Bristletooth Tang in bad shape

[espieg]

Back in September, I added 4 new Tangs to my system. A Scopas, Powder Blue, Tomini, and Two Spot Bristletooth. On arrival, all the fish looked healthy. After a few days, the bristle tooth began to exhibit a severe case of glass surfing and would not eat any of the prepared foods I offered. He would however pick at the rocks, sand, and glass whenever he wasn't surfing. Fast forward 3 or 4 weeks and he finally stopped glass surfing, but, he still wouldn't eat any prepared food (and I've tried 5 or 6 different types). Meanwhile, he looked healthy and all of the other tangs were doing great. Finally, fast forward to this week (4.5 months later); he still isn't eating any prepared food but his demeanor and look have completely changed. He now swims very lazily, doesn't seem to be picking at the rocks much, and looks very gaunt. I noticed a few days ago (while he was still acting normal and a healthier weight) that he had a gouge or stab mark in his lower abdomen which I'm assuming came from one of the other tangs. The gouge mark looks mostly healed now but like I said he does not look good. Is there anything I can do to help him, or is hope likely lost?

 

[Lavey29]

What size is your tank?

 

[Qasimja]

do you feed your tangs nori?

 

[czoolander]

Do you have a hospital tank you can put him in and nurse him back to health ?

 

[espieg]

do you feed your tangs nori?

I have tried Nori and they don't seem to pick at it. I feed Ocean Nutrition Formula two flakes every day and the other tangs love it. The one however has never given it the time of day.

 

[espieg]

Do you have a hospital tank you can put him in and nurse him back to health ?

I have one I can set up but I'm not exactly sure what the correct steps would be to nurse it back to health?

 

[Lavey29]

If he is already showing obvious injury from another fish in the tank he needs to be isolated. What size tank do you have for 4 tangs?

 

[espieg]

If he is already showing obvious injury from another fish in the tank he needs to be isolated. What size tank do you have for 4 tangs?

150, they're all small, sub 3.5 inches

 

[Lavey29]

150, they're all small, sub 3.5 inches

I had a bristletooth in my tank that behaved very similar to yours and I lost him. In the wild they claim 150' of reef territory and just peck that whole area for algae food. I had a ton of film algae but after awhile he just stopped pecking it and began to swim slow. He was small too maybe 3" and an 80g was to small for him overall.

 

[Tamberav]

I have tried Nori and they don't seem to pick at it. I feed Ocean Nutrition Formula two flakes every day and the other tangs love it. The one however has never given it the time of day.

All you feed is flakes?

 

[espieg]

All you feed is flakes?

No, but that's the closest thing to Nori that they seem to like. I also feed frozen mysis, Tdo pellets, NLS thera a pellets, and prime reef flakes.

 

[espieg]

I had a bristletooth in my tank that behaved very similar to yours and I lost him. In the wild they claim 150' of reef territory and just peck that whole area for algae food. I had a ton of film algae but after awhile he just stopped pecking it and began to swim slow. He was small too maybe 3" and an 80g was to small for him overall.

Ya, that's what I have been worried about as well. Have tried 7 or 8 different types of food and he doesn't even bother. I would think it's something wrong with my tank if all my other tangs and fish weren't very responsive and healthy looking. :/

 

[Dbichler]

You should try blending a mix of seafood together tangs love it even though they are primarily herbivores. It’s like candy to them and can fatten them up quick.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Kindly post a video and let's get the reef doctor to advise @Jay Hemdal

 

[espieg]

Kindly post a video and let's get the reef doctor to advise @Jay Hemdal

I'll try and post a video tomorrow.

 

[RGoltz]

@espieg the bristletooth tangs do have a different diet than some other tangs. I recommend offering masstick. You can buy this in a “pellet” which can be smashed into a feeder magnet and placed in the tank. This is what I use to wean bristletooth tangs.

 

[espieg]

Kindly post a video and let's get the reef doctor to advise @Jay Hemdal

Here's some video. He's a bit more responsive and is picking at the rocks some. I added some garlic to the food and also tried a few new types of food (Hikari herbivore pellets, frozen brine shrimp, nori), still next to no interest.