In copper but stomach pinched.

[Doglips56]

Hi #reefsquad
I have a very small juvenile blue regal tang. I’ve had it 2 weeks. It was in a holding tank for observation with several other new additions. Actively swimming and eating. Tank got a full 3 day treatment with Ruby Reef Rally.

Last night noticed a very odd looking lesion on its face just behind the mouth on its left side. Removed from the observation tank and moved to copper tank. Current copper level 1.3 Now that it’s not freaked out hiding behind the heater I can see that it’s belly is really pinched making me think a bad case of internal parasites. What is my next best course of action? Has a good appetite.
Thanks

 

[GoVols]

@Jay Hemdal

can you please soak up all the above and toss in some incite?

thank you...

 

[Doglips56]

@Jay Hemdal

can you please soak up all the above and toss in some incite?

thank you... Thanks. Jay has helped me so much in the past. I just soaked some food in metro, focus and a little garlic guard. Copper level isn’t therapeutic and I don’t want to bring it up anymore till I know what’s best.

 

[polyppal]

Is it eating? If so, mix Seachem Metroplex and Seachem Focus into thawed frozen food.

 

[Doglips56]

Is it eating? If so, mix Seachem Metroplex and Seachem Focus into thawed frozen food.

Is it ok to use simultaneously with copper?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

It's really tough to video fish, I know! All I could really see was a bit of possible Lymphocystis on its dorsal fin. If it is eating well, but has a pinched belly, the first thing to do is feed it more frequently. Fish often have internal parasites in the wild, but they take in more food than the parasites absorb, so they still do o.k. A pinched belly does not mean parasites it means not enough food. Obviously, you don't want to grossly overfeed the tank, but you need to feed small tangs 3x of 4x per day, as much as they will eat.

Jay

 

[polyppal]

Is it ok to use simultaneously with copper?

yeah Metro is safe with copper (*at least with Copper Power and Cupramine)

 

[Doglips56]

It's really tough to video fish, I know! All I could really see was a bit of possible Lymphocystis on its dorsal fin. If it is eating well, but has a pinched belly, the first thing to do is feed it more frequently. Fish often have internal parasites in the wild, but they take in more food than the parasites absorb, so they still do o.k. A pinched belly does not mean parasites it means not enough food. Obviously, you don't want to grossly overfeed the tank, but you need to feed small tangs 3x of 4x per day, as much as they will eat.

Jay

I’ve been feeding reef chili once per day and pellets 3 times per day. Definitely has a good appetite. Secluded now so won’t be competing for food. Thanks. I will feed more to the observation tank as well so they’re all fat attached is a still of the facial lesion and of the belly sorry the glass is messy, did an emergency water change last night so I could move it up to the hospital tank

 

[Idoc]

I’ve been feeding reef chili once per day and pellets 3 times per day.

BRS Reef Chili??? If so, that's coral food, not fish food.

You might want to try some frozen mysis and/or some frozen herbivore mix stuff that has some substance to it...and, some nori seaweed sheets for him to pick on all day long.

 

[Doglips56]

BRS Reef Chili??? If so, that's coral food, not fish food.

You might want to try some frozen mysis and/or some frozen herbivore mix stuff that has some substance to it...and, some nori seaweed sheets for him to pick on all day long.

No our own homemade food. It has something for everyone. Small chunks of chopped seafood, Nori, pellets, algae pellets, garlic, mysis, brine shrimp. Can’t remember everything! We also took a portion and double processed it so fish with small mouths could still get pieces of seafood though they always seem to want to go for the big pieces and play tug of war with their friends. I did not add any of the coral foods to it because when we made it 9 months ago we didn’t have much in the way of corals. Please feel free to visit my build thread . We are really happy with how things have grown and matured. We’ve had a lot more success with corals and inverts than with fish sadly

 

[GoVols]

Please feel free to visit my build thread . We are really happy with how things have grown and matured. We’ve had a lot more success with corals and inverts than with fish sadly

Nancy,

Took the time to read your first post inside your build thread and work on down.

Your first sentence in post #8 is humbling, to say the least

Things have really changed with the care and quality of fish in the USA since we cycled with damsels. The diseased fish that are sold to us in the US is just saddening.

I'd highly recommend to you and your husband to buy your fish at TSM Aquatics when possible.

Why TSM?

TSM operates a large aquatic super store, with over 6,000 sq. ft of saltwater fish and coral. The facility was built to receive, quarantine, and house the highest quality marine life. Here at TSM we understand that the key to a successful aquarium begins with healthy livestock, and we pride...

tsmaquatics.com

Can testify to the above link and times it is sure worth the waiting time.

Blue Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)

The Pacific Blue Hippo Tang is found in the reefs of the Philippines and Indonesia. They eat a diet of marine-based seaweed and algae to maintain their health.

tsmaquatics.com

You would still need to qt, but you really need to get a healthy fish specimen from the get-go.

You may find that your fish deaths were not of your doing, but the place from where that fish has come from.

One more tip:
If your fish ships overnight, do not drip acclimate. Just calmly get the fish up to temp, and place it into your qt, with a net.

Wish you and your loved ones all the best,
Freddie

 

[Paul B]

That Hippo tang is totally stressed out in that tank as any Hippo tang would be. It needs some hiding places besides a funnel and a heater. A Hippo tang is a fish that constantly hides and will not feel secure or live in such a tank. Especially a tank that you can see through from both sides with people walking around it.

