Please help!!!!

Brandonsegula · May 2, 2017

For a week I've been trying to treat my new spotted bristletooth tang with ich. I've been using dr.gs anti-parasite medicine. All fish and other tang eats it but the bristletooth tang. The other thing I've seen him eat is little bits of nori. He also used to graze. That has all stopped now he just hide and eats a little only the nori nothing else and he won't even eat much of it. I have now started treating the tank with mardels parashield. I know everyone will tel me this is snake oil. It's my only shot to help save him. I tried catching him but can't because of my rock work and reef. Please give me advice

Here's a picture you can't see the ich in the picture but this is how skinny he now is. Also can see his bladder now?

Shaddow_wolf169 · May 2, 2017

Freshwater dip for 10 minute and acclam ate him back to your tank. If he has flukes they will fall off he will play dead at first that's what they do.

Brandonsegula · May 2, 2017

Shaddow_wolf169 said:
Freshwater dip for 10 minute and acclam ate him back to your tank. If he has flukes they will fall off he will play dead at first that's what they do.

My problem is I can't catch him. He hides between these rocks and I have them epoxied. It's been impossible to get him tried three days for almost 5 hours the one day.

ngoodermuth · May 2, 2017

He looks bad :/ I know you don't want to hear this, but the only way to treat him is by moving him and your other fish to QT.

I think I see some small spots on the tail and fins, is that what you are thinking is ich? Is it fine, almost dusty spots? If so, I'm thinking you might actually be dealing with velvet.

That, and maybe internal parasites/infection.

Calling in the big wigs: @Humblefish @4FordFamily @melypr1985

melypr1985 · May 2, 2017

I also see the small spots on the fins. He looks extremely thin. I agree that the best way to treat this fish is in a QT... of course if you are going to treat one, treat them all. I would certainly start with a freshwater dip and then into QT for copper treatment. Of course that could be a double edged sword that may keep his appetite suppressed. I'd do the freshwater dip and see what that shows.

Brandonsegula · May 2, 2017

ngoodermuth said:
He looks bad :/ I know you don't want to hear this, but the only way to treat him is by moving him and your other fish to QT.

I think I see some small spots on the tail and fins, is that what you are thinking is ich? Is it fine, almost dusty spots? If so, I'm thinking you might actually be dealing with velvet.

That, and maybe internal parasites/infection.

Calling in the big wigs: @Humblefish @4FordFamily @melypr1985

I've dealt with this before with my other tang. Treated it as ich and it cleared up and never seen it again. He's the only fish that has it. And he's had it for almost two weeks. So I'm pretty sure it's just ich.

klesel · May 2, 2017

I agree copper is very effective treatment best to have copper test kit as well but needs be in qt first don't treat in main will wipe out everything. Also medicated food will really speed it up !

4FordFamily · May 2, 2017

ngoodermuth said:
He looks bad :/ I know you don't want to hear this, but the only way to treat him is by moving him and your other fish to QT.

I think I see some small spots on the tail and fins, is that what you are thinking is ich? Is it fine, almost dusty spots? If so, I'm thinking you might actually be dealing with velvet.

That, and maybe internal parasites/infection.

Calling in the big wigs: @Humblefish @4FordFamily @melypr1985

I don't see many spots or much, but my first overarching observation is that this fish is VERY emaciated. That's probably the fatal component of all of this unfortunately, add what I agree looks like velvet, if anything.

You need to get that fish eating ASAP - live brine, live blackworms, red nori. The trifecta! It may be too late I fear;

Brandonsegula · May 2, 2017

4FordFamily said:
I don't see many spots or much, but my first overarching observation is that this fish is VERY emaciated. That's probably the fatal component of all of this unfortunately, add what I agree looks like velvet, if anything.

You need to get that fish eating ASAP - live brine, live blackworms, red nori. The trifecta! It may be too late I fear;

He's eating a little. Just not a lot. It's not velvet I'm positive. I'm treating the tank for parasite. Reef safe remedy

4FordFamily · May 2, 2017

Brandonsegula said:
He's eating a little. Just not a lot. It's not velvet I'm positive. I'm treating the tank for parasite. Reef safe remedy

Reef safe remedy is basically code for snake oil, unfortunately. You'll not clear up any ailment with spots with any reef safe remedy, unfortunately

drawman · May 2, 2017

Can you take the epoxied rock out? I would bite the bullet and try to catch him if I were you. As others have said with a fish that emaciated you need to act quickly. The tailfin almost appears to have a velvet like dusting but it's hard to say.

Brandonsegula · May 2, 2017

drawman said:
Can you take the epoxied rock out? I would bite the bullet and try to catch him if I were you. As others have said with a fish that emaciated you need to act quickly. The tailfin almost appears to have a velvet like dusting but it's hard to say.

If it was velvet wouldn't all the fish have it? Also if it was velvet he would've died already? It's been to long to be velvet from my knowledge and experience.

4FordFamily · May 2, 2017

Brandonsegula said:
If it was velvet wouldn't all the fish have it? Also if it was velvet he would've died already? It's been to long to be velvet from my knowledge and experience.

There is not a steadfast rule. I will say that fish is on its last leg, so spots that small and a fish that thin point me in that direction. If the fish is eating and it's still that thin, especially.

Brandonsegula · May 2, 2017

4FordFamily said:
There is not a steadfast rule. I will say that fish is on its last leg, so spots that small and a fish that thin point me in that direction. If the fish is eating and it's still that thin, especially.

I really hope it pulls through.

drawman · May 2, 2017

4FordFamily said:
There is not a steadfast rule. I will say that fish is on its last leg, so spots that small and a fish that thin point me in that direction. If the fish is eating and it's still that thin, especially.

+1 and it can be introduced by anything wet with any new additions so even with best intentions it can be hard to track unless you quarantine absolutely everything...and in that case you would never have it.

Brandonsegula · May 3, 2017

You guys think feeding it live brine will help him eat something

4FordFamily · May 3, 2017

Brandonsegula said:
You guys think feeding it live brine will help him eat something

Yes it can. Tangs find it irresistible. Try live blackworms also. Both different types of movement sure to elicit a feeding response if it has any chance.

Brandonsegula · May 3, 2017

4FordFamily said:
Yes it can. Tangs find it irresistible. Try live blackworms also. Both different types of movement sure to elicit a feeding response if it has any chance.

I'll buy some today. Do black work live in the substrate?