Kole tang rescue

Sistawolf · Jul 21, 2016

ok @Humblefish and @melypr1985 i am on my way home with a very sick purple tang.. I went into petco and talked the guy into letting me take this fish and try and rescue him.. He said that just got him in Tuesday but he's defiantly on his last leg.. Of course I will need you guys help in identifying and curing this.. What should I do to start with right when I get him home? looks like fin rot but could be al sorts of things..

Sistawolf · Jul 21, 2016

Another view.. Sorry this is the best I could do due to their nasty tanks

melypr1985 · Jul 21, 2016

That would be a yellow eye kole tang. Just for future reference. He looks like he's having a pretty bad day there, but I can't see enough of him to tell what's going on. Is he breathing heavy at all?

melypr1985 · Jul 21, 2016

You can follow the salvage protocol with him and see if that helps him. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/alprazos-salvage-protocol.213599/

Sistawolf · Jul 21, 2016

melypr1985 said:
That would be a yellow eye kole tang. Just for future reference. He looks like he's having a pretty bad day there, but I can't see enough of him to tell what's going on. Is he breathing heavy at all?

I couldn't tell in the aquarium.. I do know he was trying to swim upright after he put him in a bag. But I'm driving home now to get him into qt.. His fin is bad looking

Sistawolf · Jul 21, 2016

@melypr1985 he is breathing somewhat heavy.. It's just his left side. He has white spots like discolored scales on that side and his fin is choppy like he got caught in something.. He was by himself in the tank..

DLHDesign · Jul 21, 2016

Good luck!

(Following)

Humblefish · Jul 21, 2016

melypr1985 said:
You can follow the salvage protocol with him and see if that helps him. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/alprazos-salvage-protocol.213599/

^^ This. Any evidence of ich or velvet (tiny white dots) on the fins or body?

Sistawolf · Jul 21, 2016

Humblefish said:
^^ This. Any evidence of ich or velvet (tiny white dots) on the fins or body?

No none

Humblefish · Jul 21, 2016

Sistawolf said:
No none

Breathing heavy?

Sistawolf · Jul 21, 2016

View My Video
I can't get this video to upload here so click link
@Humblefish @melypr1985

recess62 · Jul 21, 2016

So sad and infuriating. Good luck

Sistawolf · Jul 21, 2016

What should I do first he's in the bag?

Sistawolf · Jul 21, 2016

@Humblefish

Humblefish · Jul 21, 2016

Looks like he's got some cuts on one side, so probably gonna need antibiotics. Do you think he could handle a FW dip to check for flukes? Does he seem strong enough for that?

Eva Rose · Jul 21, 2016

Good luck -admire you for trying to save him.

melypr1985 · Jul 21, 2016

I agree. A freshwater dip would be a good start -only if he's got the strength for it. I think if the FW dip comes back negative for flukes I would start with antibiotics. Like the triple threat - furan 2, metroplex, kanaplex. Hit him with all of it to knock out any infection going on there followed by TTM if velvet hasn't shown to be an issue.

Humblefish · Jul 21, 2016

Freshwater Dip: Provides temporary relief for Brooklynella, Flukes & "Black Ich", Marine Velvet disease (Amyloodinium); possibly even Ich & Uronema marinum (both unproven). Can be used to confirm the presence of Flukes.

How To Treat - Fill a bucket with RODI water, and use a heater to match the temperature to the water the fish is coming from. Aerate the water heavily for at least 30 minutes prior to doing the dip, then discontinue aeration while performing the dip. Fish aren’t overly pH sensitive for short durations like this, but you can squirt a little tank water into the dip just before the fish goes in to help bring it up.

Place the fish in the freshwater (FW) dip and observe closely. It is not unusual for them to freak out a little at first. Also, tangs are notorious for “playing dead” during a FW dip. The important thing is to watch their gills; they should be breathing heavily at all times during the dip. If breathing slows, it’s time to exit the dip. Dip the fish for no longer than 5 minutes. Multiple dips may be done, but it’s important to give your fish a day to recuperate in-between dips.

For flukes, use a dark (preferably black) bucket so you can see if tiny white worms fall out of the fish (especially out of the gills) at around the 3-4 minute mark. The worms will settle to the bottom, so you can use a flashlight to look for them there as well.

Pros - Provides temporary relief for a wide range of diseases in a chemical free environment. Can “buy you more time” until a proper treatment can be done.

Cons/Side Effects - Not a permanent “fix” for any disease, as FW dips are not potent enough to eradicate all of the parasites/worms afflicting the fish. Some fish can have an adverse reaction to a FW dip by appearing unable to maintain their equilibrium once returned to the aquarium. If this happens, hold the fish upright (using latex, nitrile or rubber gloves), and gently glide him through the water (to get saltwater flowing through the gills again). It is also a good idea to place the fish in an acclimation box until he appears “normal”.