Fat Yellow tang?

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Here are some better pictures. What do you think regarding a rupture?

I don’t see a darkening issue - I’m looking for darker areas that could be sepsis, pooled blood or bile. Still, of course, the longer it goes without pooping, the worse the prognosis is.

 

[derek12261984]

I don’t see a darkening issue - I’m looking for darker areas that could be sepsis, pooled blood or bile. Still, of course, the longer it goes without pooping, the worse the prognosis is.

Ok good! Thank you so much for your help. I keep expecting it to happen but it hasn’t as of yet. I’m still on the first dose of antibiotics so we will see how it goes over the next 4 to 6 days. If he doesn’t go by the second or third treatment, I’m not really sure what else I can do except for wait, and make him comfortable.

 

[MnFish1]

I would say - you will know rather quickly if there is a sepsis issue. However - The Kanamycin - hopefully will do the trick. BTW - I do not believe that it would/should cause diarrhea - as compared to just helping the 'issue' along. We're all rooting for your tang!!!

 

[derek12261984]

I would say - you will know rather quickly if there is a sepsis issue. However - The Kanamycin - hopefully will do the trick. BTW - I do not believe that it would/should cause diarrhea - as compared to just helping the 'issue' along. We're all rooting for your tang!!!

Thank you so much! I definitely am rooting for him as well. My wife bought me and my boys that fish so it’s got some sentimental value to it in addition to being my favorite fish in the tank.

 

[derek12261984]

Update: no change today to his condition. Still hasn’t pooped, and still not taking food. He still seems healthy, but that won’t last long. I gave the second round of kanaplex today, so I’ll redose on Friday. I don’t want to give up on him, but I’m not holding my breath.

 

[JohnA26]

May I ask is it an issue for all biota fish or just yellow tangs? Also is it as simple as (from this) we learned not to feed mysis. Maybe until it is older/bigger? I ask because I am contemplating a biota yellow tang.
On a side note is there any evidence being captive bred do they stay smaller and are they (potentially) less aggressive?

 

[derek12261984]

May I ask is it an issue for all biota fish or just yellow tangs? Also is it as simple as (from this) we learned not to feed mysis. Maybe until it is older/bigger? I ask because I am contemplating a biota yellow tang.
On a side note is there any evidence being captive bred do they stay smaller and are they (potentially) less aggressive?

I can stay with certainty that mine has never been aggressive to any other fishing tank. He’s been absolute model citizen. I’m not sure if this is applicable to all biota products, but I do know tangs in general are susceptible to this. I think the moral of the story is to not let them over eat protein exclusively or too much.

 

[derek12261984]

Just to update for those that may encounter this in the future. No change in status as of today… still not eating still not going to the bathroom. I administered the second dose of medication yesterday and will administer the third tomorrow. I’ve also been dosing the tank with Epson salt just as an additional measure. I don’t think it’s very effective in the marine environment.

 

[derek12261984]

Another day, another update. Not looking good as of right now. Much more lethargic and slow to move away from any sort of stimuli. Don’t think he will last more than a day or so. I did go ahead and do the third round of Meds but I think it’s a little too late at this point. If anybody else has anything I can try, I am happy to give it a shot.

 

[derek12261984]

Another day, another update. Not looking good as of right now. Much more lethargic and slow to move away from any sort of stimuli. Don’t think he will last more than a day or so. I did go ahead and do the third round of Meds but I think it’s a little too late at this point. If anybody else has anything I can try, I am happy to give it a shot.

@Jay Hemdal and @vetteguy53081 . i am seeing something protruding from the tangs cloaca. Should I try to use forceps to help it along? Not sure if this is a good thing or not, but it wasn’t there yesterday.

 

[vetteguy53081]

@Jay Hemdal and @vetteguy53081 . i am seeing something protruding from the tangs cloaca. Should I try to use forceps to help it along? Not sure if this is a good thing or not, but it wasn’t there yesterday.

Fish may be indeed constipated. If eating, offer brine shrimp. Cant see what is at opening but may be seaweed or other food matter. Helping the object out may risk damage to a very delicate area

 

[derek12261984]

Fish may be indeed constipated. If eating, offer brine shrimp. Cant see what is at opening but may be seaweed or other food matter. Helping the object out may risk damage to a very delicate area

Yeah, the issue is that he still isn’t eating. Saturday will be a week since he’s eaten anything.

