Yel Tand Dis F11

FAQs about Yellow Tang Disease/Health 11

FAQs on Yellow Tang Disease: Disease 1, Disease 2, Disease 3, Disease 4, Disease 5, Disease 6, Disease 7, Disease 8, Yellow Tang Disease 9, Yellow Tang Disease 10, Yellow Tang Disease 12, Yellow Tang Disease 13, Yellow Tang Disease 14, Yellow Tang Disease , & Paravortex/Black Spot Disease,
FAQs on Yellow Tang Disease by Category: Diagnosis, Environmental, Nutritional, Trauma, Pathogenic (infectious, parasitic), Social, Genetic, Treatments

Related Articles: Yellow Tangs,

Surgeonfishes: Tangs for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
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by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Yellow tang clarification... HLLE... /C? 7/24/11
Dear crew, your site has been most helpful for my success with saltwater tanks. I have spent days reading information on here, and I wanted to extend my deepest appreciation for all that you do. I am hoping this email will be quick and easy to answer. I am looking for some clarification on yellow tangs. I have had my tang now for 2 years in my 75g, w/38g sump.
Other fish I have in my system are 2 perc's, 1 damsel (blue yellow tailed), 1 strawberry goby, and 1 blue spotted goby. All of these fish except the blue spot have been in the tank >1 year. Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, and Phosphates 0,
<Mmm, how are you rendering the NO3 and HPO4 thus?>
calcium ~420-450, PH ranges from 8.25 during the day to 7.95 at night (I have a probe which constantly monitors this). Temperature ranges from 78.1-78.5. Water flow is powered by 1 Mag 9.5, Mag 7 (soon to be replaced by another 9.5), and a Kor 3. Return into my tank is via 2 3/4" sea swirls. I drilled my own tank with Anthony Calfo's (not sure on spelling) design, with 2 1.5" bulkheads on the back/top of the tank surrounded by an overflow also only covering the back/top. Lighting is provided by 2 150w LED fixtures. Skimmer is a AquaC EV-180. I keep a fine DSB in the sump, with Chaeto over it, reverse daylight. I have a ReefKeeper Lite controller managing it all. I have 1 frogspawn, and 1 torch. I hope this wasn't too much info, but in past correspondence, information I thought was irrelevant turned out to be needed, so I wanted to ensure all was included.
<Good>
After reading through Yellow Tang diseases, I believe my tang is suffering from Malnutrition, but I wanted to confirm with your group.
<This, and/or other aspects... environment>
I have attached a photo below. I feed my tank a mixture of Ocean Nutrition Formula One, Formula Two, and Prime Reef Flakes 2-3 times per day, and feed a variety of frozen food every 3-4 days. The tang actively pursues everything I drop in the tank, including the meaty foods, and he is constantly picking at the rocks and glass for anything growing off it. I have tried dried seaweed in the past, but he never shows any interest. If this is malnutrition, is there another type of dry food I can try?
<Yes; I strongly endorse New Life's "Spectrum" pelleted food... wholly nutritious, very palatable. Good for issues of supposed missing nutrient as here>
I understand tangs, being herbivores, like to "graze" throughout the day, and I was considering increasing the frequency (not amount) of food per day. I work from home, so if this is recommended, it is not a problem. In case the picture doesn't come through, it looks like a loss of pigment around its eyes and gills.
<I see this>
There are white patches in those areas. That have slowly been increasing in size over the last month. I thought it might be stress, as I recently moved everything into this 75g, from a "reef ready" 90g (I wanted a more efficient flow, hence the reason for my custom work). The tang does not appear to be acting out of the norm. And the only aggression in the tank has been Strawberry goby -> damsel, and clowns -> damsel.
<Perhaps "loose" electrical current; very unlikely, but possible Neuromast destruction/HLLE... from...? Carbon exposure? I'd add the Spectrum food, perhaps dose a vitamin/HUFA supplement to the water once a week (after water changes et al.). Bob Fenner>

