Yellow Tang Help ASAP

[Brew12]

I would feed frozen more often, pellets should be avoided (forever imo but especially if trying to get fish to eat). I soak mixed frozen foods in selcon and garlic guard after straining them.

He is quite thin, feed a couple small meals per day.

Agree with this. Even though Tangs are called "vegetarians" they still eat large amounts of protein especially when they are young.

Unfortunately, it also seems Velvet starts to show at around the 3 to 4 week mark lately. Any signs like rapid breathing or swimming into the powerhead? Rubbing against rocks or the sand?

 

[cowboy]

Another thing I have noticed in my dealings with tangs through the years is internal parasites. Get you some frozen food garlic gaurd some focus and metroplex. If you have a QT set up you can dose the metro plex directly to the water.

 

[arshirer]

I would feed frozen more often, pellets should be avoided (forever imo but especially if trying to get fish to eat). I soak mixed frozen foods in selcon and garlic guard after straining them.

He is quite thin, feed a couple small meals per day.

thanks! we are new to this hobby so its great to hear others advice! maybe we will steer away from the pellets!

 

[arshirer]

He does have rapid breathing and he wasn't swimming into the powerhead but next to it. He never goes up there. And he seems to be rubbing his belly on the sand

 

[Humblefish]

This might have already been asked, but have you ever seen any stringy white poop come out of him?

 

[arshirer]

This might have already been asked, but have you ever seen any stringy white poop come out of him?

Hasn't been asked but no I haven't... what is that an indication of?

 

[Isaac Alves]

Hasn't been asked but no I haven't... what is that an indication of?

Intestinal worms or stress or both I believe. I've had great luck with Rod's Food and live blackworms. I get the black worms from here:

https://aquaticfoods.com/LiveBlackwormsM.html

Instead of Rod's food I'm going to switch to LRS Fish Frenzy. They started including California black worms in that mix. So this will save some cash. You can order it here if you don't have a LFS that will have it or get it for you:

https://premiumaquatics.com/products/reef-frenzy-8oz-pack.html


But I also agree with soaking seaweed in Selcon and garlic.

 

[Isaac Alves]

I think you can also bind metroplex with some thawed food. Use seachem's Focus to bind the meds with the food so it doesn't leach into the water. This would get the meds into this Lil guy's gut where the problems are manifesting.

Info on Seachem's Focus:
http://www.seachem.com/focus.php

 

[Humblefish]

Hasn't been asked but no I haven't... what is that an indication of?

Internal parasites. When a fish gets that skinny, it's usually caused by either intestinal worms or malnutrition.

 

[Isaac Alves]

Here's information about Seachem's Metroplex medication:
http://www.seachem.com/metroplex.php

Note: everything I've read in forums suggest that this is probably not an effective ich treatment so disregard that part.

Putting him in an isolated quarantine tank would make medicating easier.

 

[Isaac Alves]

Another thing I have noticed in my dealings with tangs through the years is internal parasites. Get you some frozen food garlic gaurd some focus and metroplex. If you have a QT set up you can dose the metro plex directly to the water.

Sorry, didn't read up the full thread completely. But yes to what @cowboy said.

 

[Isaac Alves]

@arshirer I would read through this thread that goes into detail about Blackworms. But I'm interested in a post in that thread by @Paul B about probiotics and fish immunity.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/worms-for-feeding.279670/page-2

Blackworms AND added Probiotics is the reason I'm switching to LRS Fish Frenzy.

 

[arshirer]

@arshirer I would read through this thread that goes into detail about Blackworms. But I'm interested in a post in that thread by @Paul B about probiotics and fish immunity.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/worms-for-feeding.279670/page-2

Blackworms AND added Probiotics is the reason I'm switching to LRS Fish Frenzy.

I'll take a look! I hope he hangs on long enough that I can get to the store tomorrow after work to get some stuff for him!

 

[melypr1985]

I would watch his poo and check to see if it's white and stringy. If he has internal parasites we can treat that in the display. He doesn't look too bad besides being skinny. Oh and tangs will be pale at night and when the lights first come on... that's normal.

 

[arshirer]

I would watch his poo and check to see if it's white and stringy. If he has internal parasites we can treat that in the display. He doesn't look too bad besides being skinny. Oh and tangs will be pale at night and when the lights first come on... that's normal.

Thanks! We definitely learned that! We went on vacation and came back late at night and the lights were off and we turned them on just to check on them and he came out of his tunnel where he hides and I was so scared. I thought we lost him hah! But then the next morning he was back to normal!

I'll keep an eye on his poo! He is extremely active right now. Usually when we are in the room he hides he is very timid. But he is out swimming all around. Really didn't go after any food though when we put food in

 

[4FordFamily]

I agree yellow tangs lose color at night as do all zebrasoma, I forgot to mention that.

 

[Reef Ryder]

I'm a huge fan of Rods... put a pinch in the tank, the yellow tang and every other species will be very happy. . I call it fish crack LOL.

Intestinal worms or stress or both I believe. I've had great luck with Rod's Food and live blackworms. I get the black worms from here:

https://aquaticfoods.com/LiveBlackwormsM.html

Instead of Rod's food I'm going to switch to LRS Fish Frenzy. They started including California black worms in that mix. So this will save some cash. You can order it here if you don't have a LFS that will have it or get it for you:

https://premiumaquatics.com/products/reef-frenzy-8oz-pack.html


But I also agree with soaking seaweed in Selcon and garlic.

 

[Reef Ryder]

They lose their color and you'll see "the white stripe".