Sick Blue Hippo Tang

VetReefGuy57 · Sep 28, 2023

Hi all,

I need help identifying what is wrong with my Blue hippo. The dots started on his forehead. He was hiding next to a BTA so I thought he was just getting too close. But it has gotten worse and he just tried jumping out of the tank for the first time.

I have had him for a year. All tank parameters are normal and I have had no disease in my tank to date.

MnFish1 · Sep 28, 2023

It would help some if you could clean the glass since at least some of the lesions match the glass.

That said. I see HLLE, Possible ICH, Possible flukes. Can you see any other symptoms - how long you've had the fish, symptoms on other fish? The fins look frayed - any bullying? Your parameters? Have you initiated anyQT procedures. significant bacterial infection may also be responsible

vetteguy53081 · Sep 28, 2023

NJReef57 said:
Hi all,

I need help identifying what is wrong with my Blue hippo. The dots started on his forehead. He was hiding next to a BTA so I thought he was just getting too close. But it has gotten worse and he just tried jumping out of the tank for the first time.

I have had him for a year. All tank parameters are normal and I have had no disease in my tank to date.

This fish has Severe skin erosion and erosion. Problem with treatment is allowing the fish to get to this point. You can stabilize the condition with providing and maintaining the best water quality possible and focusing on a wide diet with some of the items listed below but restoration will not be possible. Any coral stings will go away on their own as long as fish avoids them.

Foods:

LRS herbivore diet
Formula 2 flake and frozen
TDO Pellets
small plankton
Hikari Marine cuisine
Ocean nutrition veggie diet
spirulina brine shrimp
mysis shrimp
Prime reef
Nori seaweed basted with garlic extract

Add selcon vitamins to foods occasionally

Jay Hemdal · Sep 28, 2023

NJReef57 said:
Hi all,

I need help identifying what is wrong with my Blue hippo. The dots started on his forehead. He was hiding next to a BTA so I thought he was just getting too close. But it has gotten worse and he just tried jumping out of the tank for the first time.

I have had him for a year. All tank parameters are normal and I have had no disease in my tank to date.

That is severe head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE). Once it gets started, in bad cases, it can also become infected. Here is an article about this malady:

Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE)

This article discusses studies performed regarding head and lateral line erosion in captive fishes. Specifically, carbon use and nutrition as they relate to this syndrome.

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

VetReefGuy57 · Sep 28, 2023

Thank you all for the follow up. HLLE seems to be it. I feel bad I let it get this bad. Just last week it was only his head and I thought he was getting too close to the Nem.

Is there any opinion on activated carbon being the cause?

I run a very small amount in a tumbler. I was reading that could be a cause. I will pull it from the tank to see improvement.

He eats TDO chroma boost pellets and frozen mysis. Won’t touch Nori.

Marquarium · Sep 28, 2023

NJReef57 said:
Thank you all for the follow up. HLLE seems to be it. I feel bad I let it get this bad. Just last week it was only his head and I thought he was getting too close to the Nem.

Is there any opinion on activated carbon being the cause?

I run a very small amount in a tumbler. I was reading that could be a cause. I will pull it from the tank to see improvement.

He eats TDO chroma boost pellets and frozen mysis. Won’t touch Nori.

I don't think you're supposed to tumble activated carbon

Based on this thread some people even mentioned it could lead to HLLE

Tumbling Carbon Tumbling vs. Not?

I'm curious what other's opinion are on this matter. I know BRS' opinion on this, but I personally have had bad experiences with not tumbling carbon in a reactor. What happens every time I tried using carbon and not tumbling, the flow through the reactor would weaken to the point of around 10%...

www.reef2reef.com

You got some of the best guys on this site already commenting too. Wish your blue hippo luck!