Re: Yellow tang clarification 7/24/11
Mr. Fenner, thank you for the very quick response. I did forget to mention I run carbon through a reactor as well, which I change every 4 weeks.
<Mmm, I would leave off, leave out the carbon for a month or two... There have been innumerable speculations as to the "cause" of HLLE... stray electricity/voltage, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic build-up syndromes... and more recently Jay Hemdal's assertion as to carbon effect/s>
I do a 5% water change weekly when I do my tests. I dose trace elements and Kalk, but I only started this in the last couple of weeks. Your question on the Nitrates/Phosphates, I am not sure what you mean by how I achieve this.
<The perhaps too-aggressive C/arbon>
I ensure there is no uneaten food left during feeding, I siphon the gravel in the DT when I do the water changes. I leave my DSB alone in the sump.
<Good>
I clean the skimmer 2-3 times per week. I have not been able to get above a 0 on my water tests in over a year. The fish and corals are growing fine, so I think I feed enough. The only thing I can think is that the Nitrates and Phosphates that do exist in my water are consumed so quickly I never get any readings?
<To some extent; but not likely both... one should/be/come rate-limiting, leaving the other in measurable quantity. Understanzee?>
I do have 135 lbs of live rock in my system. I'll add the below mentioned foods and dosing to my routine, just need to locate some. Thank you for the suggestions. You mentioned exposure to carbon, should I stop the carbon reactor for a while and see if this helps?
<Yes>
I just took a multimeter to my aquarium, and was unable to detect anything.
The only non-grounded electrical components in my aquarium are the Kor 3 and the pump for my carbon.
<Do please report back in a month or so. BobF>

Re: Yellow tang clarification 9/21/11
Mr. Fenner, as requested, I am reporting back after a couple of months. I removed the carbon, and included the recommended food in my feedings. The LFS ordered it for me, and they were impressed with the ingredient listing (I think they're in love).
<Heee!>
The yellow tang's loss of pigment is almost completely gone. He is looking even healthier now, so I certainly want to thank you for your invaluable advise. I now have a couple of patches of hair algae pop up since my removal of the carbon, but I would rather fight that battle any time. It appears your theory on the carbon being the cause were spot on.
Thanks again for everything you do.
<A pleasure. Thank you for this follow-up Lang. BobF>

yellow tang died 7/22/11
I found our yellow tang dead this morning. Yesterday morning when I turned on light it had a pink blushed area on both sides of body and was pale.
<General signs of stress... Usually water quality related/determined; secondarily from negative interactions w/ tankmates>
he would not eat. We change some things around in the tank the day before.
It was time for water change so I went ahead with it. Have everything was settled Tang still wouldn't eat and looked like it was breathing heavy. So we turned out lights to reduce stress.
Everything is normal in tank. all other fish are fine.
Just need to make sure that its nothing catching.
Margaret
<Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/ytangdisfaq3.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Re: re: Good morning..... Y. Tang... 2/13/11
Hey Bob, its Jason again. I am seeing a lot of different reasons for "bloating" in a yellow tang but can't seem to find a consistent answer as to treatment.
<Usually Epsom Salt, just patience, perhaps supplementing foods...>
I just purchased my yellow tang 3 days ago and today I notice he is acting "weird" and swims erratically. I just also noticed an hour ago that his stomach has significant size which appears to be bloating. I haven't fed them yet today and as of yesterday AFTER feeding, his stomach wasn't bloated (was actually kind of pinched). Water parameters are where they should be. What can I do/treat with? You know, in the end, I always like to hear your advice lol.
Thanks.....AGAIN!!! :-)
<... search WWM re. B>

