Help please!!! Blue hippo tang with brown?!?

truben1010 · Oct 30, 2018

I have had this blue tang in a qt system for about 3 months now while I get my display ready and I noticed that the blue tang has brown marks on it right side and if you look closely on its head? What is this? Please help!?

Old Fritz · Oct 30, 2018

Looks like head and lateral line erosion. Since its been in qt for three months i doubt its a parasite in which case it is probably a deficiency or water quality issue .What are your parameters and what do you feed it?

GoldeneyeRet · Oct 31, 2018

Yep, hlle

Old Fritz · Oct 31, 2018

I recommend changing your water with the tank he is in and trying to feed him higher quality foods and foods that they need in their diet, They need algae and seaweed in their diet as well as the meaty foods you would feed other fish like your pellets and/or mysis shrimp

ArowanaLover1902 · Oct 31, 2018

Can someone explain Head and lateral line erosion to me? Never gotten a good explanation before.

truben1010 · Oct 31, 2018

Old Fritz said:
Looks like head and lateral line erosion. Since its been in qt for three months i doubt its a parasite in which case it is probably a deficiency or water quality issue .What are your parameters and what do you feed it?

I feel like it is hlle. I’ve been reading about feeding requirements and most said nori. I’ve been feeding meaty flakes and pellets and brine shrimp and blood worms. Which she devours

truben1010 · Oct 31, 2018

Old Fritz said:
I recommend changing your water with the tank he is in and trying to feed him higher quality foods and foods that they need in their diet, They need algae and seaweed in their diet as well as the meaty foods you would feed other fish like your pellets and/or mysis shrimp

Do you know if this is a good product to feed?

Old Fritz · Oct 31, 2018

truben1010 said:
Do you know if this is a good product to feed?

It’s agood product, you can also buy strips of algae and put them on a clip. If you weren’t feeding seaweed before that might’ve been your problem.

Old Fritz · Oct 31, 2018

also brine are more of a treat. Try switching to mysis. Brine have little to no nutritional value.

4FordFamily · Oct 31, 2018

Old Fritz said:
also brine are more of a treat. Try switching to mysis. Brine have little to no nutritional value.

Spirulina brine are a good alternative as well.

HLLE is best handled with offerings of nutritious foods. Zoecon, selcon, and vita chem also can help, soak in their foods. Nori is imperative, I feed at least two types of nori. In addition, prostine water quality can help.

Hippo tangs are very susceptible. They also have some spots on their face as “normal”.

GoldeneyeRet · Oct 31, 2018

ArowanaLover1902 said:
Can someone explain Head and lateral line erosion to me? Never gotten a good explanation before.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hlle-head-lateral-line-erosion.259916/

MnFish1 · Nov 1, 2018

Can someone point out the 'LLE'. As @4FordFamily says some spots are normal. I mean no fish is going to be hurt by being fed better and cleaner water - but - This does not look like the HLLE I've seen.

4FordFamily · Nov 1, 2018

MnFish1 said:
Can someone point out the 'LLE'. As @4FordFamily says some spots are normal. I mean no fish is going to be hurt by being fed better and cleaner water - but - This does not look like the HLLE I've seen.

I think I see just a “hair” of it but this fish doesn’t appear to be badly afflicted if at all. But with hippo I agree, best to prevent HLLE with good diet and good water quality