nasolsel

FAQs about Naso lituratus Stocking/Selection

Surgeonfishes: Tangs for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
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by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Juvenile Naso tang - hiding and not eating 7/15/16
Hi! I need your advice (tank size 120g including sump, 5ft long,
<See WWM re Naso lituratus... needs more room than this>
ammonia 0, nitrate 7, phosphate 0-ish) (fish : 3 small Bartlett Anthias, 4 small Chromis, 4 inch blue tang, 4 inch yellow tang, 5 inch blue throat trigger, midas blenny) I just received a juvenile Naso Tang from DD two days ago. Upon arrival (day one) he was swimming about and even ate couple of NPS <NLS likely> pellets - he was chased a few time by the yellow tang and but he seemed OK. Day 2 - was spent hiding in a cave and not accepting any food. Day 3 he was swimming about in morning low lights and there was no fighting but as the lights increase he retreated back to the cave - again accepted no food. I tried NPS 1mm and larger, Nori dipped in garlic, mysis shrimp, lettuce all target fed. Finally tried to some arctic pods (target feeding with turkey baster) - I think he ate some as much as I could see in the cave. I still think he is scared of the yellow tang. I decided to try to put him in a social acclimation box to decrease aggression
<Mmm; no. Put the Yellow tang in there instead... to give the Naso time to get established>
and also try to feeding him something!
<See WWM re... Phaeophytes are preferred>
I have successfully got him in social acclimation, the yellow tang still charges but stops half way. Do you think I am on the right track with isolation in acclimation box?
<No; I know you're not>
How many days can they go without food?
<Several; depending on how well-fleshed to start>
I like the nano tang a lot - do you think I would have to get rid of the yellow tang?
<Not likely; no>
I am afraid even if I can get the Naso Tang to eat once he goes back in the tank he would be harassed and stressed out again. Thank you advance for your response.
<The reading for now... Bob Fenner>

stocking question; Naso lituratus losses 4/10/15
Hello Crew,
I am almost done stocking my aquarium and I have a problem needing an unbiased opinion. First the setup - 180 FOWLR and live sand. It has been up and running for two years; I have been patient stocking. Two internal overflows going into a 40 gallon sump with two Tunze pumps each pushing about 450 GPH, a Tunze protein skimmer rated for a 250 gallon tank, and
three internal circulation pumps in the main display pushing about 1800 GPH between them.
The tank is stocked with two zebra barred gobies (had three but one jumped out when they were in my 55 gallon two years ago), one male melanurus wrasse, one male solar fairy wrasse,
<Cirrhilabrus are social... would be better w/ a few females>
one auriga butterfly, one yellow eyed Kole tang, a six inch magnificent foxface, and a four inch juvenile emperor angel. There are also hermit crabs, a cleaner shrimp and some snails.
All of the fish except for the angel have been in the tank from 2 years to four months. I wanted to finish off the stocking the tank a few months ago with the angel and a blonde Naso tang. I saw a healthy Naso at a LFS that had been there for four weeks and was eating. I acclimated him to my tank. She ate Mysis shrimp, algae strips and new era discs for the 1st couple of days, stopped eating on the 4th day, hid on the 5th day and perished on day 6. I saw no bullying. My water parameters are 74.5 degrees,
PH 8.3, salinity 1.022,
<I'd raise this>
ammonia zero, nitrites zero and nitrates 5PPM. This LFS is known to keep small traces of copper in their tanks to ward off ich
<Most do>
and I am not sure if some damage had been done previously in the store.
After a couple of weeks I decided to try my luck with a mail order store, Blue Zoo Aquatics. I had purchased one of my wrasses with them and was happy with the results. I ordered a 4 inch blonde Naso and the emperor angel. Both came in fine, drip acclimated with no problems and went in the tank fine. Both were eating by the end of the 1st day. The Naso stopped
eating on day 2and was dead by the 3rd morning. The emperor has been fine for a week and a half.
I am devastated seeing two beautiful fish perish like this. I have a store credit from Blue Zoo, but I do not want to be responsible for aiding in the early demise of another Naso. Is there something I am doing or failing to do resulting in the losses?
<Naso lituratus just "is" that touchy in being moved, placed in captive settings>
Is my tank maybe not suitable for a Naso?
<Marginally; being a stock 180 I take it, in terms of being six feet wide...>
I could always buy a couple of medium sized Heniochus and consider my stocking complete, or do you think I would be able to add a Naso in one last time? thank you for your help
Rich
<I'd opt for another, hardier Tang here. Bob Fenner>

R3: Blonde Naso Tang Will Not Eat, But Is Not Losing Weight -- 10/28/10
Taking your advice and will not be putting such a large specimen in.
<<Is for the best>>
I spoke with guys who will be doing the 15,000 gallon this morning and will be waiting for that for the bigger fish.
<<Do keep in mind, much of the trauma (physical AND psychological) occurs before you ever see the fish. Just placing a large specimen in a large system does not ensure its adaptability/survival. Sure, many large public aquariums acquire large/mature specimens successfully (though not always even for them), but they likely contract; even send their own people to oversee the collection/holding/transfer process. But even so, it's best to consider many (most?) species travel and adapt better as larger juveniles or smaller sub-adults>>
Thanks again.
<<Always welcome>>
Cheers, Alex
<<Cheers mate'¦ Good luck with your next Naso -- and I/we would love to see pics of your 15,000g system when it's ready. Eric Russell>>