Stringy/threads in yellow Tang poop? 2/3/11
Hi. I have a 4" yellow Tang who's been in my 145gallon display tank for 2 weeks after just over a week in QT. (I moved him on Bob's advice as he was showing signs of stress). He's been shy in eating Nori, flake, and pellet food (eating some eventually) but quickly eats Mysis shrimp (previously frozen) which I am giving daily. This evening I saw him do a quick swim with a shake and out fell a lump of poop with several stringy/ threads coming from it -worms?
<Do appear so to me; either this or some remnant of "string" algae>
All dark black/brown). Nothing was moving.
<A clue, perhaps>
The flow soon broke it up but I caught a quick picture of it. See below although its a bit blurry. Could this be internal parasites? Not sure if I should be worried/ do something? Thanks for your advice.
<Could be, but I don't think so... color is wrong, immotile... Is there stringy type algae present in the system, foods that you offer? Do you have a low power microscope? Bob Fenner>

Re: Stringy/threads in yellow Tang poop? Add to SW worm dis. f' as well 2/4/11
Thanks Bob. No, don't have a microscope. I don't see any stringy algae in the tank. He does pick at the rocks but there's not much growing on there yet.
There was some banding round the 'strings'
<Mmm... well... not many Annelids/Segmented worm intestinal complaints of fishes... Largely Nematodes/Round and Acanthocephalan/Thorny-headed worms... Again, I would leave off w/ any sort of "medicines" here. Cheers, BobF>

Sick Tang/Yellow Tang/Environmental Disease? 1/30/11
<Hello Nancy.>
I noticed today that one of the Yellow Tangs has a raised patch at the base of his tail. There is a reddened area around it and also a few red spots by his top fin, ? hemorrhagic areas. Up till today he has been fat and happy, eating well and minding it's own business. The other yellow tang seems to be fine, as does the powder brown tang and the rest of the fish.
My system is a 180 gal reef tank with ECO System filtration, protein skimmer and reactor filled with Bioplastic media. Since adding the reactor I have noticed the protein skimmer is getting a lot more 'stuff' out.
6 weeks ago I added a Ritteri Anemone who is happily perched on a rock tower and 4 weeks ago I added some mollies who I had slowly acclimated to the marine environment.
<Mmm, wondering if the tang made contact with the anemone possibly leading to this.>
A few days ago the heater got unplugged and the temp dropped to 69.4 but returned to 72 when it was discovered.
No other changes have been made that I can recall.
These tangs are probably 5years old and pleasantly plump with no health issues up to today.
Any suggestions?
<Based on your tang's otherwise healthy appearance, and if no loss of appetite, I would do nothing but continue good tank maintenance and to suggest adding vitamins to the food such as Selcon and observe.>
Thanks,
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Nancy D

Re Sick Tang/Yellow Tang/Environmental Disease? 1/30/11- 1/31/11
<Hi Nancy.>
Will do so. Thanks. I wasn't sure how I was going to catch it if you suggested removal, :).
<How I know, nearly impossible.>
I appreciate you guys and your availability to be there for us,
<You're welcome. Nancy, please reply to original query in the future.
Thank you. James (Salty Dog)>
Nancy D

Yellow Tang in QT - not eating, black/dark areas on edge of dorsal 1/21/11
Hi. This is my first Yellow Tang. In a 15G QT for 6 days.
<Mmm, too small a volume... too much stress...>
First few days he ate flake well and some frozen Mysis shrimp. No interest in green marine algae (ocean nutrition) or Sea Veggies (red). Was confident but now shy. Two days ago I saw one pin sized white spot on middle of side but it went away. Yesterday I noticed a black/dark edging on the dorsal fin in 4/5 places. They are right at the very edge of the fin, between the spines. I don't think they were there before, but not 100% sure. You can just see in the picture. Also, the fins have some red tinge along the spine parts. Again, not sure if this is normal - my first tang. Occasionally twitches when swims (quick lateral movement). I also noticed a slight red vein/reddening running vertically on one side - you can just about see it on the picture.
Regular water changes. No medication in tank. LFS had had the fish about a week and keeps fish on low salinity & copper
SG = 1.022 (began at 1.020 and increased gradually)
<Too low...>
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite 0.25
<Toxic>
Nitrate 10
Would love to put in DT as I'm sure he'd be happier and healthier but need to wait it out a bit I think.
<I would move this fish... put it through a summary pH adjusted FW dip/bath enroute... It's showing signs of septicemia and is too thin... stressed where it is>
Any ideas/input?
<Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/ytangdisfaqs.htm
and the linked files above... Bob Fenner...>

