get further under the rock. Every once in a while it kind of peeks out from the back and it seems very upright, but as soon as we move in to see, it ducks back far under the rock. I checked with the store owner and he said this is normal for the tang and not unusual for the goby. He said it could take 2-3 days for them to start eating and 3-4 weeks possibly for the tang to actually show itself to us. Is this correct information. Should I be concerned? Last night we could not even find those two. They were so burried down low and under the rock. I knew they were in there, but there were no signs of it. This morning the tang was in a new position, but still under the same rock. The three things I can test for......PH, salt content and Nitrites are all reading good. Which leads me to another question. Is there anything else I should be testing for? We did some reading before purchasing, but I am feeling very lost in all of this. We are feeding these frozen little squares called Angel and Butterfly fish food, Sally's. I am to cut a little square in quarters or halfs and dissolve in some aquarium water and then pour into the aquarium. I also have some seaweed that I am to put on this clip and suction it to the side of the tank. This is primarily for the tang I believe. I would appreciate any input! Thanks!!

Bev

[RyanG]

Hey Bev,



You need to get test kits for Ammonia, Phosphate as well. Do you have a device that measures salinity? If so what is it?

Most blue tangs are shy at first but then will come out eventually.
Do you have any pics?

-Ryan

[luciafam]

Hi Ryan,

I did not have the amonia test kit, but did get one today. I took my water into the shop today to be tested to make sure everything was fine. We were so worried about the Tang, and then it was our little clown fish that died suddenly last night. That was so sad.....we only had him for a day. We did everything we were told and he seemed so happy the day before and even right up until he died. Found him laying on the bottom before we went to bed. The shop had a guarantee and so we took him in and brought home a new one that is in the bucket going through the drip system right now. They told us not to be too hard on ourselves....sometimes it just happens. But they said it was very rare for a clown fish to die. They said our water was perfect when they tested it.

Our Tang is still in hiding. The scissor tail goby has dug a hole and the Tang is hanging out with it. Seems so strange...the Tang is quite large to be burrowing with the goby. It did pop out last night and swam around so we are hopeful. I am now concerned about the eating issue. If it is so scared to come out, how will it eat. I wondered....would it come out at night when we are not around and search for fallen food?

I will take a picture of the tank and post it shortly, but I will not be able to get a picture of the Tang since I can't find it at the moment and it dashes off if it does come out for a peek. You don't think it could get itself stuck under the rock, do you? Our rock was placed directly on the bottom and then sand was placed around it. This is a spot where the rock is uneven and there is room for some burrowing under it. The goby made a tunnel from the front of the rock, to the side/back. I can see some movement in the tunnel so I assume its him. But the Tang is well hidden somewhere under there. When I take the picture, I will try and show you the hole and the place where the Tang seems to be hiding out.

The salinity was 1.025, which we were told was perfect.

Thanks.....Bev

[kwilliamskw]

Don't fret about the fish loss, and be careful with your local store. Make sure you can trust them and that they're not just trying to sell you fish. I have been in saltwater since July of last year and I have lost 6 or 7 nemo's. I have had great luck with everything else, but not nemo's. Now I have a tomato clown and he is doing great. One suggestion for your tang is to get some frozen spirulina brine shrimp. It is high in vegetable matter and formulated for tangs. One thing you may try is to buy a turkey baster. Thaw out some of the brine in a cup of aquarium water and use the baster to put the food close to him. This may draw him out. And one more thing, when purchasing new fish, I have found that it is a really good idea to have your local store clerk feed the fish for you and make sure they are eating. IF they aren't, DON"T BUY THEM!!!