Help with hippo tang please

[coralkurd]

I got this blue tang about 2 weeks ago. He was in copper at lfs for a week prior. I did not at as I don’t have one and new to the hobby. Was doing fine until this Monday. Noticed she was not eating and chasing food like before. And also became extremely skiddish every time I am around the tank now.

Water parameters:
1.028 salt atm. Working on bringing down tonight.
.25 ammonia but I think test kit is bad. Tank has been established for over 15 years.
0-5 nitrate
78-79 temp

I have tried feeding everything. Since beginning she has not been eating nori. Was going crazy for frozen foods and pellets and flakes. Been trying to feed a multi pack, Lrs fish frenzy, pe mysis and tonight got some original rods and tried feeding with and without garlic extreme. Took like one bite and gave up.

I also have 2 clown fish that are baby’s. 2 Lyretail anthias (one male and another female). I have noticed the male anthias likes to kick him out of some spots sometimes but no biting. Sometimes they run into each other. Also I have not spots of scratched on the tang. Noticed breathing gets heavy sometimes. Also noticed a weird bump/fin damage on the bottom near where they poop. Also noticed he is swimming with his top fin extended more often now.

Please any advice appreciated. Here are a couple of pictures also.

 

[Old Fritz]

without more physical symptoms its hard to diagnose the fish. A week in copper isn't enough to eradicate ich, but if you don't notice white dots and the only other symptoms are heavy breathing it could be other things. Try doing a freshwater dip remember to bring the ph up to your tanks ph so the fish doesn't go into shock. First sign of stress take the fish out, look for any flukes that dropped in the bottom of the bucket (note: freshwater dips don't work on gill flukes but hopefully there are some on the body so we can diagnose). If it isn't flukes I recommend Treating with copper. If you don't have corals it is possible to treat with copper in a tank with sand and live rock, you will have to add a lot more copper and you will constantly have to measure it. Otherwise hyposalinity is a route you can take.

Try rubberbanding seaweed to a rock to entice the tang to eat.

 

[coralkurd]

I tried rubberbanding the seadweed to a rock and nothing. I have been soaking food in vita chem though. I am scared to do the fresh water dip because of stress. and trying to catch her. I would probably have to take lots of rocks out and stress everyone out. when I am far away from tank and look at her, she seems to be swimming around and curious but nothing like the way she was swimming before. just seems a little off.

do you see that damage under her though? does that raise any concerns?

 

[Old Fritz]

I tried rubberbanding the seadweed to a rock and nothing. I have been soaking food in vita chem though. I am scared to do the fresh water dip because of stress. and trying to catch her. I would probably have to take lots of rocks out and stress everyone out. when I am far away from tank and look at her, she seems to be swimming around and curious but nothing like the way she was swimming before. just seems a little off.

do you see that damage under her though? does that raise any concerns?

I mean I see a little white under her which could be a sign of fin rot. However I rarely see fin rot mess with diet, doesn't mean it doesn't have it though

 

[Steelheader09]

Do you have the ability to QT? Blue's are notorious for getting sick. I did a QT on mine with Erythromycin then General cure.

 

[coralkurd]

Do you have the ability to QT? Blue's are notorious for getting sick. I did a QT on mine with Erythromycin then General cure.

I do not I am trying/thinking about getting one and trying to figure out how to do it.

 

[Steelheader09]

I do not I am trying/thinking about getting one and trying to figure out how to do it.

I just bought a cheap 20gal Long at petco, actually they gave it to me cause it had a chip. Threw a couple PVC pipe fittings in it for cover, added a powerhead, aerator and heater, thats it. I did not run a filter because you cant run carbon anyway, but if you had a cheap one you could run it with floss in it. The aerator is important for gas exchange and because a lot of meds reduce O2 levels in the water.

 

[Old Fritz]

I do not I am trying/thinking about getting one and trying to figure out how to do it.

Petco has their dollar per gallon sale going now

 

[Jon Fishman]

Plenty of places for it to hide? Skittish and low appetite are pretty normal when new to a tank

 

[coralkurd]

Plenty of places for it to hide? Skittish and low appetite are pretty normal when new to a tank

I will monitor another couple of days I guess. I do have metroplex, focus and the other one i forgot what its called on hand. I will feed once things look bad I guess.

Petco has their dollar per gallon sale going now

I will definitely go check out and maybe pick out a tank.

 

[Steelheader09]

I would feed sooner rather than later, things go bad very fast with them

 

[coralkurd]

I would feed sooner rather than later, things go bad very fast with them

how do I get her to eat it if she wont eat? also would that stuff kill invertebrates? i have 2 shrimps, sea serpent starfish and bunch of crabs and snails.

 

[Steelheader09]

how do I get her to eat it if she wont eat? also would that stuff kill invertebrates? i have 2 shrimps, sea serpent starfish and bunch of crabs and snails.

If she wont eat at all, your only real option is to QT and treat the water.

 

[vetteguy53081]

salinity a little high ( bring to 1.026)
I would take a water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test your parameters to see what they come with and to compare with your readings