Yellow Tang in bad shape

[Thraciandrummer]

Ive had a yellow tang for about 6 months now. About 3 months after I got him he started swimming very weird. He would not swim straight but instead almost horizontal. He eats a lot. Never misses a feeding. He eats pellets, flakes, mysis, anything. I put 3 sheets of nori in my grazer every two days that he shares with a foxface, blue tang, and a flame angel. Recently the horizontal swimming has gotten worse and I noticed a red bump on one of his fins. To make matters worse I looked at him today and he is so skinny you can see all his bones. He looks like the equivalent of a cancer patient in fish form. Any ideas on what could be wrong? Is it too late for him?

 

[redfishbluefish]

@Humblefish hopefully will have some good advice. I know nothing!

 

[Tanggirl12]

If he eats a lot and is skinny it's probably an internal parasite

 

[Thraciandrummer]

I would be surprised if this tang makes it through the night. Unfortunately I didn't realize how skinny he was until tonight. I threw some pellets in after my normal feeding today and he ate a bunch of the pellets. He is definitely eating, but unbelievably thin

Is there anything I can do to treat for an internal parasite?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Have you looked at the stickies in Fish Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Forum....found HERE?

Bottom line is that I think you are going to need drugs.

 

[Thraciandrummer]

I have not. I will take a look. Thanks!

 

[Humblefish]

If he eats a lot and is skinny it's probably an internal parasite

^^This. Usually Prazipro treats this, but sometimes you have to resort to Metronidazole.

 

[twilliard]

^^This. Usually Prazipro treats this, but sometimes you have to resort to Metronidazole.

Would this have the same result as fenbendazol ?

 

[Humblefish]

Would this have the same result as fenbendazol ?

Yes, but Fenbendazole has two major drawbacks:

1. It's usually harsher on fish than using either prazi or metro.
2. It is NOT reef safe. Prazipro can be dosed directly into a DT, while metro can be soaked in food (using a binder) making it reef safe.

 

[twilliard]

Yes, but Fenbendazole has two major drawbacks:

1. It's usually harsher on fish than using either prazi or metro.
2. It is NOT reef safe. Prazipro can be dosed directly into a DT, while metro can be soaked in food (using a binder) making it reef safe.

Thank you HF!
But what if some one were to tell to that it IS reef safe?

 

[Humblefish]

De-Los aka Dylox 80 is BY FAR the most effective dewormer for fish. Eradicates flukes, internal parasites/intestinal worms, anchor worms, fish lice, and even some external parasites. Even wipes out all the eggs.

Just one problem... it's just as likely to kill your fish as it is the nasties afflicting them.

 

[Humblefish]

But what if some one were to tell to that it IS reef safe?

I would dispute that claim. It is known (and used sometimes) to kill xenia, blue cloves, anemones, zoas and certain mushrooms.

On the plus side it can also kill pests such as aiptasia, bristle worms, hydroids and flatworms.

It does not breakdown readily and can hang around in a tank for a long time. It's not the same as using fluke tabs, if that's what you're thinking.

 

[twilliard]

I would dispute that claim. It is known (and used sometimes) to kill xenia, blue cloves, anemones, zoas and certain mushrooms.

On the plus side it can also kill pests such as aiptasia, bristle worms, hydroids and flatworms.

It does not breakdown readily and can hang around in a tank for a long time. It's not the same as using fluke tabs, if that's what you're thinking.

Thank you!!

 

[Thraciandrummer]

So should I attempt to get prazi? My other fish look completely fine, but the last thing id want is for all my fish to die from this. The yellow tang has been like this for a while though with no affect on the other fish. The only corals I have are a few zoa colonies. As long as prazi is ok to use with the zoas and my coral banded shrimps will order some.

 

[Humblefish]

So should I attempt to get prazi? My other fish look completely fine, but the last thing id want is for all my fish to die from this. The yellow tang has been like this for a while though with no affect on the other fish. The only corals I have are a few zoa colonies. As long as prazi is ok to use with the zoas and my coral banded shrimps will order some.

IMO; Both Prazipro and a bottle of copper (exs. Cupramine, Coppersafe, Copper Power) are a good idea to have on hand at all times. For less than the avg cost of one new fish, you'll have two meds on hand which can save all of their lives in an emergency situation. Especially if you do not QT.

Prazipro is reef safe and in most cases treats intestinal worms. However, there are a few strains out there that are resistant to praziquantel and for these you must use metronidazole (exs. Seachem Metroplex, Metro-MS). You can soak metro in food, thus making it "reef safe", but you must also use Seachem Focus to properly bind it to the food.

 

[Thraciandrummer]

I have cupramine on hand and I will take your advice and get some prazi to keep on hand. I think in this particular case, hind sight is 20/20 as I think the fish is a goner. He is laying on his side at the bottom of the tank, but still alive

I did QT the tangs for nearly 2 months, but unfortunately he still developed a parasite. Admittedly, I had plenty of warning to save him, but I just thought he was swimming funny, not that there was a problem because he was still eating great and showed no other signs of distress. I first noticed how thin he was yesterday unfortunately.