It also has HLLE which will get worse there especially in copper.
I personally would add some red bricks for him to hide. Fish do not like clean white plastic things.

If you can see the fish, he can see you.
Good luck and I hope he pulls through.

 

[Doglips56]

Nancy,

Took the time to read your first post inside your build thread and work on down.

Your first sentence in post #8 is humbling, to say the least

Things have really changed with the care and quality of fish in the USA since we cycled with damsels. The diseased fish that are sold to us in the US is just saddening.

I'd highly recommend to you and your husband to buy your fish at TSM Aquatics when possible.

Why TSM?

TSM operates a large aquatic super store, with over 6,000 sq. ft of saltwater fish and coral. The facility was built to receive, quarantine, and house the highest quality marine life. Here at TSM we understand that the key to a successful aquarium begins with healthy livestock, and we pride...

tsmaquatics.com

Can testify to the above link and times it is sure worth the waiting time.

Blue Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)

The Pacific Blue Hippo Tang is found in the reefs of the Philippines and Indonesia. They eat a diet of marine-based seaweed and algae to maintain their health.

tsmaquatics.com

You would still need to qt, but you really need to get a healthy fish specimen from the get-go.

You may find that your fish deaths were not of your doing, but the place from where that fish has come from.

One more tip:
If your fish ships overnight, do not drip acclimate. Just calmly get the fish up to temp, and place it into your qt, with a net.

Wish you and your loved ones all the best,
Freddie

Thank you so much Freddie. It is so disheartening. My husband is so over dying fish he said we should just stick to corals. It’s sad because we have a 65 gallon tank sitting empty which we got to be a fish only tank. He likes angels and they’re not reef safe for the most part. I will definitely look into this place. It’s just money down the drain when they die

 

[Doglips56]

That Hippo tang is totally stressed out in that tank as any Hippo tang would be. It needs some hiding places besides a funnel and a heater. A Hippo tang is a fish that constantly hides and will not feel secure or live in such a tank. Especially a tank that you can see through from both sides with people walking around it.

It also has HLLE which will get worse there especially in copper.
I personally would add some red bricks for him to hide. Fish do not like clean white plastic things.

If you can see the fish, he can see you.
Good luck and I hope he pulls through.

Red brick? Ive QT’d and treated many fish in that tank over the past year. Have only lost 1 in that particular tank. I’m sincerely confused by the red brick advice, I’ve never heard of it. The kind you build a house with?

 

[Paul B]

Yes, the kind you build a house with. Many, or all fish are very stressed in a semi bare tank and need natural looking hiding places. I don't believe in fish medications but if you use that, you need inert material and you don't want to use calcium things because that absorbs medications.
Bricks don't and they are much more natural looking.

This is a 5 gallon local New York tank for things I collect SCUBA diving.

That is a brick

 

[Doglips56]

Ok well I live in Georgia, lots of brick here lol. The tank is painted black on the back wall and bottom. I know there were reflections in my video, there’s a window on the other wall that caused them.

 

[GoVols]

Yes, the kind you build a house with. Many, or all fish are very stressed in a semi bare tank and need natural looking hiding places. I don't believe in fish medications but if you use that, you need inert material and you don't want to use calcium things because that absorbs medications.
Bricks don't and they are much more natural looking.

This is a 5 gallon local New York tank for things I collect SCUBA diving.

That is a brick

Paul,
Thanks for taking your time, to jump in.

 

[Doglips56]

Paul,
Thanks for taking your time, to jump in.

Yes Paul thank you so much. I did lose the fish, and I mean that in the literal sense. It is gone. Can’t find it anywhere and have a tight fitting solid lid. Absolutely have no idea where it went. Tank is up high and our daughter came and took her cat days ago. We sincerely cannot find it!!

Anyway, can I ask a couple more brick questions please, since clearly I’m in the dark about them. Bricks are readily available here for free or for purchase. If I were to buy one somewhere, what would I need to do with it before adding it to aquarium? Citric acid bath? Soak in RODI or seawater? I wouldn’t want to add any unknown contaminants to my tank which would be my biggest concern.
Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge with me.

 

[Paul B]

If you can find old bricks in a river or lake that would be great and they would already be prepared and look better. If you have to use new brick, I would just soak it for a while. Bricks in the US are made from clay. In other countries they may put all sorts of waste debris in them. But here they are fired in a kiln and are pretty pure.
Don't take them from someone's yard as they may have pesticides on them.

They are porous because they are not glazed and bacteria will live in them. (just like live rock) I used to use them under my reef structure to hold things up because they were just about free and their red color is hard to see.

Remember don't tell anyone because no one knows about bricks and they will tell you it can't be done and it will kill your fish. There is a stigma in this hobby that everything has to cost a lot of money and come in a colorful bag with a picture of a French Angelfish on the front.

(Sorry people who sell aquarium stuff in a colorful bag with a picture of a French Angelfish on it.)

 

[Doglips56]

Thank you Paul. I’m a “budget” reefer and I still spend a fortune but I’m not really distracted by all the shiny things (like APEX, Trident, etc). Our setup is pretty simple but fairly successful for our first year. Still have hiccups here and there. Enjoy learning new things from experts like you who are willing to share all you’ve learned