Purple Tang help

[linjen1975]

I’m not sure if those is a disease or not he/she has been like this for quite some time and I’ve had him or her for a couple years and I just want to see if anyone has any thoughts on if it is a disease or if it’s normal coloring for a purple tang… all water parameters are within normal range I clean and change water weekly

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

That is Not normal coloring. That is quintessential head and lateral line erosion, also known as HLLE.

This problem is commonly indicative of poor water quality, overcrowding fish / tank stress, lack of crucial elements in food.


What is your feeding regiment? Tank info?

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is extreme hlle and is often triggered by poor water quality and/or diet
Poor water quality can be as simple as high ammonia or nitrate
What foods are you feeding?

 

[MnFish1]

Also (I don't know how to locate it) @Jay Hemdal wrote up an experiment/article which seemed to implicate the use of certain types of carbon (activated carbon) in the tank. As others have said - how large (length) is your tang) - to me it looks somewhat small - possibly indicating a nutritional issue. Do you feed any 'green' algae-type foods? (which can benefit tangs)

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’m not sure if those is a disease or not he/she has been like this for quite some time and I’ve had him or her for a couple years and I just want to see if anyone has any thoughts on if it is a disease or if it’s normal coloring for a purple tang… all water parameters are within normal range I clean and change water weekly

Hi,

That is pretty classic head and lateral line erosion. Two studies (mine and one from Disney) have shown that activated carbon use causes this. Once exposed, the problem usually does not go away (unless caught very early on). Once the scars have been developed for months to a year, it is permanent.

Diet and water quality are often cited as causes, but that was not shown to be the case in my second, unpublished study.

With purple tangs, they develop this fairly readily and early on, soon after capture. I have to wonder if the Red Sea collecting stations use a lot of carbon? I've seen importers having to sell these as "factory seconds" because they are already showing lesions. Normally, with with HLLE don't show lesions until they have been in a home aquarium for some time.

Here is a link my my article on this topic:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/head-and-lateral-line-erosion-hlle.784/

Jay

 

[linjen1975]

That is Not normal coloring. That is quintessential head and lateral line erosion, also known as HLLE.

This problem is commonly indicative of poor water quality, overcrowding fish / tank stress, lack of crucial elements in food.


What is your feeding regiment? Tank info?

He’s had that coloring for 2 years so I don’t think that’s what it is

 

[Clownreef]

HLLE..

Was he exposed to copper for an extended period of time? Sadly the damage won't be reversed.

Feed lots and lots of nori, improve its living conditions ASAP.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

He’s had that coloring for 2 years so I don’t think that’s what it is

Ya may not think so, but that is HLLE. if it's has it for 2 years, then it's had it for 2 years..

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

He’s had that coloring for 2 years so I don’t think that’s what it is

It is HLLE, did you read the article I posted the link to? I know it is a bit of a long read, but it will help you understand the issue.

Jay

 

[Peg Leg Polyp]

If previously mentioned I appologize, will keep this very cut and dry:
HLLE confirmed, relatively common and can be reversed to a degree.
-Improve diet, lots of nori, soak in selcon would be a bonus. Supplement with
-If using carbon, only use ROX, no need to rinse. Use at significantly lower amounts than you would use with other carbons.

 

[linjen1975]

HLLE..

Was he exposed to copper for an extended period of time? Sadly the damage won't be reversed.

Feed lots and lots of nori, improve its living conditions ASAP.

I never use copper to treat anything it’s just to iffy…He eats lots of seaweed 4-6 times a week plus frozen food and his living conditions are good all the water perimeters nitrate nitrite and ammonia are at 0…tank is cleaned every week with 30-50% water changes