Convict Tang found Dead

[MrPiGuy]

Any ideas? Healthy coral and fish. I just checked everyone and all seems fine with everyone. No white spots or odd behavior from other inhabitants. The convict was fine and eating normal yesterday. I did notice an indent in his head above his eye that I hadn’t noticed before. Really bummed as this guy has been with us for almost a year.

Tank inhabitants Include

2 clown fish
1 melanurus
1 tailspot blenny
1 yellow coris
1 peppermint shrimp

 

[vetteguy53081]

Any ideas? Healthy coral and fish. I just checked everyone and all seems fine with everyone. No white spots or odd behavior from other inhabitants. The convict was fine and eating normal yesterday. I did notice an indent in his head above his eye that I hadn’t noticed before. Really bummed as this guy has been with us for almost a year.

Tank inhabitants Include

2 clown fish
1 melanurus
1 tailspot blenny
1 yellow coris
1 peppermint shrimp

Above the eye appears to be a scar from injury and these tangs spook easily. One of my favorite tangs, sorry to see the loss

 

[MrPiGuy]

Above the eye appears to be a scar from injury and these tangs spook easily. One of my favorite tangs, sorry to see the loss

I can bet I know why it happened then as this was my sneaking suspicion. I tell my wife we can’t just throw the lights on before their blue lights come on. She just lets them go down early in the morning. I may just have to change the light setting in the future to accommodate an early wake up. One of mine as well. Thanks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I can bet I know why it happened then as this was my sneaking suspicion. I tell my wife we can’t just throw the lights on before their blue lights come on. She just lets them go down early in the morning. I may just have to change the light setting in the future to accommodate an early wake up. One of mine as well. Thanks.

Often fish get startled with this light cycle

 

[MrPiGuy]

Often fish get startled with this light cycle

Okay maybe I won’t do that then haha. I may just have to set a hard rule of no kids in basement before 9 when the lights come on.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Okay maybe I won’t do that then haha. I may just have to set a hard rule of no kids in basement before 9 when the lights come on.

I do support the blue first as you proposed. The white as a starter intensity will startle fish.

 

[MrPiGuy]

I do support the blue first as you proposed. The white as a starter intensity will startle fish.

Oh yes that’s always how I do it with blues on an hour before and after white lights come on. Maybe I’m not being clear. My wife will turn the house lights on in the basement for the kids to go play at like 7 am. I’ve always thought that the light may be aggressive for the fish but I also am not entirely sure. I’ve never had an issue with it so I’ve always just let it go. I guess it could be something else that spooked the fish as well. I just assumed the sudden room light would spook the little guy.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Oh yes that’s always how I do it with blues on an hour before and after white lights come on. Maybe I’m not being clear. My wife will turn the house lights on in the basement for the kids to go play at like 7 am. I’ve always thought that the light may be aggressive for the fish but I also am not entirely sure. I’ve never had an issue with it so I’ve always just let it go. I guess it could be something else that spooked the fish as well. I just assumed the sudden room light would spook the little guy.

Gotcha. Ambient light may startle them but often has lesser impact on the fish but not ruled out

 

[MrPiGuy]

Gotcha. Ambient light may startle them but often has lesser impact on the fish but not ruled out

Gotcha. It sucks these things happen. Well thanks man I really appreciate the help.

 

[William Chiavetta]

Any ideas? Healthy coral and fish. I just checked everyone and all seems fine with everyone. No white spots or odd behavior from other inhabitants. The convict was fine and eating normal yesterday. I did notice an indent in his head above his eye that I hadn’t noticed before. Really bummed as this guy has been with us for almost a year.

Tank inhabitants Include

2 clown fish
1 melanurus
1 tailspot blenny
1 yellow coris
1 peppermint shrimp

Looks as if you've got everything solved but I'm sorry for your loss

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Sorry to see. I agree that a startle injury is the most likely reason for this.

Lighting changes can cause issues, and my normal advice is to turn the room lights on first, then ramp up the tank lights slowly or in stages. However, there is an issue with doing that - with the room lights on and the tank lights still off, the fish can see movement out in the room very clearly. Any kids running around, etc., could startle them. Once the tank lights come on, the room is dimmer than the tank is and the fish can't see outside as readily....