Re: Yellow Tang in QT - not eating, black/dark areas on edge of 1/21/11
dorsal
Thanks a lot for your reply. After a dip is it safe to put it in the DT or does it need to remain separate for a while first? I wonder if the black spots are a parasite..?
<Not parasitic... please read where you've been referred. BobF>
Re: Yellow Tang in QT - not eating, black/dark areas on edge of dorsal 1/22/11
Thanks again. He did fine with the bath and is enjoying his new home in his 145 gallon reef tank.
<Ah good>
Just a pair of percula clowns for company so far. Incredibly active and swimming well and fast, no twitching. Seems like a happy fish now. In and out the caves. Hope he will start to eat again tomorrow.
<Very likely so>
Bob I am so grateful you take the time to do this. Yours was the first book I bought and we enjoy it very much.
<Thank you for your kind acknowledgement>
I also went out and sized up to a 20 gallon long QT. I was using a sponge filter on an airline. Would you advise sticking with that kind or switching to another for a QT?
<This size/volume and type of filtration is fine for a majority of cases, organisms. Cheers, BobF>

Help 10/25/10
Hey everyone, another question for you. My yellow tang will be in QT for 19 days as of tomorrow and I wanted to know what you thought of returning him to the display tomorrow. I was just following the basic safety precautions and decided to QT for the recommended 3 week period. Its just that my tang is skittish and stressed all day. If a parasite or infection were going to show up, do you think he would have showed signs at this point?
<Likely so>
Thanks
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>
Re: re: Help 10/25/10
Thanks for the quick reply back. I think I am dealing with black Ich on my yellow tang.
<Very easy to exclude/eliminate via a pH adjusted freshwater bath...>
He doesn't itch gills at all and he is eating great along with normal breathing. But I see a few tiny black spots on him and he twitches every now and then. I was going to dose with Prazi -pro, what do you think?
<... That you should read: http://wetwebmedia.com/paravortexfaqs.htm
and the linked FAQs files above in the series>
After reading the forums I still have some mysterious concerns unanswered. My nitrites are .25 and I am doing water changes every four days (30%).
<... better to best to move, dip/bath this fish... to permanent quarters>
My yellow tang gasps for air about four times in a row (very fast movement) and makes a clicking sound I can hear. What is he doing?
<Vocalizing, communicating if you will>
Is this something I should be concerned about.
<Yes>
Like I said, no white spots and no Gill itching after three weeks. You know what Bob, I am watching my tang as I am typing this and he is now scratching gills on live rock. Is this velvet or Ich that cannot be seen?
<Not likely, no... Environmental stress, irritation, yes>
Even after almost a month? I would
like to know which Med you recommend if any at all?
<Zip, nada>
Thank you again for your time
<Welcome. BobF>
Re: re: Help, reading 10/26/10
I should move to the display? What if the freshwater dip/bath doesn't get every bit of the black Ich and some is transferred to the display through the bath water?
<Easy to defeat, and not "that" debilitating. Far more to be lost by delaying the move>
If my fish after three weeks show no spots or infections of any kind but they do scratch a little and twitch, how do I know what to treat with?
<...? Read on WWM re: http://wetwebmedia.com/paravortexfaqs.htm
and the linked files re above ... B>
Re: re: Help 10/26/10
Ok thanks, that answered a few of my questions. Today upon waking I noticed a white spot on tail fin. He had a similar white spot when I purchased him 3 weeks ago and that never got any worse nor did it go away. Now I see another white spot almost in the same place. Is this Ich?
Thanks
<... read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/YTangDisF11.htm
and the linked files above. You'd do well to read re using the search tool:
http://wetwebmedia.com/ericshowtoart.htm
B>
Re: re: Help 10/27/10
Your awesome....thanks
<You're as well... B>
Re: re: Help 10/28/10
Bob, I did exactly. what you said and fw dipped my tang for 8 minutes. It is now about 45 min later and his breathing is still labored and hasn't slowed down even a little...he's kind of just gliding in the water. I put marine buffer 8.3 in the fw and the temperature and Ph were almost exactly the same as the display and qt water (after taking readings from both). I think I may have killed him. From my experience I have yet to see a fish take more than 40 min to recover from a dip...or at least a decrease in breathing.
I am concerned....do you think he's going to die?
Thanks Bob
<... only time can/will tell. I would not use such marine buffer/s in freshwater dips... Please read my articles re such on WWM... Sodium bicarbonate... B, barely here in Fiji>
Re: re: Help 10/27/2010
Hey Bob, I wanted to follow up with u regarding my y tang. He is eating now and is breathing just slightly slower....good news. Did you ever hear of a tough fish taking three hours to snap out of stress from a fw dip?
<... yes>
Seems long to me lol. If my tang does recover, do you think there could be some permanent damage done to gills that I may notice later on in the future?
<Not likely, no>
Thank you, thank you....THANK YOU!
<... 30-40k people use this site daily... B>

