Yellow Tang with damaged fins.

[Jimmyneptune]

I have a yellow tang with damaged fins. He is eating well. There are no other tangs in the tank.
I feed the fish well with LRS or Rod's Pacific Plankton.
In the tank for fish:
two small clowns in the tank.
a molly miller blenny in the tank.
a radiant wrasse

All corals seem heathy.
My corals are doing well especially my LPS.
I did use carbon about 2 months ago but just for a short while 3-4 days. I removed the carbon.

How can I treat this so he heals?

 

[PatW]

He looks fairly good. Do you feed him nori?

He should be in a tank with a 4’ dimension. Then it is a matter of good food and time. Minor fin damage will grow out with time.

Signs of good health in a fish are plumpness, activity, confidence, eating, and color.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

This is a tough call. Yellow tangs often get sort of "scalloped fins" due to the very different way that they show head and lateral line erosion (HLLE). However, in those cases, the fin damage will have very smooth edges. In this picture, the tang has those smooth edge on the dorsal fin, but the damage to the anal (lower) fin is sharper, and more an indication of damage (most likely from tankmate aggression).

How long has it been like this?
Did the damage show up over a long period of time?

I suspect the molly miller has been tagging it. You may never see that happen - the blenny will watch you in the room, and won't tag the tang unless you aren't around (sneaky little guys!).

Jay

 

[Ben.QLD2]

Those fins look like they're healing fine, no infection or inflammation. Just give it time.

What caused the damage? If it was one of the current aquarium residents then the damage may occur again.

It doesn't look very vibrant so maybe look into expanding or diversifying the diet, which may speed healing too.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Those fins look like they're healing fine, no infection or inflammation. Just give it time.

What caused the damage? If it was one of the current aquarium residents then the damage may occur again.

It doesn't look very vibrant so maybe look into expanding or diversifying the diet, which may speed healing too.

Often this potato chip nibble effect is from aggression although Ive seen a few what the heck abnormal fins all their life.
Diet plays a role with color and assure you are providing good diwt.
Some foods to consider are:
LRS herbivore diet
Formula 2 flake and frozen
TDO Pellets
small plankton
Hikari Marine cuisine
Ocean nutrition veggie diet
spirulina brine shrimp
mysis shrimp
Prime reef
Nori seaweed basted with garlic extract

Add selcon vitamins to foods occasionally

 

[Jimmyneptune]

Often this potato chip nibble effect is from aggression although Ive seen a few what the heck abnormal fins all their life.
Diet plays a role with color and assure you are providing good diwt.
Some foods to consider are:
LRS herbivore diet
Formula 2 flake and frozen
TDO Pellets
small plankton
Hikari Marine cuisine
Ocean nutrition veggie diet
spirulina brine shrimp
mysis shrimp
Prime reef
Nori seaweed basted with garlic extract

Add selcon vitamins to foods occasionally

I was thinking the same thing. I will try to mix up his feeding and use selcon.

 

[Jimmyneptune]

This is a tough call. Yellow tangs often get sort of "scalloped fins" due to the very different way that they show head and lateral line erosion (HLLE). However, in those cases, the fin damage will have very smooth edges. In this picture, the tang has those smooth edge on the dorsal fin, but the damage to the anal (lower) fin is sharper, and more an indication of damage (most likely from tankmate aggression).

How long has it been like this?
Did the damage show up over a long period of time?

I suspect the molly miller has been tagging it. You may never see that happen - the blenny will watch you in the room, and won't tag the tang unless you aren't around (sneaky little guys!).

Jay

Thanks Jay.
I think you read my mind about the Molly Miller. The Molly Miller seems like he could be a jerk and just strike out at random.