 

[NanoNana]

From your pic I can’t tell what is protruding. To my eye it looks like mucus but that may just be the effect of zooming the photo.

I am NOT a fish medic but I do have fowl and parrots and the reproductive and elimination anatomy is similar. Eggs/fry, poop and urea all exit the same place. It is not uncommon for avian species to become egg bound (not even suggesting this is what’s happening with your tang). When this happens in fowl, we try HARD to do everything we can to facilitate passing the egg naturally. When lethargy and anorexia set it most of us go the extreme route with manual manipulation and even breaking the egg and extracting shell. I am 60/40 on the positive side with manual intervention of saving the animal. I am 0% success rate with just watching and waiting and doing less invasive methods when the animal hits lethargy an anorexia. I also deal with retained placenta in my large livestock and if there is something hanging out, I’m pulling to at least test resistance. If you meet resistance, stop.
Because of that experience, if it were MY fish, and it is not, I would at least see if I could gently manually remove anything I could see. The likelihood is it’s just going to disintegrate as soon as you pull anyway.

 

[derek12261984]

From your pic I can’t tell what is protruding. To my eye it looks like mucus but that may just be the effect of zooming the photo.

I am NOT a fish medic but I do have fowl and parrots and the reproductive and elimination anatomy is similar. Eggs/fry, poop and urea all exit the same place. It is not uncommon for avian species to become egg bound (not even suggesting this is what’s happening with your tang). When this happens in fowl, we try HARD to do everything we can to facilitate passing the egg naturally. When lethargy and anorexia set it most of us go the extreme route with manual manipulation and even breaking the egg and extracting shell. I am 60/40 on the positive side with manual intervention of saving the animal. I am 0% success rate with just watching and waiting and doing less invasive methods when the animal hits lethargy an anorexia. I also deal with retained placenta in my large livestock and if there is something hanging out, I’m pulling to at least test resistance. If you meet resistance, stop.
Because of that experience, if it were MY fish, and it is not, I would at least see if I could gently manually remove anything I could see. The likelihood is it’s just going to disintegrate as soon as you pull anyway.

I’ll give it another day or so and then if it gets to that point, I will go ahead and give it a try. You’re probably right about it just a disintegrating, but it’s more progress than I seen in about a week now.Fingers crossed!

 

[NanoNana]

I’ll give it another day or so and then if it gets to that point, I will go ahead and give it a try. You’re probably right about it just a disintegrating, but it’s more progress than I seen in about a week now.Fingers crossed!

I really do hope this goes well for your fish!

 

[derek12261984]

I really do hope this goes well for your fish!

Thank you so much. It kills me that this guy is suffering like this. I’ve done just about everything I can possibly do to save this thing.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

@Jay Hemdal and @vetteguy53081 . i am seeing something protruding from the tangs cloaca. Should I try to use forceps to help it along? Not sure if this is a good thing or not, but it wasn’t there yesterday.

I wouldn't try to intervene, at least not without using an anesthetic. What do physicians say? " Primum non nocere - First, do no harm"

 

[derek12261984]

Another day down with no change. I am dropping vita-chem and Restore into the tank daily in hopes that he can at least get a little calories (probably useless but I’m trying anything at this point). I’m also dosing epson salt daily. He has had a full three rounds with the antibiotics, but I’m gonna give him a fourth round tomorrow. It looks like it’s right there ready to come out but still just seeing a little protrusion.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Another day down with no change. I am dropping vita-chem and Restore into the tank daily in hopes that he can at least get a little calories (probably useless but I’m trying anything at this point). I’m also dosing epson salt daily. He has had a full three rounds with the antibiotics, but I’m gonna give him a fourth round tomorrow. It looks like it’s right there ready to come out but still just seeing a little protrusion.

Dosing Epsom salts is a one time thing, if you dose it daily, you will eventually skew your magnesium and sulfate levels.

 

[derek12261984]

The saga continues, and I’m actually a little hopeful. It looks like he’s getting ready to pass something as there is a dark mass right there at the anal cavity. I noticed some gray stuff yesterday, but it looks like there might actually be some thing behind it getting ready to come out. I’ll keep everyone posted.