What is this
- Thread starter Datnerd14
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Looks like a pretty severe case of HLLE - not sure a tang with a case of velvet that serious would still be swimming, although I couldn't rule out velvet, based on the photo. Fish coming to public aquariums often spend part of their journey in the same supply chain as fish coming to our home aquariums, so they can arrive with a lot of the same parasite load.
~Bruce
~Bruce
HLLE - Head & Lateral Line Erosion. It's common among tangs in captivity, especially in systems where granular activated carbon is in use for water clarification.
It's thought that carbon dust may be responsible by some, though there are other theories. While HLLE is shockingly unattractive, it's not as dangerous to the fish as it looks.
~Bruce
It's thought that carbon dust may be responsible by some, though there are other theories. While HLLE is shockingly unattractive, it's not as dangerous to the fish as it looks.
~Bruce
Agree with @Maritimer , looks like an HLLE + bacterial infection. HLLE is not a parasite caused disease, its usually due to malnutrition or other chronic factors, but it will weaken the fish and erode the skin making it more susceptible to infections. Usually it is cured with good nutrition and vitamin enriched food.
This is in the state zoo on all of the blue tangs I told them that they had it and I will probably leave something online because I don't think the people I talked to will tell the people running the tanks
I'll add a clearer photo soon
I'll add a clearer photo soon
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USMC 4 LIFE
Valuable Member
A lot of public aquariums have this. Here's a pic of some blue tangs with it at the Long Beach Aquarium.
Others look quite well
Others look quite well
Beautiful place. I think water parameters might be out of order, or some other stuff is there. Its hard to diagnose these aquariums as you dont know what they are running and what parameters they have.
I'm pretty sure they have coral inserts
they had a few live corals in smaller tanks
The zoos aquariums pale In comparison to the actual aquarium about an hour away from there (there's a walkway through the shark tank) and the tanks are better than the zoo but not as good as some hobbyists tanks
they had a few live corals in smaller tanks
The zoos aquariums pale In comparison to the actual aquarium about an hour away from there (there's a walkway through the shark tank) and the tanks are better than the zoo but not as good as some hobbyists tanks
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
It is very common in public aquaria -- I hypothesize that it's because the fish have very prolonged (if not perpetual) exposure to copper in these settings, oftentimes. The photo with the anemones though throws a wrench in that theory in that case!
Hippo tangs seem to be by far the most susceptible to HLLE, so it's not uncommon for them to be the most noticeably affected.
Hippo tangs seem to be by far the most susceptible to HLLE, so it's not uncommon for them to be the most noticeably affected.
Given that it may derive from water conditions, the fact that they all have it (and in some cases, _very_ severely) isn't surprising. They're all in the same water.
Public aquariums are kind of up against a wall. Visitors insist on pretty exhibits featuring crystal clear water and _lots_ of fish. That puts a hefty load on filtration, and often on social interactions between fish. Home aquarists visit and see disorders and overcrowding, and sometimes judge the facilities poorly.
(Full disclosure...) At the aquarium where I work (education lite), the husbandry staff and budget are continually taxed to the limit - not only by what's going on behind the tanks, but by the folks in the offices wanting bigger, better, more, newer. Those things can be important - if visitors stop coming, the budget dwindles and the doors may close.
~Bruce
Public aquariums are kind of up against a wall. Visitors insist on pretty exhibits featuring crystal clear water and _lots_ of fish. That puts a hefty load on filtration, and often on social interactions between fish. Home aquarists visit and see disorders and overcrowding, and sometimes judge the facilities poorly.
(Full disclosure...) At the aquarium where I work (education lite), the husbandry staff and budget are continually taxed to the limit - not only by what's going on behind the tanks, but by the folks in the offices wanting bigger, better, more, newer. Those things can be important - if visitors stop coming, the budget dwindles and the doors may close.
~Bruce
melypr1985
totally addicted
I agree that is a very severe case of HLLE. VERY severe. You might ask the employees there about it and see what they are doing to help them (if anything).
I talked to the people running guest services there they seemed to blow it off saying the people there are probably doing something about it
I tried to find a way to contact the state zoo through there webpage but that only lead to a ticket site
I tried to find a way to contact the state zoo through there webpage but that only lead to a ticket site
^^ This & this. Most public aquariums don't have the money to feed all their fish properly (flake food is cheap) or use high grade carbon. They don't have the time/personnel to test for stray voltage on a regular basis. Copper is frequently used in the fish only systems whenever parasites break out.
All of the above are common causes of HLLE.
