Tang laying on the bottom. What do I do?

[Lylelovett]

Hi all,

I just found my Convict Tang laying on the bottom. Eyes moving, gills moving, pectoral fins moving a little.

No signs of sting from my rabbitfish. It was seemingly perfectly fine an hour so ago. No other fish are affected in any way at all.

This is my first "sick" fish that I caught when it was still alive/dying. I've moved it to my refugium for now in a safe place.

I'm working on setting up a QT tank, but dunno if that's going to happen right away unfortunately.

I'm quite honestly not sure what first steps are in a situation like this.

I was wondering if a freshwater dip would help or hurt at this point?

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Bummer to hear. It may have crashed into glass or other object as they spook really easy. You may try to increase oxygen with pump and airstone but in all honesty , when theyre in this state, they are generally not going to recover.
As for FW dip, you have nothing to lose as fish is already in distress. Set at same temp as the display tank using dechlorinated water or ro mixed with a little tank water to equalize PH and for 5 mins unless tang gets really antsy.
Hope it works. Im actually looking for a convict at good size for my collection.

 

[Dolphins18]

How long have you had the fish in the tank?
A freshwater dip in the fishes current state could cause death.
If you see no signs of physical damage or blemishes it could be something internal.
PraziPro is reef safe, that may be your best bet. If the fish can eat, be sure to bind focus and metroplex.
Unfortunately in the fishes current state it is more likely moving him to qt for treatment may cause it to go over the edge.
Options are limited,
You don't have large crabs or things like mantis shrimp in the display do you?

 

[Lylelovett]

Bummer to hear. It may have crashed into glass or other object as they spook really easy. You may try to increase oxygen with pump and airstone but in all honesty , when theyre in this state, they are generally not going to recover.
As for FW dip, you have nothing to lose as fish is already in distress. Set at same temp as the display tank using dechlorinated water or ro mixed with a little tank water to equalize PH and for 5 mins unless tang gets really antsy.
Hope it works. Im actually looking for a convict at good size for my collection.

Yeah. Poor guy/girl is just laying there. Gills moving.

I know it's all kind of a mystery in these cases.

Makes you wish you could see flukes or parasites or something so you have a direction to go.

 

[Lylelovett]

How long have you had the fish in the tank?
A freshwater dip in the fishes current state could cause death.
If you see no signs of physical damage or blemishes it could be something internal.
PraziPro is reef safe, that may be your best bet. If the fish can eat, be sure to bind focus and metroplex.
Unfortunately in the fishes current state it is more likely moving him to qt for treatment may cause it to go over the edge.
Options are limited,
You don't have large crabs or things like mantis shrimp in the display do you?

This tang has been in the tank since I built it 3 years ago. No physical signs of anything. He's not capable of doing anything except laying there, sadly.

No crabs or any predatory/bitey types of things at all - very community tank. (aside from the rabbitfish, which I see no sign of stings)

Who knows... poor little duder.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yeah. Poor guy/girl is just laying there. Gills moving.

I know it's all kind of a mystery in these cases.

Makes you wish you could see flukes or parasites or something so you have a direction to go.

FW dip would help determine if it is flukes. After a dip, if you see what looks like sesame seeds OR fish scales- its flukes