Help! Blue Tang is sick!

[Steelheader09]

Ok thanks

 

[timnem70]

I highly to agree with Humble fish. It appears that it got scratched and may just be annoying it and he made it worse. You have a great plan. I would however do one medication at a time simply for the fact if it is a disease of some kind you can identify exactly what treatment worked of that makes sense? A small amount of iodine may also do the trick as a disinfectant without the stressors of prolonged hospitalization. Hope he get better. They become part of the family after that long and we take it personally.

 

[Humblefish]

I would however do one medication at a time simply for the fact if it is a disease of some kind you can identify exactly what treatment worked of that makes sense?

This would be great for experimentation purposes, but if the primary concern is saving the fish's life I would combine all three.

Also, a skin scrape would be required to identify the offending bacterium so you would know exactly what worked on what.

 

[Steelheader09]

The scratched idea is possible. I have had them get scratched on the fanworms before. They are sharp. I drove one into my knuckle cleaning one-time. Had to pull it out with tweezers. Between the fan worms scratching me and the Clarkii trying to bite me, they draw blood btw, cleaning the glass can be a chore.

 

[Humblefish]

Looking at his belly again, I wonder if a bristle worm crawled near him during the middle of the night. Or he wedged himself into a tight spot while sleeping.

 

[Steelheader09]

He loves tight spaces and sleeps laying on the sand so possibly. The hopsital tank is going. The water looks a little cloudy not sure why. Im going to test everything before she goes in. Been waiting for the heat and salt to equalize

 

[Steelheader09]

Ok giving her the best shot i can. Wish me luck.

 

[Steelheader09]

Another quick question. Should I keep an aerator going? In the display tank I rely on the skimmer for airation but dont have a skimmer in quarantine.

 

[tj w]

Definitely aerate the qt tank. Those meds will deplete the oxygen so water movement is a must

 

[Maritimer]

An aerator is very unlikely to do harm, but can literally be a lifesaver!

~Bruce

 

[Steelheader09]

Thanks. I know i sound like a novice but I appreciate the help. Ive had marine fish for 5 years now and have never had to treat anything other than a bout if ich in year 1. Ive taken 2 college classes in coral culturing and aquaculture but the section on diseases was 4 years ago.

 

[4FordFamily]

An aerator is very unlikely to do harm, but can literally be a lifesaver!

~Bruce

X3

 

[4FordFamily]

Thanks. I know i sound like a novice but I appreciate the help. Ive had marine fish for 5 years now and have never had to treat anything other than a bout if ich in year 1. Ive taken 2 college classes in coral culturing and aquaculture but the section on diseases was 4 years ago.

We've all been there, not to worry. We are here for you!

 

[Steelheader09]

Thanks.

 

[Steelheader09]

UPDATE: So she seems to be doing well. Wounds are almost heeled. She is eating good. Shes still in quarantine for awhile. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Steelheader09]

So wounds are healed. I think she is beginning to not like the hospital tank. She has stopped eating like she was before. Is she ok to go back to display or does she need more QT time? Water parameters are good btw.

 

[Kershaw]

Just wondering. Did any of the injurys look transparent in anyway? Can't tell from picture. Just curious thanks.

 

[Steelheader09]

Not really, it was mostly all pink. Maybe some transparent where the skin died and came off.

 

[Kershaw]

I bought a "captive breed" blue tang, was fine for 2 weeks then had similer shaped marks in the same place. Near anal fin. But my tang is only 3/4 and inch. How ever the marks on mine where almost transparent. I swear I could see light through the fish. I fed with silcon and live black worms and what ever it was healed. It has been fine since. tang is now 4 months old.

 

[Steelheader09]

Interesting. Mine is 3 years old. I got her at about an inch, now she is around 6in. I threw everything at her to get her healed up. Not sure what cause it.