Anything to worry about?

laurendonatella · Apr 4, 2019

Hi everyone – I’m pretty new to the hobby so would really appreciate your input. I have a new white tail birth to the tank who is been in my display tank for about three days. I got him off of divers den through live aquaria and my understanding is that people have had a pretty good experience with their quarantine procedure. Anyway, I just noticed this brown streaking on his tail. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t like that yesterday. Anything to worry about? Anyone know what could be going on?

Frtdrmrose7 · Apr 4, 2019

Is that white spot on him or the glass?

laurendonatella · Apr 4, 2019

The glass

John A!10 · Apr 4, 2019

I believe it’s normal, it might not have been showing due to it being stressed from shipping and new to the tank. How old is the tank?

laurendonatella · Apr 4, 2019

Definitely on the newer side. Cycled a few months ago. That being said he is one of two fish in here and I’ve been testing water daily. Also feeding lots of nori since algae hasn’t built up much.

ngoodermuth · Apr 4, 2019

Hm... that’s different. It *could* maybe be an infection, but I don’t honestly know for sure. If he was in QT you might treat “just in case”. Any other symptoms? Particularly rapid breathing? How is it eating for you?

Let me get a couple more eyes on it... @HotRocks @4FordFamily @BigG

Frtdrmrose7 · Apr 4, 2019

ngoodermuth said:
Hm... that’s different. It *could* maybe be an infection, but I don’t honestly know for sure. If he was in QT you might treat “just in case”. Any other symptoms? Particularly rapid breathing? How is it eating for you?

Let me get a couple more eyes on it... @HotRocks @4FordFamily @BigG

That’s a tough one I even tried to find the DD pic but no luck.

Brew12 · Apr 4, 2019

Would you describe the fish color as red or brown?

HotRocks · Apr 4, 2019

That's the start of an infection. Do you have a QT?

Do you have any meds on hand? DD fish are definitely more conditioned than a regular LA fish, however they still should be QTd IMO. I no longer purchase from them, but when I did I would still get DD fish that had ailments.

laurendonatella · Apr 4, 2019

Thanks everyone- no other symptoms. This literally just came up where as one hour everything looked normal and the. Next there was this brown streak. As far as his body color, it is like a rusty brown with some blue accents. The tail used to be all while but now there is this brown streak down one side. And it isn’t diffuse or like a patch at all, it is like a straight line almost as if I took a marker and drew it on him. Eating well. Breathing normally. I have a good amount of flow and again, Water parameters look good.

What would you all recommend I treat with?

Thanks again!!

laurendonatella · Apr 4, 2019

Frtdrmrose7 said:
That’s a tough one I even tried to find the DD pic but no luck.

Here is the DD pic

Brew12 · Apr 4, 2019

laurendonatella said:
Thanks everyone- no other symptoms. This literally just came up where as one hour everything looked normal and the. Next there was this brown streak. As far as his body color, it is like a rusty brown with some blue accents. The tail used to be all while but now there is this brown streak down one side. And it isn’t diffuse or like a patch at all, it is like a straight line almost as if I took a marker and drew it on him. Eating well. Breathing normally. I have a good amount of flow and again, Water parameters look good.

What would you all recommend I treat with?

Thanks again!!

I would give it another day or two. I think you may have gotten a yellow eye kole tang instead of a whitetail tang. The Whitetail tang is normally more red with orange spots. To me that looks like its natural color returning on his tail. Do you feel the brown streak matches the rest of the fish? I may be way off base with this so I wouldn't start making accusations but I would keep an eye on it and see if that brown streak grows.

Brew12 · Apr 4, 2019

FYI.. here is their stock generic photo for the species along with the description " This spectacular fish boasts a vibrant red body with orange spots on its head streaming into lines along the body, contrasting sharply against a creamy white tail. The outer part of the eye is ringed in bright yellow. "

Brew12 · Apr 4, 2019

Here is a Yellow Eyed Kole Tang and its description. "When mature, the body color darkens, giving it a sophisticated brown coloration with blue to burgundy hue."

ngoodermuth · Apr 4, 2019

I don’t know... I don’t think kole juvi’s have white tails though? Here’s a tiny one and it looks like a miniature version of an adult...

I think I’m leaning towards infection or injury...

laurendonatella · Apr 4, 2019

Hmmm interesting theory and wouldn’t have thought of it. I’ll definitely take a good look at his body when I can and see exactly what color the stripes are. He is really tiny (maybe 2.5 inches) so I think he is young. I wonder if his adult colors are coming in still?

If it is infection, any recommendations what I should treat with? What is so strange is that the line is so straight and distinct, like if I were to draw it on him. And it wasn’t there one moment and then it was. Super weird.

I know some tangs can turn brown at night, I’ve kept the lights off all day to help him adjust. Any chance this could be related to no lights today? I know that’s probably a long shot...

Thanks so much everyone. This forum is super helpful!

ngoodermuth · Apr 5, 2019

If you want to keep antibiotics on standby, just in case... I would source kanaplex, metroplex, and Furan-2.

API Triple Sulpha is a good one as well in a pinch, or Nitrofuracin Green is very good as well but those two can be much harder on your bio-filter, so careful attention will need paid to managing ammonia.

At this point though, if he’s still eating and breathing normally you could feed vitamin-enriched foods, clean water, and see how it goes... up to you

tdlawdo · Apr 5, 2019

laurendonatella said:
Hmmm interesting theory and wouldn’t have thought of it. I’ll definitely take a good look at his body when I can and see exactly what color the stripes are. He is really tiny (maybe 2.5 inches) so I think he is young. I wonder if his adult colors are coming in still?

If it is infection, any recommendations what I should treat with? What is so strange is that the line is so straight and distinct, like if I were to draw it on him. And it wasn’t there one moment and then it was. Super weird.

I know some tangs can turn brown at night, I’ve kept the lights off all day to help him adjust. Any chance this could be related to no lights today? I know that’s probably a long shot...

Thanks so much everyone. This forum is super helpful!

I think more of a natural color but when it is such a perfect line like that it is often blood flow to that area. Like a stroke or like a human with Raynauds. He could have had a stress event causing vasoconstriction to those vessels or even an injury that damaged the vessel a clot builds up along the vessel wall and BLAM once it gets big enough to clog the vessel it discolored.

It’s a long shot but definitely a possibility.

laurendonatella · Apr 5, 2019

So this tang is a little skittish, he is still new to the tank so hoping he gets more comfortable, but got a good look at his tail this morning during feeding time and the brown line is almost gone! Thinking this must be a stress reaction?