What medicine for beat up tang?

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hes much more active in the hospital tank than he was in the display. Dunno if that’s a good thing. I’m only running an air stone because I didn’t want him to have to fight the flow. I’m running H2O2 in my display for disease management. I wonder if it burned him and that’s why is all red. I’m hoping now that he’s out of the H2O2 that it will get less angry looking.

If it is still alive this morning, if you haven't done so already, you should lower the specific gravity of the hospital tank to around 1.019 - making it more isotonic with the fish's blood. With that much missing skin, the fish is going to need help balancing its salt levels.

To be honest, this looks like a severe secondary bacterial infection. Antibiotics take a few days to start to work, and this fish doesn't likely have that much time.

Jay

 

[Chrisv.]

If it is still alive this morning, if you haven't done so already, you should lower the specific gravity of the hospital tank to around 1.019 - making it more isotonic with the fish's blood. With that much missing skin, the fish is going to need help balancing its salt levels.

To be honest, this looks like a severe secondary bacterial infection. Antibiotics take a few days to start to work, and this fish doesn't likely have that much time.

Jay

Jay, in your opinion, should this fish be treated or euthanized?

 

[SlugSnorter]

My poor tang got the crap beat out of him by another tang. I have moved him to a hospital tank. Is there any hope for him? What med would be best right now? I have kanaflex, general cure, erythromycin, metroplex, and pimafix on hand. He’s not eating.

metroplex, very good params, plenty of feeding. @Jay Hemdal can help. Not to be mean or anything, but i'm not so sure about that tangs chances

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Jay, in your opinion, should this fish be treated or euthanized?

So - it has to do with potential welfare. I am in the minority of people who still do not feel that fish feel "pain". Instead, I think they feel nociception, or an avoidance of noxious stimulus. So - I may be slow to euthanize fish due to "welfare". I also don't think that many home aquarists have the ability to euthanize fish properly.

That said, if the fish hasn't at least marginally improved by this morning, I would euthanize it. See how the anal fin rays are eroded back to the muscles? That fin may never regrow.

Jay

 

[LovesDogs_CatsRokay]

Not sure why cancer was mentioned...I have no idea if yellow tangs would be attracted to the open wounds of an injured fish. Maybe, but they are such herbivores. This really isn't their normal mode of feeding.

OP: do you know if this was inflicted by mouth or by the caudal spine?

I would assume the caudal spine. I never saw any biting at than at his tail but did see some tail whipping.

 

[LovesDogs_CatsRokay]

Update. He was gone by lunch time today.

 

[Unitylover]

just something to lighten up the mood

 

[rmorris_14]

Update. He was gone by lunch time today.

Sorry about your fish