Most stressful fish I've ever owned - achilles tang

[fkshiu]

I was the one who did the FW dip and have to agree with Chin's conclusions.

I FW dip virtually all new arrivals and the used the same procedure with the Achilles. So far, only the Achilles has succumed after a FW dip.

After all is said and done, I don't regret the whole experience (not that I had to put much effort into it myself, personally) but would definitely recommend that anyone considering purchasing an Achilles put a lot of thought into the investment and to be prepared to disappointment.

[StirCrazy]

That is so weird Chin, I guess this shows to buy them from a Local LFS after they have been there long enough to be de-stressed. I got mine from a local place (don't know if board rules permit me to say where) and poured it into a net an plopped it into the tank, only thing I did was float the bag to equalize the temps. I had it for 3 years, never saw ich, or anything, and as far as I know some local reefer still has it as I took it back to the store when I shut down my tank.

but I can say when I set up a new tank, I am hoping to go big enough to have a couple of these. they are by far my favorite fish.

Steve

[marie]

I've had my achilles for 1 1/2 yrs now and has never had any signs of ich, the first 8 weeks I had him though I was never sure he was going to make it.
For those that are interested, here is a thread on the marine depot board of the problems I had in the first few weeks

http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic37757-10-1.aspx

I do have to say it was all worth the troubles of quarantining all my fish, as I said I have never had obvious signs ich in my display tank

[EmilyB]

Marie, what size was your AT ? I ask because although I got mine healthy, it paced and wasn't happy, it may have been too large a capture

[marie]

He was around 3" when I got him.

[Chin_Lee]

Well the achilles in my LPS tank started eating mysis and flake foods today........ over a month after being in the tank. He still looks terrible but its a good sign he's accepting other foods other than nori.

[Skimmer Juice]

Chin di you try cupprimine? It is not nearly as harsh as copper. I used cupprimine on my lnghorn cowfish, wich are believed to be very hard fish to treat. I have also used it on my mappa puffer, you should try this method in a qt tank, it has never let me down. Good luck with the fish, I hate when I have a sick fish, nothing worse.

[Chin_Lee]

He's in my display LPS tank and I've contemplated several times whether or not to intervene which would mean catching him out and into a QT tank. I've decided against intervening each time just because of the stress factor and the fact that he's eating nori very well and not exhibiting any sick behavior.