Feeling like I just got played...

[YMRreefer]

Update: I overreacted totally- no problems here, and husband is smirking as I write this... because he was 1000% correct.


TL;DR
So I have been wanting a purple tang for.... forever. With everything going on right now I just can't justify $500-600 for a fish. So... I found a purple tang for sale on FB marketplace and picked it up this evening. The seller had sent me videos of the fish before I picked it up. Seemed okay and I picked it up today.

I would like to preface this with... I transported the tang 4 hours in a 5 gallon bucket with an airstone. Temp stayed 78-79. The seller brought the fish out in a blue 5 gallon bucket - I was unable to go into their house to see the fish in the tank (understandable due to Covid/stranger danger). The entire four hours home I was SO excited. Then I put the tang in the QT tank and this is what I saw. Any ideas? I am hopeful that a lot of the discoloration is because it was 9:45pm when I finally got home? I was thinking it has either been bullied or has fin rot? I was also thinking possible HLLE? (but hopefully not) Either way I am in no way rushed to do anything to this tang because it is eating like a pig - it started eating that nori within 5 minutes of being transferred to the QT tank. So we will see where it goes.

FYI - There are no LEDs on the QT tank, just lit by canned lights above. The tan also has zero spots visible right now - the picture makes it look like it has spots - the tank its just dirty due to black mollies we previously used to increase the bacteria load.

 

[Albertan22]

Give it a couple days. A lot of fish change their coloration significantly when stressed. 4 hours in a bucket would be plenty stressful. Grab some selcon and soak it’s mysis in that, hopefully he colours up for you.

 

[NeptuneRjo]

Someone with more experience identifying Hlle should chime in but to me it just looks faded. My yellow gets very faded and translucent during the night time while its asleep (as do most fish) so hopefully it's just stressed out.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Looks fine, but stressed. A 4hr ride in a bucket will do that. Turn off lights and let it chill. And no, it doesn’t have HLLE...

 

[YMRreefer]

Someone with more experience identifying Hlle should chime in but to me it just looks faded. My yellow gets very faded and translucent during the night time while its asleep (as do most fish) so hopefully it's just stressed out.

Okay cool- sorry definitely a newbie and we had an experience with ich (Copper and fallow) - which then led to dinos ....so I’m a little paranoid. Honestly, I was just too excited for it to be “purple“ and was obviously not realistic ‍. This makes me feel much better! Thank you.

Now I get to admit to the husband that he was totally right and I just needed to chill out... lol

 

[fishguy242]

hi do not see hlle ,see fin damage,best wishes ,others will chime in
from video fins look to be healing

 

[Viking_Reefing]

I think your overreacting. All I see is a stressed purple tang. The damage on the fins could very well be from catching it/transport.

Can’t see any tendency’s of lateral line erosion at all.

 

[Charles4400]

I don't see fin rot or hlle, looks healthy and eating like a pig is always a great sign !

As others have mentioned coloration is most likely due to stress of the move and the nips on the fin will grow back no problem.

Mine had lots of nips on his fins (I bought mine online years ago) but it all grew back and looks perfect now.

Enjoy your purple tang and congrats, based on the pics and vids I think it's healthy!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like a little lateral line erosion and all due to poor diet.
Feed it at minimum:
LRS herbivore diet
Spirulina brine shrimp
Mysis shrimp
Small plankton
Formula 2 flake and frozen
Nori seaweed basted with garlic

add garlic and liquid vitamins 2-3x per week

 

[YMRreefer]

Looks like a little lateral line erosion and all due to poor diet.
Feed it at minimum:
LRS herbivore diet
Spirulina brine shrimp
Mysis shrimp
Small plankton
Formula 2 flake and frozen
Nori seaweed basted with garlic

add garlic and liquid vitamins 2-3x per week

The little bit of what may be lateral line erosion, is what worried me initially and then it spiraled lol. I “webMD’d” my fish, and consequently arrived at the worst, yet most likely incorrect, conclusion.

In person they appear to almost be little holes. But it doesn’t seem like I’ll have issues getting this guy to eat. Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[ca1ore]

I see nothing amiss with that fish. It's stressed and under poor light conditions, but that is about it. i don't see any lateral line erosion or any fin damage (though only your first photo appears for me). The 'spots' are a normal part of a PT coloration and will appear/dissappear based on lighting and stress levels.

 

[Qasimja]

yea i agree fish looks fine to me

 

[maharsreef]

Purple tang looks fine. They are tough fish. Mine gets bullied daily by my Black Tang.

 

[YMRreefer]

Thanks for all of the responses. He is getting a wide variety of food and plenty of alone time to de-stress in his QT. All is well here for the time being!