Yellow Tang Breathing heavy

mwood · May 16, 2019

Hi,

Yellow Tang I have had for 1 year is breathing heavy, and acting erratic.

I recently upgraded to a new larger tank, decided to keep fish in original DT. Only moved the coral and invertebrates to the new tank, where I will keep it fishless for 76 days for ICH eradication.

The original display tank with the fish is not a QT. I kept some live rock (10 lbs) and filter media for bio. I have monitored NH, NO2, and NO3 every several days and looks good. The fish, including the YT have been doing great since the move (April 20th), until today when I noticed the YT condition. I have not yet medicated the fish, but intend to at some point before the 76 days.

Any help or suggestions what this may be or to do next will be appreciated.

Thanks,

AllSignsPointToFish · May 17, 2019

I don't think that's heavy breathing. Looks to me like that's too much flow in the QT.

RJinPV · May 17, 2019

It's behavior is like my yellow tang when it had a bacterial infection, nervous and twitchy. I think you should call the cavalry: @HotRocks or maybe @4FordFamily. It might be flukes based on my following of other threads.

mwood · May 17, 2019

Yes RJinPV,

Perhaps flukes but don’t want to medicate for fear of making it worse. Will wait to see if HotRocks or 4FordFamily run across the thread.

HotRocks · May 17, 2019

mwood said:
Hi,

Yellow Tang I have had for 1 year is breathing heavy, and acting erratic.

I recently upgraded to a new larger tank, decided to keep fish in original DT. Only moved the coral and invertebrates to the new tank, where I will keep it fishless for 76 days for ICH eradication.

The original display tank with the fish is not a QT. I kept some live rock (10 lbs) and filter media for bio. I have monitored NH, NO2, and NO3 every several days and looks good. The fish, including the YT have been doing great since the move (April 20th), until today when I noticed the YT condition. I have not yet medicated the fish, but intend to at some point before the 76 days.

Any help or suggestions what this may be or to do next will be appreciated.

Thanks,

I do see faster than normal respirations. Is the fish still eating? It looks as if.the stomach is sunken in as well.

As mentioned above a FW dip would confirm if flukes are present or not.

Have you seen any white stringy poop? I'm thinking something is going on internally.

4FordFamily · May 17, 2019

HotRocks said:
I do see faster than normal respirations. Is the fish still eating? It looks as if.the stomach is sunken in as well.

As mentioned above a FW dip would confirm if flukes are present or not.

Have you seen any white stringy poop? I'm thinking something is going on internally.

My thoughts exactly. Report back on the FW dip. It’s easiest to do this in a dark bucket so you can see the flukes. You are looking for small “sesame seeds”. The blue Lowe’s buckets work well.

mwood · May 17, 2019

HotRocks said:
I do see faster than normal respirations. Is the fish still eating? It looks as if.the stomach is sunken in as well.

As mentioned above a FW dip would confirm if flukes are present or not.

Have you seen any white stringy poop? I'm thinking something is going on internally.

Hi HotRocks,

Thanks for replying,
He was eating up until yesterday, but shows no interest now. The poop in the tank looks normal.

I will try FW dip today, as I remember the duration should be around 5 minutes?

Thanks,

mwood · May 17, 2019

4FordFamily said:
My thoughts exactly. Report back on the FW dip. It’s easiest to do this in a dark bucket so you can see the flukes. You are looking for small “sesame seeds”. The blue Lowe’s buckets work well.

Thank you! I will do, and thanks for the advice on the dark bucket.

HotRocks · May 17, 2019

mwood said:
Hi HotRocks,

Thanks for replying,
He was eating up until yesterday, but shows no interest now. The poop in the tank looks normal.

I will try FW dip today, as I remember the duration should be around 5 minutes?

Thanks,

It may be flukes. I just had an entire QT heavily infested without any real visible symptoms.

Mjrenz · May 17, 2019

mwood said:
Hi HotRocks,

Thanks for replying,
He was eating up until yesterday, but shows no interest now. The poop in the tank looks normal.

I will try FW dip today, as I remember the duration should be around 5 minutes?

