Tang stressed or is this normal?

[Jhoussock]

Is my new juvenile tang ok? This guys brand new and was hiding in the tanks live rock last night when introduced. Today he came out at sunrise and seems to be eating already although some times he seems to spit the food back out if its a larger piece. Is this normal behavior? He seems to swallow the tiny morsels floating in the water column though. My biggest concern is how white his belly area is by his tail...can he be a yellow belly hippo? Is this sickness? I’m hoping for just stress and it will color up...he will be in a 65 reefer for now will be moved to bigger tank when needed. Also should I be treating him with meds in quarantine or just watching for signs of disease and behavior. Right now outside of the white belly he seems to be behaving great so not sure I should medicate?

 

[Humblefish]

Could just be stress patterns, so I would watch & wait.

 

[HotRocks]

Could be stress, could be a yellow belly. What size is the fish?

I don't see anything that warrants treatment yet.

 

[Paul B]

That fish looks fine from here. Don't make him sick by treating him.

 

[Coralreefer1]

A faded coloration pattern or subdued colors on a fish, more than likely, are a display of insecurity in its surroundings and stress. One of the best things to reduce this is to acclimate the fish slowly and after the lights have been shut off for the night. Ensure that no other tank inhabitant is picking on the new tank mate. The feeding regimen can remain the same for a couple days. If still no luck try adding garlic to your water or change his diet. Also, it is very important, with fish especially, to see what food they are feeding the fish at the store? How long they have had it? And it is also important to ask the store employee if the fish has been eating...and HAVE THE EMPLOYEE FEED THE FISH IN FRONT OF YOU BEFORE DECIDING TO PURCHASE THE PARTICULAR FISH! Good luck!

 

[Jhoussock]

Could be stress, could be a yellow belly. What size is the fish?

I don't see anything that warrants treatment yet.

It’s about 2 inches

 

[Jhoussock]

That fish looks fine from here. Don't make him sick by treating him.

So the white areas nothing I should stress about? I never saw this on a tang and almost didn’t buy it because of this...

 

[Paul B]

If your talking about the white near the rear, that is stress and normal for a hippo tang.

 

[Jhoussock]

Good to know thanks....so if he’s eating and acting normal, should this raise some alarm after a certain amount of time? I’m new to salt water but I’ve had fresh water discus for a long time and food spitting usually meant parasites is this similar? Discus also grind food and spit it out to create smaller pieces...do tangs to the same?

 

[Paul B]

All fish may chew some food and spit it out, that is normal as long as it eventually eats it. Hippo tangs are skittish and normally stressed until they have been in there a while. But even after 10 years, they will still run and hide if they feel threatened even slightly.
He may have parasites or anything else but I can't tell from here and with that picture.

 

[Dorinda]

Is this normal for a yellow Tang? The place by it's back find.

 

[KrisReef]

That yellow tang looks like it has a disease to me. Was it yellow before?
@HotRocks is always helpful for disease issues

 

[Paul B]

No, that yellow tang is very sick and will probably not live long, he is also very skinny but I can't tell from here what is wrong with him besides being very stressed.
I do know his tank is way to sterile and yellow tangs like to pick at the rocks. But those rocks are bare.

 

[Dorinda]

Thanks, that's the QT tank. I just got it yesterday and it's dead. I'm taking it back today.