Sick Acanthurus pyroferus 11/22/10
Hello there,
<Hi Eva>
awesome website. I come here for all my reference and information. I do have a question, though, that I haven't been able to find an answer to in your FAQ's.
We added a juvenile mimic tang (Acanthurus pyroferus) to our 65 g system about two weeks ago.
<Really needs more room than this>
He looked very healthy, ate at the store and did a lot of curious swimming when he was first introduced into the tank. I don't have a QT tank so he was added directly after adequate acclimation.
<Mmmm>
We've noticed brownish spots on his tail area a few days ago. Thought he may be starting to change color. I started doing a lot of research after I noticed that he started getting very skinny fast.
<Yes... most Surgeons/Tangs feed almost continuously during daylight hours>
He eats at every feeding: Mysis Shrimp, Cyclopeeze, brine shrimp eggs and occasional garlic pellets.
<Need greenery as well>
On top of that he grazes most of the day. I have now introduced dried seaweed but he won't go near it.
<Try Nori, Kombu... on a "vegi-clip">
All of the tank parameters are normal and all other fish (two black percula, starry blenny, mandarin goby, yellow watchman and blue throat trigger)
<Also needs a larger world>
are getting along and acting, looking normal as well.
I'm really concerned about his sudden change of appearance and am wondering if it has to do with tank size,
<Yes>
the anemones in the tank (red bubble tip and green carpet)
<Carpets are problematical in small volumes... and predaceous. Please see WWM re>
or simply that he doesn't like it. Or could it be something else?
It would be great to get some information that I have missed.
Thanks,
Eva
<Have you read: http://wetwebmedia.com/MimicTangsF.htm
the linked files above? Bob Fenner>
Re: Sick Acanthurus pyroferus 11/24/10
Thanks for the quick response. I haven't been able to get any Nori (my LFS is pretty far)
<Mmm, try the "oriental food stores" or such section of your grocery... Or many etailers of petfish supplies...>
but got some purple seaweed. Tang won't eat it. Have a correction on the tank size: it's 75 g not 65 g. Sorry. Is that still too small?
<Yes>
I also read that Vitamin C is pretty important for Mimic Tangs. Is that true?
<About the same vitamins, mix as humans is important...>
I'll keep you posted on how he is doing.
<Okay! BobF>
Re: Sick Acanthurus pyroferus... chatting... no pic, no info... 11/25/10
Hello again:)
<Hi Eva>
I've been doing a lot of reading, asking and more reading on what is wrong with my Mimic Tang. We have also asked some people on our forum and at our LFS and have been told that it's more than likely a parasite.
<...?>
I haven't been able to take a picture of the fish, but as described in my previous e-mail, it is (suddenly) very skinny, has brownish spots on the narrow part of his its tail fin and I've noticed a white spot on its left side near its gill. It is still eating, grazing, (not any of the seaweed I offered) and moving around much slower. I can tell that it's feeling bad.
We've been suggested to move it to a quarantine tank and start treating it with some medication that we can't put in to our display tank since it's not safe for coral (I'm not sure of the name of the product right now).
<... what?>
We have a spare tank in the garage but setting it up and cycling it would take too long. Is there any kind of other medication I can use? If it is a parasitic infection?
<... are you joking?>
The only thing that was recently changed in the tank was some charcoal
<Not... carbon>
that was added (in the refugium). I'm just trying to think of something that is causing this. Since we don't have a QT tank we never quarantine any of our fish, only the regular acclimation and it looked very healthy at the store. Thanks for your continuous input.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Eva
<Keep reading. B>

AW: AW: Sick Acanthurus pyroferus 11/25/10
I've been reading! And can't make any sense of what's going on. And why would I be joking? Apparently I'm worried about my fish and am going every direction for the cause.
Thanks,
Eva
<Hello Eva. Bob's probably off doing fun Thanksgiving stuff, so I'll try and do my best to help. As you hopefully realise, most problems with Acanthurus come down to three things: lack of space, lack of oxygen, and lack of green foods. These fish inhabit a very specific ecological niche where they swim long distances in very shallow water (often near the surf zone) and graze more or less constantly on green algae. They are simply not "designed" for life in aquaria. It's impossible to be 100% sure what the problem is with your Acanthurus until you send us a photo, and even then, anything we might suggest will be an educated guess. But in the meantime, start by looking at the world you have created for it. 65 gallons just
isn't going to work; even 100 gallons is "small" so far as Acanthurus species go. In a tank 65 gallons in size, the smaller Zebrasoma would make a better choice. Next, you have to provide green foods -- and lots of it!
Meaty things are treats, but they're about as useful as giving dog food to a sheep. If your Acanthurus doesn't have CONSTANT access to fresh greens of some sort, you aren't going to have much success. Some folks use organic curly lettuce and spinach, others prefer Sushi Nori. Either way, provide lots of it, and make sure your Acanthurus is nice and fat because his stomach is filled with greens, not brine shrimp (which don't contain much nutrition anyway). Finally, review water circulation and oxygen levels.
These fish suffer in tanks with poor circulation. Needless to say, "old" water with high nitrate levels won't do them much good either. While we really do need a photo to diagnose your Acanthurus reliably, for now, review its living conditions and act accordingly. Also start at the article linked below, and follow the links to articles on Acanthurus and Surgeonfish disease, selection, and other aspects of their care.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tangs,.htm
Tschuess, Neale.>
AW: AW: Sick Acanthurus pyroferus 11/25/10
What other info do you need? And no I'm not on here to chat, I'm here because I care about my fish. How about some info from you? E. g. what could carbon do instead of charcoal?
<Activated carbon is made from charcoal, but is much better. Do read:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_7/volume_7_1/carbon.html
>
Could it actually be a parasite?
<Very difficult to say. Most of the sick Surgeonfish I've seen have been either malnourished or stressed rather than infected. Do note that some infections, such as Hexamita and HLLE, follow on from poor diet/stress, so this isn't an "either/or" situation. Do read:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/HLLESWCauseF.htm
>
I always get good information on your website, but already had a bad experience when I posted a question last time. So I didn't write anymore. I felt like you just thought I was "just another" unknowing fishkeeper. I tried it again because I didn't know where else to turn. I'm honestly very disappointed by your responses.
<I'm sorry to hear that.
E
<Tschuess, Neale.>
Re: AW: AW: AW: Sick Acanthurus pyroferus (RMF, do agree with me?)<<I do, starved. B>> 11/26/10
Hi Neale,
thanks for your response. I am about to read all the articles you suggested. I attached a picture for you to look at. Let me know what you think.
Tschuess,
Eva
<Hello Eva. This fish is chronically starved. He needs a lot more food, including fresh greens. Recovery will probably depend upon good health. I would not medicate this fish, and instead just feed it better than you are now. If he's still active and feeding, you may be lucky. Review the articles on Surgeonfish diet. Cheers, Neale.>

AW: AW: AW: AW: Sick Acanthurus pyroferus (RMF, do agree with me?) 11/27/10
RMF???
<RMF are Bob Fenner's initials. So I was merely asking for his second opinion. As you hopefully saw on the Daily FAQ page, he agrees with me that this Surgeonfish is severely starved, and the "illnesses" you're observing are most likely because of that. Feed your Surgeonfish more AND better foods, mostly green foods with lots of essential vitamins and fibre, and your Surgeonfish should recover, assuming the size of its aquarium and the ambient water quality are acceptable. Cheers, Neale.>