"Lumps" on Yellow Tang -- 10/11/10
Hello WWM Crew -
I'm a long time listener, first time caller.
<Hello there>
I have a Yellow Tang who has been resting comfortably in QT for the last 3 weeks since purchasing him from a LFS. Ever since I've brought him home, I've been observing these two lumps that appear to be WITHIN his fins and visible from both sides of his body. I don't believe it's Ich--he's not flashing or rubbing. It also doesn't look "cauliflowery". I'm stuck on whether these lumps could just be some "beauty marks" or something worse.
My wife has been bugging me to put the poor guy in the main tank but before I do, I'm hoping to get an expert opinion. The attached photo makes it look more white than it really is...it is just less translucent as the rest of his fin.
Let me know what you think: Treat? Ignore?
<Ignore. These appear to be "stress/repair" zones... likely from bends in the fin rays. Not to worry; will repair on their own>
Thanks much! Your web site is addicting as it is informative.
Thanks! Brian,
<Welcome! Bob Fenner>

sick tang with brown spot and Dinoflagellate bloom, Misty's turn 9/30/10
<Hi Roger, Misty here>
I have a few problems going on. My phosphates are through the roof, and I have Dinoflagellates cropping up everywhere. I'm working on getting the phosphates out...2 reactors running Phosguard. <Yuck! I've had some fun with Dinoflagellates in the past...I'd recommend a couple of 25% water changes in the next 2-3 days (both water changes in that time frame), and then maybe 10-20% every day until the problem clears up - the water changes will cut the phosphate/other nutrients as well as give you the chance to syphon out a lot of that goo. Cut your pumps/powerheads when doing the changes to make it easier to suck that stuff out. If you haven't already, increase the photoperiod of light on that sump/refugium 24/7 to help keep the pH stable/8.2-8.4.>
My yellow tang is sick. He's breathing heavy and wont eat or come out of the rocks. <I'm not a sick fish expert, so hopefully one of those on crew will chime in. But, if it were me, I'd set up a QT to have ready when someone does reply. Have you tried target feeding him in the rocks some garlic-soaked Mysis or Nori? If he still won't eat, I think I'd try getting him out into a QT where you can get a better look at that spot and maybe coax him to eat in solitude...that's just my opinion. I responded to your query more for the dino information, and because I didn't want you to think your email had not been received.>
He has a large brown spot with a white dot in the middle. Do you know what this is? He hasn't eaten in many days and is looking very sickly/skinny.
The other fish seem fine. ( 1 powder blue, lawnmower blenny, a green mandarin, yellow watchman in the sump, and 2 Ocellaris). The powder and the yellow were purchased together out of the same tank. They have not had any issues with fighting. They actually sleep in the same area which I think is a little strange. I did get a some emerald crabs, one of which has set up camp in their bed. I wondered if he might have injured the fish <not likely, in my experience...unless they are some BIG emerald crabs.>. I was worried that this might be velvet Oodinium. It wont be easy to catch the fish, but I wondered if I should set up a hospital tank and run copper <I'd wait on the copper until you hear from another crew member...copper is very difficult for tangs to handle, kind of a sad irony. Someone might have a better treatment than copper.>.
