My gold rim tang

Ana Zaragoza · Aug 21, 2018

hey guys!

So I have a question, and I’m hoping you guys can help me out. I have a 3 to 4 inch gold rim tang in my 400 gallon tank and he seems to be having some discoloration on his body. It can’t be nutrition because I feed my tangs veggie rounds and seaweed daily. I haven’t worried too much because he is still eating REALLY good. I just want to know if this is common, or should I worry???

nereefpat · Aug 21, 2018

Hmmm.

How long have you had it? Supposedly not as hardy as japonicus.

Did you qt?

Greens are great, but I would try to mix it up a bit.

Ana Zaragoza · Aug 21, 2018

I’ve had it for over 9 months now, it was about 2 inches when it was given to me, and now it’s about 3 to 4 inches. I quarantined for about 5 weeks, and no ich outbreak has occurred at all. Like I said, it is still eating really well, and there is no odd behavior, it’s just those discoloration marks that bug me.

eatbreakfast · Aug 22, 2018

Are those marks always in the same places? It looks like scale damage from fighting or scratching.

Ana Zaragoza · Aug 22, 2018

eatbreakfast said:
Are those marks always in the same places? It looks like scale damage from fighting or scratching.

Yeah they’re always in the same spot. I have been thinking about that because I have seen him like scratch on the rocks, but then again he’s been doing that ever since I got him. I introduced the rest of my tangs about 2 months after I got him but there was never any aggression shown.

jda · Aug 22, 2018

You need to mix in some other food sources. Tangs are omnivores, not obligate herbivores. Some New Life Spectrum pellets or mysis are a good idea and could really help with this.

I pretty much only feed my fish NLS pellets (tons of spirulina in there), mysis and Formula 2 pellets... I have had my purple and chocolate tang for 14 years and my yellows about a decade. They are fat, happy and not aggressive at all.

Ana Zaragoza · Aug 22, 2018

jda said:
You need to mix in some other food sources. Tangs are omnivores, not obligate herbivores. Some New Life Spectrum pellets or mysis are a good idea and could really help with this.

I pretty much only feed my fish NLS pellets (tons of spirulina in there), mysis and Formula 2 pellets... I have had my purple and chocolate tang for 14 years and my yellows about a decade. They are fat, happy and not aggressive at all.

I do offer a variety of food. I’m feeding omega one freeze dried brine shrimp, hikari mysis shrimp, and even some flake food as well since I have a really big tank. The seaweed and veggie pellets are also a daily thing.

4FordFamily · Aug 22, 2018

I have nothing for you. It could be stress but I’m wondering if there’s something going on internally. I’m not sure what I’d recommend. I can’t see any harm in trying to treat for internal parasites with General Cure soaked food with Focus by Seachem to keep it bonded. Try this for 10-14 days.

Ana Zaragoza · Aug 22, 2018

4FordFamily said:
I have nothing for you. It could be stress but I’m wondering if there’s something going on internally. I’m not sure what I’d recommend. I can’t see any harm in trying to treat for internal parasites with General Cure soaked food with Focus by Seachem to keep it bonded. Try this for 10-14 days.

Well if it won’t harm it, I’m willing to try it out. I just don’t know why it has that discoloration. There’s no odd behavior or aggression, and it’s still eating really good. Sometimes I observe it and the marks are gone, but most of the time I can see them.

eatbreakfast · Aug 23, 2018

Ana Zaragoza said:
Yeah they’re always in the same spot. I have been thinking about that because I have seen him like scratch on the rocks, but then again he’s been doing that ever since I got him. I introduced the rest of my tangs about 2 months after I got him but there was never any aggression shown.

In that case my best guess is just a form of stress markings.

Maritimer · Aug 23, 2018

Something that Humblefish posted a while back, might be worth a look: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tang-fingerprint-disease.335665/

"Tang Fingerprint Disease"

~Bruce

Ana Zaragoza · Aug 28, 2018

Maritimer said:
Something that Humblefish posted a while back, might be worth a look: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tang-fingerprint-disease.335665/

"Tang Fingerprint Disease"

~Bruce

Yesssss! That’s exactly what happens to my gold rim.. there’s times when you are able to see the discoloration, and then there’s times where it looks completely fine. He is still eating and swimming normally so I haven’t worried so much.