Received purple tang with HLLE

[newfly]

First time ordering online from I think it’s a reputable seller. Fedex shipment got delayed and arrived 2 days later. Fish survived luckily.

the bad news is the tang have sign of HLLE. I email the vendor , hopefully he will response.

what’s my option here? Am I out of luck? I’m super disappointed that I didn’t get a healthy fish. It’s an expensive fish to boot.

the fish is still recovering from the shipping stress. Hope the fish recover.

very frustrating experience

 

[JumboShrimp]

Let’s see a decent side-photo

 

[newfly]

This is the best pic I can take. The fish hides behind the heater most of the time

 

[Tamberav]

Most the purple tangs I see come in have HLLE. They may not have to do anything if it’s not a WYSIWYG as it’s pretty typical to get less then perfect fish. My last online tang order showed up super skinny one with pinched belly. Sadly it’s not surprising as wholesalers are not going to condition or fix these fish for us or even set up to.

If you go on DD you will see they have their purples marked down because they have HLLE. Many are just coming in like this for whatever reason.

 

[JumboShrimp]

To me, that seems severe for a legit sale.

 

[Thaxxx]

That's pretty sad.
I hope the vendor compensates you.

 

[newfly]

The vendor claimed the fish leave the facility healthy. I only got the fish 2 days ago. It’s hard to tell the fish condition on day 1 because the fish is super stressed and turn pale and white. I thought it is just stress.

i send the vendor the pic.

could stress from shipping cause HLLE ?

 

[JumboShrimp]

Within 2 days— that extent of lateral line “erosion”? I’m not buying it (pun).

 

[newfly]

Within 2 days— that extent of lateral line “erosion”? I’m not buying it (pun).

Yeah I figure as much. Let see how the vendor plan on responding. I am ticked even thinking about it.

Even if he refund me 100% I’m still stuck with this fish. Can’t get myself to get rid of it. My tank won’t fit 2 tang.

Arg...

 

[Reef.]

Do you have a tube or something for it to hide in? If it's trying to hide behind a heater.

 

[newfly]

Do you have a tube or something for it to hide in? If it's trying to hide behind a heater.

I have pvc elbow in the tank. He still likes to hide behind the heater.

 

[Kershaw]

Yeah I figure as much. Let see how the vendor plan on responding. I am ticked even thinking about it.

Even if he refund me 100% I’m still stuck with this fish. Can’t get myself to get rid of it. My tank won’t fit 2 tang.

Arg...

If the vender gives some or all of your money back or even if he does not just fatten that sucker up and sell to another reefer. I personally don’t mind a fish with HLLE if it’s a good deal. with a good diet the fish could still look stunning.

 

[Kershaw]

Not saying it’s ok they sold you a fish in that condition just don’t stress over it. Hopefully the vender does the right thing

 

[lion king]

Sorry that happened to you, and the fish. Hlle doesn't happen overnight, I would not call them a reputable vendor. The best remedy I've found for hlle, live macro algae and good water quality of course.

 

[najer]

Sorry that happened to you, and the fish. Hlle doesn't happen overnight, I would not call them a reputable vendor. The best remedy I've found for hlle, live macro algae and good water quality of course.

Exactly this but not cheato, I got this as a one inch rescue that was not eating, solid three inch fish now, I took this yesterday and showed my daughter, "that's one punk fish" was her reply.

 

[newfly]

Update on this thread.

moved the tang to the DT after 14days QT. I was planning 30days but since the tang is not doing too well in QT, decided to take the calculated risk to move to DT. In just a couple of days, the coloration improved significantly and the lateral white lines near the head almost disappeared! Maybe it’s sign of stress? The tang is still shy but roaming btw the rocks and grazing on diatoms. Tank is 3+ months old.

feeding selcon soaked nori and pe mysis pellets everyday. He is not interested in frozen food suprisingly.

 

[vetteguy53081]

With HLLE, often providing Good water conditions and diet will do wonders.
Assure youre providing ideal parameters especially with ammonia and nitrates and reduce use of carbon for a temporary period. Some supplements along with foods will be beneficial. Recommended:
Spirulina brine shrimp
Nori seaweed basted with garlic extract
LRS Herbivore diet
Formula 2 flake and frozen
Hikari Marine cuisine
Hikari Mega marine algae
Mysis shrimp
small plankton

Add selcon vitamins to the food 2-3X per week and garlic extract on alternating days for immunity system health and overall stamina

 

[newfly]

With HLLE, often providing Good water conditions and diet will do wonders.
Assure youre providing ideal parameters especially with ammonia and nitrates and reduce use of carbon for a temporary period. Some supplements along with foods will be beneficial. Recommended:
Spirulina brine shrimp
Nori seaweed basted with garlic extract
LRS Herbivore diet
Formula 2 flake and frozen
Hikari Marine cuisine
Hikari Mega marine algae
Mysis shrimp
small plankton

Add selcon vitamins to the food 2-3X per week and garlic extract on alternating days for immunity system health and overall stamina

My DT parameters:

0 ammonia,
~5 nitrates
1.025 salinity
400 calcium
1260 mag
8.6 dkH

The tang is too shy to join the feeding frenzy. No other fish will eat Nori, so no competition. He will graze on the nori for about 4-5 hours. Other tankmates includes chromis, clowns and neon dottyback (a mellow one)

Other than that, the only other food he will eat is pellets that sink to the bottom. Soaking the pellets with selcon will make it sink, so perfect for the tang.

I'll slowly add more variety of food.

 

[Beau_B]

I have a similar story: got my purple at 2-3in about 6wks ago. He too had some hlle signs, nothing deep but definitely white areas. I was disappointed, but carried on. After copper QT he was in rough shape but transferred into DT. Now after 2wks of eating ulva he’s gotten fat and the hlle is completely gone.

 

[vetteguy53081]

My DT parameters:

0 ammonia,
~5 nitrates
1.025 salinity
400 calcium
1260 mag
8.6 dkH

The tang is too shy to join the feeding frenzy. No other fish will eat Nori, so no competition. He will graze on the nori for about 4-5 hours. Other tankmates includes chromis, clowns and neon dottyback (a mellow one)

Other than that, the only other food he will eat is pellets that sink to the bottom. Soaking the pellets with selcon will make it sink, so perfect for the tang.

I'll slowly add more variety of food.

Zero ammonia - are you using API test kit ?