HumuhumuFan
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- Syracuse, NY
- What state or country do you live in
- New York
Hi, I have a Yellow Tang since March 2016 that is about 4-5 inches that recently went through a scare. If you want to read the full background it is in this thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/sick-melanurus-wrasse-and-yellow-tang.562753/
The short version is that he was living in a 75g FOWLR with a similar sized Melanurus Wrasse. I had to go away for about 5 months for Army Reserve duty. My mother took care of feeding the fish while I was gone and I contracted the cleaning service from my LFS for maintenance. Shortly before I got back they both lost interest in food and were starting look stressed. I saw some strange spots on the wrasse and treated both for flukes and then put them in a hospital tank. The wrasse didn't make it, but after about 4 weeks and 2-3 cycles of medication I have returned the tang to my DT, which was fishless the whole time and treated with PraziPro 3 times.
The eroded fin grew back and the dark streaks at the base of his dorsal fin are gone. The problem is he is still faded looking and will only eat spirulina brine shrimp and flakes. Every now and then he'll eat a pellet or two. I'm thinking the faded coloration is due to nutrition issues. I've tried 4 different kinds of nori, rubber banding it to a piece of live rock, etc.. When he was younger he would nibble at nori but only after my rectangle trigger would eat it. The trigger passed away in February 2018 (my fish spreadsheet is so handy for knowing this stuff) and since that time it was just him and the wrasse. Now it's just him. Since putting him back in the DT he looks unstressed and is casually swimming around the live rock. He is still a little fearful when I approach the tank but considering what he's been through the last month I'd imagine that's normal.
Any ideas on getting him to eat a more varied diet?
The short version is that he was living in a 75g FOWLR with a similar sized Melanurus Wrasse. I had to go away for about 5 months for Army Reserve duty. My mother took care of feeding the fish while I was gone and I contracted the cleaning service from my LFS for maintenance. Shortly before I got back they both lost interest in food and were starting look stressed. I saw some strange spots on the wrasse and treated both for flukes and then put them in a hospital tank. The wrasse didn't make it, but after about 4 weeks and 2-3 cycles of medication I have returned the tang to my DT, which was fishless the whole time and treated with PraziPro 3 times.
The eroded fin grew back and the dark streaks at the base of his dorsal fin are gone. The problem is he is still faded looking and will only eat spirulina brine shrimp and flakes. Every now and then he'll eat a pellet or two. I'm thinking the faded coloration is due to nutrition issues. I've tried 4 different kinds of nori, rubber banding it to a piece of live rock, etc.. When he was younger he would nibble at nori but only after my rectangle trigger would eat it. The trigger passed away in February 2018 (my fish spreadsheet is so handy for knowing this stuff) and since that time it was just him and the wrasse. Now it's just him. Since putting him back in the DT he looks unstressed and is casually swimming around the live rock. He is still a little fearful when I approach the tank but considering what he's been through the last month I'd imagine that's normal.
Any ideas on getting him to eat a more varied diet?
Get a large variety of frozen fish cubes: mysis, brine, chopped clams, cyclops, reef mix, seaweed, and most importantly for a tang, get macro algae cubes (Hikari makes them), and as many others as you can find or desire to try. Take one of each and place into a tupperware and let "slump" in the fridge. Mix a bit. Let set. Then pour off the excess liquid (can cause nitrate & phosphate spikes). Lastly, add a few drops of Zoecon vitamins. It contains lots of proteins from sponges, etc. that the fish only get in the wild. Your fish will love it. Only feed enough for the fish to eat in 1-2 minutes. Feed at least a couple of times a day. Best of luck with your tang.
