Yellow tang breathing hard, getting skinny
Hi team,
I'm having a problem with a 4 inch yellow tang, and I'm wondering if you could shed some light on it. I've had the tang for about 4 months now, in a 180 gallon FOWLR system. He's in there with a small Maculosus angel, a
large Annularis angel, two large puffers (Porcupine and Stars and Stripes),
<You know this last gets huge>
a Bicolor dwarf angel, and a large Desjardini Sailfin tang.
For about the last month the tang has been breathing hard (he's gilling much more rapidly than he normally would) and isn't eating well. He no longer eats the Spectrum pellets he once did. He only eats small pieces of Nori and a few Spirulina brine shrimp here or there. He's hiding a lot more than he should be, and he's getting pretty skinny.
There doesn't appear to be any ich or velvet present in the system (no spots on him or the other fish, no scratching on rocks or sand, etc) and from what I can tell he isn't being bullied. He's just breathing hard, hiding a fair amount, and not eating very well. Any idea what's going on?
<My first (and best) guess is gill flukes (do see WWM re); but the fish may be just having a hard time competing for food and space here. IF it were me, mine, I'd first try moving it to another established system and increasing foods, feeding. Am hesitant to suggest treatment w/ a practical anthelminthic in a FOWLR, as the die/kill-off of all worms may be real
trouble. Do spend some time observing this fish during feeding... is it getting its share? Bob Fenner>
Thanks,
Danny
Re: Yellow tang breathing hard, getting skinny
Thanks for the reply Bob.
<Welcome Dan>
To answer your question, no, the yellow tang is not getting its fair share of food.
<Ahh; and you're likely aware that most tangs, including Zebrasomas, eat most all the time during daylight hours>
It does not seem overly interested in eating or competing for food, especially the Spectrum pellets I feed them every single day.
<A great product>
I've also noticed some reddening around its mouth.
<Aye ya; a bad sign>
I'm reading your take on flukes (below). Will a full-strength Cupramine treatment eliminate them (I know it will any micro fauna on my liverock, but I'd really prefer not to lose the yellow tang)?
<It will not... or more accurately, by the time the Copper poisons the Flukes, the Tang will be gone. Need to use a purposeful vermifuge...
Prazi/quantel would be my first choice here. I do (of course) concur w/ all stated below. BobF>
Worms Phylum Platyhelminthes; flatworms, flukes, tapeworms. Turbellarians, a group in the flatworm Phylum Platyhelminthes are mostly "free-living" non-parasitic species. One notable exception is Paravortex, the causative
agent of "black spot disease", notably of yellow tangs. This is easily eliminated via freshwater dipping, though other authors suggest formalin baths and organophosphate remedies. Turbellarians, a group in the flatworm Phylum Platyhelminthes are mostly "free-living" non-parasitic species. One notable exception is Paravortex, the causative agent of "black spot disease", notably of yellow tangs. This is easily eliminated via freshwater dipping, though other authors suggest formalin baths and organophosphate remedies. Trematodes, the flukes are divided into ecto-parasitic (external)
monogenes and the largely endo-parasitic (internal) Digenes on the basis of their life histories. Monogeneans have a direct life cycle, and digeneans an indirect one with the use of one or more intermediary host species. The monogenes are important as gill and body parasites of marine fishes. There are many species of flukes, they are common on imported livestock, and may significantly reduce their health if not eliminated through acclimation techniques. Hiding, rapid breathing discoloration and more are symptomatic of infection/infestation, though microscopic examination of skin scrapings and gill clippings are required for positive diagnosis. Several chemicals including organophosphates, copper, quinines and dips of freshwater with/out malachite/formalin have been described in the literature as being efficacious. Recent authors tout the use of Praziquantel (Droncit (R)) at 1ppm in a treatment system. Digeneans rarely spread due to the absence of intermediaries, and many of the monogenes are species/group specific.

Yellow tang    3/7/16 Small white cottony by mouth. Fish is acting normally <Reading here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ytangdisfaqs.htm and files at top. B>

Lympho, or something else?        1/13/16 Hi Crew! I have recently purchased a yellow tang - online, as there are no saltwater fish stores within an hour of me. When the little guy came, he was a beautiful bright yellow, but seemed very emaciated, and had this spot on his fin. He started eating around day 3 in QT, and is quickly filling out and becoming a pig, eating anything I toss in. I had initially thought he wouldn’t make it, but he seems to be rebounding nicely. After searching the site today, I’m thinking this is probably Lympho, but the fact that it is the same yellow as his fins (instead of white) makes me want to double check with you. <Might be Lymphocystis... can't tell from your pic... > Thanks for the help, and the wonderful info on the site! You guys definitely help us all out so much! ~ TJ <Could be a number of influences at play here. Please search, read on WWM re Zebrasoma, Z. flavescens health and more on WWM. Bob Fenner>

yellow tang large white clump on fin     11/26/15 my yellow tang has a large white clump on his fin its kinda hanging off but still attached can you please help me identify and how to treat it thanks April <Mmm; can't quite make this out; but appears to be a "wound site"... rather than something pathogenic. I would not move this fish, add medicines; but do your best to bolster health through good nutrition (soaking foods per WWM) and optimized environment (water quality). Bob Fenner>

re: yellow tang large white clump on fin        11/27/15 it started out small (spec of salt) and has grown to the size of half a pea, within the past month. I have noticed the past day that it is starting to fall away <Look up Lymphocystis on WWM. Does this appear to be similar? BobF>