What’s wrong with my fish?!

[Isis77]

Hi everyone. I’m new to saltwater aquariums and I have a Chocolate Tang. I’ve had her about a two weeks when I noticed she was losing color around her face. Went to the store I purchased her and they gave me something to treat the tank with. Well it hasn’t worked and in fact, it looks as if it’s getting worse. Does anyone know what this is

 

[redfishbluefish]

@Jay Hemdal might have something to say about this.


And Welcome to R2R.

 

[Soren]

It could be head/lateral line erosion (HLLE) or some type of bacterial or fungal infection, but there are others who know much more about these things than I do.
@Jay Hemdal

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

What medication did the store have you use?
Are you filtering the tank with carbon?

While this does look like Head and Lateral Line Erosion, it came on very fast, and this species of tang is not very prone to getting that disease - as @Soren said, there could be an infectious component to this.

Jay

 

[Rmckoy]

Along with jay .
I also turn to @vetteguy53081 for similar advice .

proper diet , stable parameters and a large enough system is very important

 

[vetteguy53081]

Agree on HLLE and erosion.
Water quality and diet play an important role. When it comes to tangs and surgeons, feed at least :

-Spirulina brine shrimp
- LRS Herbivore diet
- mysis shrimp
- small plankton
- Nori seaweed basted with garlic extract
- Hikari Marine cuisine
- Formula 2 flake and frozen
- Hikari veggie marine

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

 

[Isis77]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

What medication did the store have you use?
Are you filtering the tank with carbon?

While this does look like Head and Lateral Line Erosion, it came on very fast, and this species of tang is not very prone to getting that disease - as @Soren said, there could be an infectious component to this.

Jay

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

What medication did the store have you use?
Are you filtering the tank with carbon?

While this does look like Head and Lateral Line Erosion, it came on very fast, and this species of tang is not very prone to getting that disease - as @Soren said, there could be an infectious component to this.

Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

This wont do much if anything as it is best used in freshwater setting. If youre going to use anything- Ruby rally reef is a best bet although there is no medication warranted for HLLE unless you see worms present.
Again- Provide pristine water and diet.

 

[Isis77]

Yes I am using carbon to filter.

 

[Isis77]

As I do feed them the formula 2 frozen…

 

[vetteguy53081]

As I do feed them the formula 2 frozen…

They need a varied diet - That offers vegetation, fats and aminos

 

[Isis77]

This wont do much if anything as it is best used in freshwater setting. If youre going to use anything- Ruby rally reef is a best bet although there is no medication warranted for HLLE unless you see worms present.
Again- Provide pristine water and diet.

No worms….but it has actually spreaded some and it looks worse. These pics are after two weeks of using what they gave me in the store.

 

[vetteguy53081]

No worms….but it has actually spreaded some and it looks worse. These pics are after two weeks of using what they gave me in the store.

Huge vitamin deficiency

 

[Isis77]

Ok. Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Is there a marine version of polyguard? I thought it was a freshwater medication - check the label.
Jay