Listless Gem Tang

randoma · Jul 31, 2020

I have a pair of gem tangs that I've had for about a year. Recently one of them started looking very listless and seems to have trouble staying upright. Also, she became extremely pale. She is still eating, but she spits the food out about 3/4 of the time. Mostly she just stays in one spot all the time and continually starts to fall over and then right herself.

This started about 7-10 days ago. All the other fish are doing well.

Short video: Gem Tang Video

The video doesn't really show how pale she is - she used to be nearly black, but now ranges from light gray to dark gray.

Any ideas?

Qasimja · Jul 31, 2020

shes definitely breathing heavy and looks to be struggling hopefully someone with more knowledge can help do you have a QT setup?

fishguy242 · Jul 31, 2020

hi best wishes, #reefsquad

Billldg · Jul 31, 2020

@Big G , @4FordFamily , @HotRocks , any ideas?

randoma · Jul 31, 2020

Qasimja said:
shes definitely breathing heavy and looks to be struggling hopefully someone with more knowledge can help do you have a QT setup?

I do have a QT available, but was hoping to get some idea of what might be wrong before I took the tank apart to catch her.

fishguy242 · Jul 31, 2020

i am by far no expert,but thinking swim bladder issue

Redfoxtang · Jul 31, 2020

With the heavy breathing and staying stationary like that almost seems like she’s being bullied. Have you noticed any fighting or bullying with her and other tangs? I would definitely try and pull her out and QT to help her heal and eat without competition. A dip in methylene blue wouldn’t hurt as well before putting her in QT.

Methylene Blue

Methylene Blue What It Treats – Healing agent which treats ammonia burn, abrasions, cuts. Mild antiparasitic/antibacterial properties. Will possibly detoxify a fish that has been exposed to cyanide poisoning. Probably one of the best “first response” treatments for a sick fish. How To Treat –...

www.reef2reef.com

randoma · Aug 1, 2020

Redfoxtang said:
With the heavy breathing and staying stationary like that almost seems like she’s being bullied. Have you noticed any fighting or bullying with her and other tangs? I would definitely try and pull her out and QT to help her heal and eat without competition. A dip in methylene blue wouldn’t hurt as well before putting her in QT.

Methylene Blue

Methylene Blue What It Treats – Healing agent which treats ammonia burn, abrasions, cuts. Mild antiparasitic/antibacterial properties. Will possibly detoxify a fish that has been exposed to cyanide poisoning. Probably one of the best “first response” treatments for a sick fish. How To Treat –...

www.reef2reef.com

Bullying was my first thought, but I haven't seen anything unusual. There haven't been any changes in this tank for over six months and the pair of gem tangs, until recently, always used to hang out together. It is possible that they're growing out of their friendly juvenile phase though. Anyway, I'll see if I can catch her.....

There is also a powder brown who terrorizes the firefish (!) but I've never seen him be aggressive to the gem tangs.

fishguy242 said:
i am by far no expert,but thinking swim bladder issue

My second thought was a swim bladder issue, but I have no idea how to treat that.

fishguy242 · Aug 1, 2020

lets try again #reefsquad

vetteguy53081 · Aug 1, 2020

Aggression issue and I would stand back and observe tank as to who the culprit is.
Assure it is getting something to eat and test your tank to assure no issues with ammonia/nitrate or high temperature.
Salinity range should be 1.024-1.025. Just assuring adequate oxygen factors.

nereefpat · Aug 1, 2020

My guess would be compatibility between some of the tangs too.

How big is the tank, and what is the list of tangs?

cancun · Aug 1, 2020

Following..... keeping my fingers crossed for her!!!

NashobaTek · Aug 1, 2020

Not sure what the yellow brown fish is in the video but it seems to threaten the other one

fishguy242 · Aug 1, 2020

gold rim or powder brown ,noticed that too,but think was 6 second video looped

4FordFamily · Aug 1, 2020

She is breathing heavily— it could be anything. Any signs of parasites in the tank?

If it was bullying, it often worsens when they sense weakness. If it’s not worse or noticeable I doubt that’s the culprit

randoma · Aug 2, 2020

It is a 75 gallon tank plumbed into a larger system with a total of ~380 gallons of water. This particular tank has 1 powder brown, 2 gem tangs, a trio of clowns, 3 small anthias, 2 cleaner gobies, a pair of target mandarins (which spawn with regularity) and several firefish.

This morning when I went into the fish room, I stayed away from the tank and watched from afar. The gem tang was normally colored and was swimming around happily.

I watched, quietly, for about 5-10 minutes - the entire time she seemed perfectly normal. As soon as I approached, she started to get paler and after 2-3 minutes of me standing in front of the tanks, feeding everyone, she went back to her heavy breathing, pale coloration, hanging out in one place behavior. I also noticed that her abdomen appears to be somewhat extended, but she did eat a lot before I noticed that.....

So, apparently she is terrified of me???

randoma · Aug 2, 2020

I just went down again (fish room is in the basement) and she did the exact same thing again. Perfectly normal until she sees me..... I promise I haven't been using whips and chains on the fish!!!

Hmm. About a week ago, actually about when this started, I cleaned all of the powerheads in the tank and the glass on all four sides and made a couple small changes to the rock work. And then I used a net to catch the floating debris. Is it possible she is still afraid of me from that????

NashobaTek · Aug 2, 2020

Good possibility

nereefpat · Aug 2, 2020

randoma said:
75 gallon tank ....... has 1 powder brown, 2 gem tangs

If the problem isn't aggression now, I would bet that you will have trouble with that in the future, as the tangs mature.

I haven't kept a gem before, but if they're anything like their other Zebrasoma cousins, 2 will be tough in a 75. And powder browns can be really active and sometimes territorial.

Hope that helps.

randoma · Aug 2, 2020

nereefpat said:
If the problem isn't aggression now, I would bet that you will have trouble with that in the future, as the tangs mature.

I haven't kept a gem before, but if they're anything like their other Zebrasoma cousins, 2 will be tough in a 75. And powder browns can be really active and sometimes territorial.

Hope that helps.

They're supposed to be in the 360 gallon 'display' which I was supposed to finish setting up last year........ Sadly, sometimes things take a lot longer than I want them to!