Blonde Naso, hlth., sel. 7/10/09
I've had my Naso for one week. She was beautiful. I have a 150 gallon tank and have a Snowflake Eel, Banana Wrasse, Fox Face, and 4 Damsels. My husband forgot to turn the lights on yesterday and when I got home, she was dead laying on the sand and had a marble sized bulge coming from her stomach. Do you know what this could be?
<This soon from acquisition... Most likely damage from "needling" from collection (a practice to "let out" air for more rapid ascent... rather than waiting, hauling up collection buckets...) Had your store had this animal on hand for a period of time before your acquisition? Better to wait, a good week... Bob Fenner>
Thank you!
Alison Aquino-Sanchez

Naso lituratus? Nah, and MAC -- 1/26/08 Hello guys, I have a 120 gallon wave front reef tank with five green Chromis and one purple tang. It used to have a yellow tang as well but the purple slowly killed the yellow over time (stress I assume). <In a word> Any way I have read through all the FAQ's on the Naso and it seems that the aggression can very <vary> from one to the other. <Mmm, yes> I have found a wonderful "blonde" Naso that is double or more in size than the purple so I am wondering with the size difference will he be OK in the tank? <Perhaps... but this tank will be too small for this species> There is a good amount of live rock and caves in there and the tank is very deep. Also the Naso is MAC certified. <Meaning? They collected/stole some money "through the system", ultimately from you... only> Thanks so much for your input. Chris Abegglen <Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Captive Raised Nasos? Hi Bob, Could you tell me if there are any captive raised Naso lituratus in Canada? If so where could I order one from. Thank you so very much. Lynn <I know of efforts by folks to breed, rear this species, and think possibly the folks in Polynesia do catch this fish as post larvae at times, but as far as I'm aware, all Surgeonfishes are wild-collected (at this time). Bob Fenner>

Sourcing a blonde Naso Do you know where a good place to purchase a healthy blonde Naso tang? <Likely the big etailers of marine livestock... Drs. Foster & Smith, Marine Center...> I thought Hawaii would be the best place if I could order direct. <Can't as far as I know... and I am there very often> To spare the fish from being transported to more than one place. <Good thought> We also have a 10 gal QT tank and wanted to place him in it. We would cover the side of the tank to reduce stress. Is this a big enough tank? and how long should he be in it? Thank you for any help. <Only if this is a very small specimen... Naso species should be quarantined in no smaller than a two foot by one foot long/wide tank... and kept in no smaller than twice this. Bob Fenner>

Naso Tang Good day Gents, <I hope> First off, must say 'Love the website', helped me out on many occasions. (Long time reader) <Thank you> I have setup a new tank and am moving all the contents from 4 tanks to go into the new reef tank. New tank is 160G with a 30-40g sump. 1-2 Inch live sand bed with 110 Live rock. Aqua-C EV-240 Skimmer. Tank has been cycling and preparing for 2-3 Months. Have not started moving many corals to the new tank as yet but that will commence this coming weekend. Not sure of all the inhabitants at present but have the following livestock to possible put in. Comet grouper <Will eat smaller fish/shrimp> 3 Banggai Cardinals Purple Tang Long Nose Hawk Fish Scooter blenny Pair of green mandarins <Tank will be too new for these guys, and then I would only go with one unless you are lucky enough to find one that eats Mysis or frozen food.> Visited a LFS and they had a pair of NASO tangs (Male/Female). The male has its streamer and they seem to be inseparable. They look like a mated pair. <tangs do not mate> Would it be okay to have this pair of Naso Tangs in this size tank, <Again, I'd go with one. Your observance of these two tangs being inseparable is a false observance. In small dealer tanks, tangs are thinking more about escape than being compatible. In a larger system such as yours, aggression between the two will more than likely take place.> preferable with the Comet (My favorite fish). They are some of the nicest Nasos I have seen and are plump and eating like champions. They have been at the LFS for 3 weeks. Thanks <You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>

55g Stocking I have a 55 gal. reef tank with various hard and soft corals. I currently have in the tank a 2" maroon and gold clown, a 3" yellow tang, a few damsels (black neon, domino, orange-tailed blue), a 2" coral beauty angel, a 1" six-line wrasse and several sally lightfoot crabs and snails. Experienced hobbyists keep telling me about the only "reef safe" fish I could now add are gobies and the like. Aren't there any more magnificent fish (i.e., Naso Tang, Butterflies, Wrasses, Anthias) I can add at this point that won't eat my reef? <<Are there? You bet! About thirty eight fish families that contain of outstanding choices... Not the Naso, but many other tangs, dozens of Butterflyfishes, ditto with the wrasses, several Anthias. Am writing a tome about this topic, much of which you can find sans images (thus far) at wetwebmedia.com. Tell me what you think. Bob Fenner>>
Re: 55g stocking Out of curiosity, why not a Naso? How about a large red Coris wrasse? There is a beautiful one at a local store but I'm worried he'll (she'll) eat my corals. Please advise. Thanks. <<The Naso gets too big and is too rambunctious and waste-producing for your 55, the Coris will bother, even eat/chew on many of your reef animals. Bob Fenner>>

Removing the tangs from a Tang I've heard that this is sometimes done by collectors seeking to make the Tangs easier to handle. <Yes, especially larger specimens... on collecting are "clipped" to reduce/eliminate chance of injury to diver, other specimens> I just received a Naso from Saltwaterfish.com whose tangs are not there. What is the long-term impact of this? I'm really disappointed! It seems wrong to take away their primary form of defense. It's akin to declawing a cat and then expecting it to acclimate well to an environment in which it will have to engage in the process of establishing a pecking order. <No long-term problem should arise from this practice. The "tangs" do grow back... in a few months time> This fish does not seem terribly healthy, either. He's not eating at all despite being offered many tempting treats. (Lettuce, Nori, brine shrimp, formula one) Any recommendations? <To refer to the family coverage on WWM re the feeding of Acanthurids, the genus Naso in general. Bob Fenner> Ana M. Saavedra

Surgeonfishes: Tangs for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

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