The tang was eating well, and this seemed to happen out of nowhere. The brown spot showed up, and he stopped eating completely about 5 days ago. The spot has grown some, and now that white spot appeared on it.
Can you offer suggestions on what to do to get him well, and also to get him to eat?
140 gallon tank, 25 gallon fuge, 20 gallon sump
ammonia:0
nitrites:0
nitrates:0
ph: 8.2
Alk: 11
phosphates .7 ppm ( I know!)
calcium: 450
temp: 81
<Sorry I couldn't offer more advice about your tang. I hope you're able to treat him and that he makes it.
Cheers, Misty>
Roger
<PS...I deleted your personal contact information since this post will go on the internet...didn't want you to get spammed to death :)>
sick tang, RMF's go 9/30/10
I have a few problems going on. My phosphates are through the roof, and I have Dinoflagellates cropping up everywhere. I'm working on getting the phosphates out...2 reactors running Phosguard.
<I would not do/use this product... What is/are the source/s of your HPO4? Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/phosphatemar.htm
and the linked files above>
My yellow tang is sick. He's breathing heavy and wont eat or come out of the rocks.
He has a large brown spot with a white dot in the middle. Do you know what this is?
<Appears to be a physical trauma... a mechanical injury>
He hasn't eaten in many days and is looking very sickly/skinny.
<Summat environmental...>
The other fish seem fine. ( 1 powder blue,
<Could be harassment from this fish>
lawnmower blenny,
<Or this>
a green mandarin, yellow watchman in the sump, and 2 Ocellaris). The powder and the yellow were purchased together out of the same tank. They have not had any issues with fighting. They actually sleep in the same area which I think is a little strange. I did get a some emerald crabs, one of which has set up camp in their bed. I wondered if he might have injured the fish. I was worried that this might be velvet Oodinium.
<Mmm, no... Or the Acanthurus leucosternon would be dust/ed>
It wont be easy to catch the fish, but I wondered if I should set up a hospital tank and run copper.
<I would not>
The tang was eating well, and this seemed to happen out of nowhere. The brown spot showed up, and he stopped eating completely about 5 days ago. The spot has grown some, and now that white spot appeared on it.
Can you offer suggestions on what to do to get him well, and also to get him to eat?
<Mmm, I'd offer other foods... Dried algae on a feeding clip near the surface, Spectrum pelleted food...>
140 gallon tank, 25 gallon fuge, 20 gallon sump
ammonia:0
nitrites:0
nitrates:0
ph: 8.2
Alk: 11
phosphates .7 ppm ( I know!)
calcium: 450
temp: 81
Roger
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/YtangDisF10.htm
and the linked files above, for background, input as to your situation here. I would not do "anything overt". Bob Fenner

Hey Bob - thanks for chiming in on that one. Poor guy had been waiting for over a day, so I thought it would be good to get back to him with at least something. I had no idea on the fish though, as expressed. Thought it would get someone's attention better if I responded and then cc'd the crew...looks like it worked :)
Cheers,
Misty

Surgeonfishes: Tangs for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

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