Thanks,

Here are specific instructions for the fwd
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

mwood · May 17, 2019

Mjrenz said:
Here are specific instructions for the fwd
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

Great, thanks Mjrenz, very helpful

mwood · May 17, 2019

Thanks every one for your time to respond and provide guidance. Good news/bad news, appears it is not flukes, picture at 5 minute mark of FW dip and no visible signs as seen in video.

One thing, his fins are always extended, never relaxed.

Thanks and not sure what to do next, plan 30% water change after work today.

ReefJedi · Jun 4, 2019

Did the tang survive? I had a similar issue with my tang and he didn't make it a few days ago. I've had fish in my QT die one by one with the same issues. They all went through a treatment of cupramine and prazi. The latest that has started breathing like this is my Chromis...

Mjrenz · Jun 4, 2019

I'm sorry I lost track of your thread, how is the tang?

ReefJedi said:
Did the tang survive? I had a similar issue with my tang and he didn't make it a few days ago. I've had fish in my QT die one by one with the same issues. They all went through a treatment of cupramine and prazi. The latest that has started breathing like this is my Chromis...

It's likely that you may be experiencing problems with low oxygen in your tank, prazi alone reduces available oxygen and adding it to copper can create a bacterial bloom that reduces the o2 even more. Also make sure you are dosing a bottled bacteria like biospira to be sure ammonia isn't a problem

mwood · Jun 4, 2019

ReefJedi said:
Did the tang survive? I had a similar issue with my tang and he didn't make it a few days ago. I've had fish in my QT die one by one with the same issues. They all went through a treatment of cupramine and prazi. The latest that has started breathing like this is my Chromis...

Hi ReefJedi,
No, sorry to say my Yellow Tang did not make it, he struggled for another day after the FW dip.

Very sorry to hear of your losses.

I have two remaining fish in QT, a clown and blue damsel doing very well, but I have not begun any treatment as of yet. I still have over 40 days to keep the new tank fishless, so will begin initial treatment soon.

I started QT with 5 fish (all of which I had for over a year), lost one within a few weeks, then the YT a few weeks after that. My Lawnmower Blenny was doing ok (not great), but managed to jump out though a small opening in the lid. In hindsight, I almost wish I would have moved all 5 fish to the new tank instead of keep it fishless for the 76 days for ICH.

Mjrenz · Jun 4, 2019

I'm sorry to hear about your fish my tank is fallow also and I just lost a couple fish. It's not easy loosing them but overall I think it's going to be better for the health of the entire tank

mwood · Jun 4, 2019

Mjrenz said:
I'm sorry I lost track of your thread, how is the tang?

It's likely that you may be experiencing problems with low oxygen in your tank, prazi alone reduces available oxygen and adding it to copper can create a bacterial bloom that reduces the o2 even more. Also make sure you are dosing a bottled bacteria like biospira to be sure ammonia isn't a problem

Hi Mjrenz,

Thanks for checking in. My YT did not make it. Thanks for the heads up on oxygen being low. Note, I had not begun any treatments in QT as I needed to wait 76 days before I can transfer the fish to the new tank, so maybe not low due to treatments.

Ammonia is and has been measuring non existent, as well I have an ammonia alert badge as well. In any case, for the two remaining fish in QT I will add air stone when I begin to medicate.

Again, thanks for checking in and heads up on oxygen level.

mwood · Jun 4, 2019

Mjrenz, sorry to hear you lost fish as well.

I Agree, while it is hard pill to swallow, it will be good piece of mind to know ICH is not in the new tank. Once this fallow period is complete, it will be good fish in QT tank won't need to stay anywhere near the 76 days.

Mjrenz · Jun 4, 2019

mwood said:
Mjrenz, sorry to hear you lost fish as well.

I Agree, while it is hard pill to swallow, it will be good piece of mind to know ICH is not in the new tank. Once this fallow period is complete, it will be good fish in QT tank won't need to stay anywhere near the 76 days.

I'm looking forward to that as well, I just hope all my other fish make it through and I hope yours do well too