My Powder Blue Tang died :(

I am so sad. He is the guy in the photo.

I left on vacation for about 10 days and had someone come to my house to look after my 55 gallon reef. He was touted as the local reef expert and runs a rather successful business tending to many reef tanks for over 25 years.

When I got back, the corals looked fine, but my PB tang had all of these dark spots on him and a kind of fuzz...a few days later the spots turned whitish and his eye was cloudy...

Yesterday I did a 15 minute freshwater dip....then this morning a second dip with some metronidazole in the water when I discovered he was worse...

Anyway he has since died. I'm sad, but I'm also angry...I paid this guy for services. I recognize it may not be his fault but the fish had been fine for months with no signs of distress whatsoever. The minute he tends to the tank the fish gets ill and dies.

I'm frustrated. But maybe a 55 was too small for him anyway...I probably wont get any more tangs until I upgrade...

 

I'm sorry about your loss. I'm thinking the 55 is probably too small for a powder blue but they seem to be a difficult to keep fish. I would probably be a little upset about the tank sitter as well - I would be reluctant to get upset with someone who doesn't have a reef background but if he did, he probably should have noticed something on the powder blue but then again, sometimes things just get sick in this hobby and it can be a quick decline in some cases.

 

they are GLORIOUS fish... and they can be difficult to keep long term.

 

Have tried a couple of times over 15 years to keep them. Not much Luck here. Would like to know what it takes as they are a beautiful. fish. Sorry for your loss.

 

Sorry for your loss. Powder blues require large tanks and pristine water and even then they can be difficult. I would never freshwater dip a fish in the future, it does more harm than good if not all harm. Hope all the other tank mates are ok. Also, it doesn't matter how much of an expert you are so I wouldn't hold a grudge against the guy who looked after your tank. I've had my sohal for years since he was a baby and I'd be devastated if I lost him so again, sorry for the loss.

 

I'm 0-2 in Powder Blues. They're my fav fish but I give up on them. Seems like ANY variance in environment and down they go.

 

I spent 4 hours trying to resuscitate him. I thought he was coming around and then he died.

Im not proud of this but i actually cried. Ive owned fish for 7-8 years and this is the first time. Wept like a baby. I really am attached to these guys. Ugh. This really sucks.

 

I think the majority of the people on this forum have cried over a fish. I know I have..

 

I've cried too over lost fish. I have powder blue. Had over a year. Love him

 

Choose wisely my friends..........Choose wisely.