Hey guys i just got a new blue tang from my lfs and he doesn't seem to be doing well. When i got him from the store he looked fine and was very active and gave the worker quite the case. But when i got him home he seemed very lethargic while i was acclimatising him to my tank. I then gave him a freshwater dip for 5 min and put him in my tank at which point he was pushed into the corner by the flow so i turned it all off and waited for him to start swimming on his own which only took a few min and he seemed fine. But when i woke up this morning he was sitting at the top in the corner with his mouth towards the top. I could get him to move slightly by putting my hand near him but he only moved a little bit and then returned to the top. He doesn't appear to be trying to breath from the top but he is gilling quite quickly. He goes have a slight white spot that i thought might be fluke but it did nothing in the freshwater and his tail fin looks like it might be damaged. Any help or advice would be appreciated.
New tang acting sick
- Thread starter ReeferJustin
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HotRocks
Fish Fanatic!
They are different from all other tangs. They like to hide and do stange things.
Although, you may still have something going on they are certainly tough to gauge.
Did anything come off of the fish during the dip?
Do you plan to treat for anything prophylactically?
Although, you may still have something going on they are certainly tough to gauge.
Did anything come off of the fish during the dip?
Do you plan to treat for anything prophylactically?
Thanks for the quick reply. Nothing came of in the dip. And as for treatment im not really sure what i could/ should do if anything.
MSB123
Someone out there put something smart here.
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
Is that a reddish area on the fish's side behind the gill cover? Is that an accurate observation? If so, you may be dealing with an infection in addition to white spot. If there is nowhere else to hide, his behavior wouldn't necessarily alarm me. Up near the surface and heavy breathing may be indicative of flukes, ich, or velvet affecting the gills. Oftentimes, before you see spots on the body of the fish, the gills have been attacked for quite some time before.
Silly question, did you test ammonia? Do you have an ammonia alert badge?
I also agree with the airstone suggestion, it does sound like something is ailing the gills. Whether that's parasites, bacteria, ammonia, low oxygen, or all of the above -- hopefully we can dial that in for you.
Silly question, did you test ammonia? Do you have an ammonia alert badge?
I also agree with the airstone suggestion, it does sound like something is ailing the gills. Whether that's parasites, bacteria, ammonia, low oxygen, or all of the above -- hopefully we can dial that in for you.
The tank has had fish in it for almost 2 months it was cycled for a month before that. It's a 110g with a 40g sump total water volume after rocks and sump is about 120g. The water has stayed stable for 2 months at the following parameters.
1.025 salinity
0 ammonia
0 nitrites
0 nitrates
0 phosphate
26c temp
Ph 8.2
And if your worried about air none of my other fish have showed any sign plus i have a fuge and a large amount of surface break i add about 2.5g a day in top off.
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
This makes me think you're dealing with something damaging the gills, then. Perhaps ich, flukes, or velvet is at play in the gills.
If i were you, I'd start by catching the fish (sounds like it won't be a challenge) and perform a 5 minute freshwater dip in a dark bucket. Match the temp to the tank's temp as best you can. Look for white "sesame seeds" coming off after the dip (which is why I suggest the dark bucket).
If this yields nothing, I'd say that it's likely ich or velvet is at play damaging the gills and it'll need a methelene blue bath for gill relief, followed by treatment in copper. You'd need to treat all of your fish and run your tank fallow for 76 days to starve it off in the display tank and quarantine incoming fish.
I am more concerned about what I think looks like an infection on the side of the fish there.
I preformed a 5 min freshwater dip before i added him to the tank and nothing came off. when I got home from work he was still in the same corner of the tank facing the surface, I watched for a while but not once did he gulp at the surface just sat there. When I turned off the pumps for feeding he sprang to life and started eating the mysis shrimp I put in. Im also not sure what you see that might look like an infection in the pictures what one is it in and where? I also plan to my a methelene bath once I get to the lfs and get some.
I managed to snag a better picture of him while he was sleeping. since he ate he seems to be acting much better but he still has a bit of white on his side that I am concerned about, did buy some methylene blue but I have yet to start treatment I was hoping to get a bit more input on his latest behavior before I went through with the treatment.
As mentioned earlier, they are "different". Mine spooks easily and can often be found attached to the filter intake. Unfortunately, based on recent testimonies, I personally assume that ALL fish I buy from LFS are infected with something.
On the plus side, you are in good hands here. These guys know what they are talking about.
On the plus side, you are in good hands here. These guys know what they are talking about.
