I have a 75g mixed reef. Fish include banggai cardinal, firefish, clownfish, starry blenny, sleeper blue dot goby and a kole tang. It's a mature tank, all parameters are good. The tang has been in my tank for about 5 weeks. Acclimation went really well, no ich, no signs of stress. Fish has been happy pecking at sides of tank, and eating frozen mysis, frozen brine/veg mix, krill and formula 2 pellets. Two days ago he started hiding more than usual. I took a closer look and his right side looks very swollen, like he swallowed a marble that lodged on his right side. When his left side faces me, he looks completely normal. His skin is perfect on both sides- good color, no spots/sores. He is not eating. Any thoughts? I've searched online, but can't find anything that fits. Anyone ever experience something similar? Is there anything I can do? Tank mates are all behaving normally.
Kole tang diagnosis help
- Thread starter Jahalu
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Bristletooth Tangs will grind up the substrate a little as they are picking algae off of it, and will even swallow some. I've read this actually helps with their digestion, but IME sometimes they bite off more than they can chew. 
Things usually "work themselves out" but feeding nori provides iodine and feeding a peeled boiled pea provides fiber - both of which will help to "push things out". 
But do post a pic or video of the bulge in his stomach just in case this is something more serious than what I'm imagining in my head...
Things usually "work themselves out" but feeding nori provides iodine and feeding a peeled boiled pea provides fiber - both of which will help to "push things out". But do post a pic or video of the bulge in his stomach just in case this is something more serious than what I'm imagining in my head...
Thanks for the input, but I have bad news, fish didn't make it. Went downhill quickly. I wish I knew where I went wrong. I agree with you- I really think it was some type of impaction. I tried to offer peas, but he wasn't eating at that point. Don't think there was anything else I could do. I offered nori twice a week, but he never went for it. He loved the formula 2 pellets, but maybe he overdid it on them. Really I have no idea, but so far everyone else is looking fine, so no signs of anything contagious. There were never any other visible symptoms, just the right side bulge. I looked very closely. Perhaps it could have been an internal parasite/worm of some type? I won't be trying another tang anytime soon though, that's for sure.
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2015
- Messages
- 20,450
- Reaction score
- 47,597
- Location
- Carmel, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
Sorry to hear ;(
Bristletooth tangs can be strange and some are hardy as heck (especially once established) and others get strange ailments or pass unexpectedly. I have long wondered if this was because of the strange diet somehow. Maybe captivity leaves something to be desired.
I have a healthy Kole and juvenile chevron but it I've gone through my fair share and it was confusing to say the least.
Bristletooth tangs can be strange and some are hardy as heck (especially once established) and others get strange ailments or pass unexpectedly. I have long wondered if this was because of the strange diet somehow. Maybe captivity leaves something to be desired.
I have a healthy Kole and juvenile chevron but it I've gone through my fair share and it was confusing to say the least.
Could have been a malignant tumor or internal bacterial infection. Something like that would be far more deadly (and less treatable.) By any chance, did you ever feed this tang red nori? I had bloating issues in the past when I fed this one PBT red nori, but she could eat green with no problems.
Thanks for trying to help. I only did green nori, but I never saw him show much interest in it. He would go crazy for formula 2 pellets. Not sure what is in those, but I will look over ingredients just for curiosity. Whatever it was, he went down fast. From completely healthy to dead in about 48 hours. That bulge grew really fast.
^^This suggests a (internal) gram negative bacterial infection.
Ugh. Is my main tank infected now? I have coral, so I can't medicate main tank. Other fish seem fine as of now. All parameters are good. Do you think this will affect any future tangs i add. (Granted, I won't be adding anything more in the short term)
Pfisherman
Active Member
Ive had bad luck with these bristletooth tangs. Folks say they are easy but I've done killed a kole and a chevron, both were eating for several weeks then started hitting skinny then hiding then kaput. Very saddening.
Yeah, seems a lot of folks have issues with these until they're really settled in. I thought at 5 weeks I was in the clear. Feel terrible, but I really didn't have a chance to try anything.
Pfisherman
Active Member
Both of my bristletooths really saddened me. The first one was a kole and the guy at the lfs captured him on a Hawaiian trip. The other, a chevron, was chosen by my wife and named by her and I paid $135 for that joker. Forget those guys. My yellow tang is doing great.
Is this something that will linger in my system? Would a uv sterilizer help? Other fish seem fine for now, but will it affect any future tang i add? ( I won't be adding anything in the short term) I have coral, so I can't really medicate my main tank. Any other recommendations moving forward from this setback? I appreciate the help. I am still learning, but really trying to set myself up for success.
It's possible, but bacterial infections are far less transmissible than parasites. Mostly because a healthy fish's natural immune system is able to fight it off, and then it's one & done. As opposed to parasites that just keep coming back.
Running a UV would absolutely help right now. Eradicating harmful bacterium and algae spores are two things a UV is actually good for.
Soaking your fish's food in vitamin supplements (exs. Selcon, Zoecon, Vita-chem) would also be a good idea.
Awesome. Thanks so much for the help!It's possible, but bacterial infections are far less transmissible than parasites. Mostly because a healthy fish's natural immune system is able to fight it off, and then it's one & done. As opposed to parasites that just keep coming back.
Running a UV would absolutely help right now. Eradicating harmful bacterium and algae spores are two things a UV is actually good for.
Soaking your fish's food in vitamin supplements (exs. Selcon, Zoecon, Vita-chem) would also be a good idea.
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2015
- Messages
- 20,450
- Reaction score
- 47,597
- Location
- Carmel, Indiana
- What state or country do you live in
- Indiana
So true
