Gem Tang HLLE

[tswanso3]

I posted about this in the vendor forum if anyone wants to see the whole story. But I wanted to share this in the disease forum and ask if you guys think this is HLLE. In my experience it is and I know how to correct it. But I wanted to share how an online vendor (not a R2R sponsor) sent me a fish. You can see it behind the eye and on the face on the left side and on the right side I circled the LL.

 

[4FordFamily]

To be honest, it's very very common in the hobby. Obviously no one spends $2,000 and is happy about anything but a flawless specimen but I would venture to bet nearly all zebrasoma tangs (yellow, scopus, Sailfin, especially purple) have some degree of HLLE prior to arrival. I think in this case because this is far more of an investment it is more concerning or noticed whereas on other tangs it might not be.

IMO, poor diet, water quality, and even stress contribute heavily to this condition.

The good news is that zebrasoma tangs are very hardy, this guy looks otherwise examplary to me, and he will recover quickly from what appears to be minor HLLE. My zebrasoma tangs exhibit more lateral line than many other species, but especially when they have been treated with medications, but I have no data to back that up I just notice it more under these circumstances. It does get better quickly once through quarantine and treatment process.

Lots of varied types of nori (green and red are my absolute favorite - emphasis on red), soaking foods in selcon and a dash of cod liver oil over time mixed with healthy food offerings will help and keep it healthy and happy.

Nice fish by the way!

 

[Humblefish]

Not trying to mitigate your complaint, but IMO it's a very slight case of HLLE. Just in the early stages. Some vitamin soaked food/nori should clear it right up (or maybe the vendor had stray voltage/was running cheap carbon.) Even still, that's not what you expect when you pay that much for a fish.

 

[tswanso3]

The point I am unhappy about is that I paid a lot for this fish and it was not advertise to have ANYTHING wrong with it. And while I know it is reversible, it's not a 100% guarantee. I would have bought a different specimen with no HLLE at the $1900 price tag. I feed all my tangs (9 in my system) and amazing diet and have NO issues with HLLE. I have had my Red Sea Sailfin and Purple for over 3 years now and they have never showed ANY signs of it.

 

[4FordFamily]

Not trying to mitigate your complaint, but IMO it's a very slight case of HLLE. Just in the early stages. Some vitamin soaked food/nori should clear it right up (or maybe the vendor had stray voltage/was running cheap carbon.) Even still, that's not what you expect when you pay that much for a fish.

I agree most hobbyists wouldn't have noticed and those that did wouldn't be concerned on a 5-$500 dollar fish. In this case of course this fish was a pretty penny so I completely understand your thoroughness!

 

[Humblefish]

This is why I just stick to the cheap fish.

 

[4FordFamily]

The point I am unhappy about is that I paid a lot for this fish and it was not advertise to have ANYTHING wrong with it. And while I know it is reversible, it's not a 100% guarantee. I would have bought a different specimen with no HLLE at the $1900 price tag. I feed all my tangs (9 in my system) and amazing diet and have NO issues with HLLE. I have had my Red Sea Sailfin and Purple for over 3 years now and they have never showed ANY signs of it.

Honestly most vendors probably wouldn't even notice it. It could even be a good sign of good preventative quarantine/prevention procedures on the contrary. I'm guessing they wanted to protect this expensive asset and in doing so I wouldn't be surprised if it was rigorously and thoroughly cared for which likely involved medication which likely led to the minor HLLE. This is just my opinion, but I would say there is nothing marginally wrong with the fish and he will be fine. Again though I completely understand why your expectations are what they are, simply offering a different perspective that's all. Good luck with the fish!

 

[tswanso3]

Well when the guy advertises and says he has the best cared for, cherry picked fish... I'd expect more... And once shown a problem, I would expect an honest vendor to step up and do the right thing.