I have 20yrs experience with Tangs
Tangs will get ICH if stressed due to:
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Poor Immune System due to low to medium food quality. Using a garlic supplement doesn't cure ICH (meaning the garlic doesn't boost their immunity). Adding garlic supplements only sparks the Tang to eat more and more food which equals a better immune system...BUT.... if you are feeding low nutrient foods, the amt of food needed, pollutes the tank with Tang POOP. SOLUTION, buy a liquid vitamin supplement (like Selcon or Vita-Chem) to lightly soak every food you use before feeding the fish. The GOAL is to feed Tangs with the highest form of nutrition without all the food volume. Food should have a high nutritional PUNCH. Captive tangs should be feed lightly with a high-impact nutritional food, not heavy feeding with a lot of waste.
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Water Temp Swings larger than 5 degrees. Especially if the temp change is immediate. Gradual swings are ok but not optimal. Best to keep swings under 2 degrees. Stress=ICH
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Salinity changes where the salinity in a matter of hours goes UP. salinity going down is fine, but a semi-immediate increase in salinity will produce stress. Again Stress=ICH
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Low oxygen levels. Poor water quality with super high NO3/PO4 will grab oxygen right out of the water bc algae is always first in line to consume nutrients and oxygen. If oxygen is not optimal, Stress=ICH
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Bullying. If another fish bullies a tang for territory, the Tang does have the option to swim beyond the glass box to submit to giving up territory. Stress=ICH
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African Cleaner Wrasses / Cleaner Shrimp are great bc they pick at the Tangs outer layer and keep the Tang clean. A clean Tang is a happy tang that has low stress. Just think of how better you feel after a nice shower. It improves your health and well being. Same with Tangs getting cleaned by wrasses or shrimp
So to review, TWO major factors in keeping Tangs happy bc a happy Tang is an ICH free Tang
1) superior nutrition with a vitamin supplement to boost immunity. Their food must be packed with essential vitamins. Just feeding them Mysis and Nori will not promote a long-lasting healthy immune system. Period. You want a Tang to last you 10yrs? Feed them vitamin supplements....
2) low low stress levels giving them stable water temp, salinity, territories, high oxygen levels, and a wrasse/clean to keep them clean
