Tangs Health 12/7/07
Dear Wet Web Media Crew,
First let me say thank you for taking the time to answer my question.
<You're welcome.>
I have a 75 gallon saltwater FOWLR aquarium and I'm having trouble with my Purple and Blue Hippo (P. Hepatus) Tangs. Both tangs are losing or have lost their fins (except for their pelvic fins) and losing skin all over their bodies.
At first I thought it was HLLE, but the tissue loss doesn't seem to be confined to the lateral line. None of the other fish in the tank are experiencing this problem. The tangs eat well everyday and don't exhibit any behavioral problems or anomalies.
<They are sure exhibiting anomalies now.>
The aquarium has been up and running for 4 1/2 years, and I have had the Purple Tang for 4 years and the Blue Hippo Tang for 18 months. Both fish have had this problem for at least a year.
<Kind of late to be inquiring now.>
Here are the particulars...
Specific gravity: 1.024
Temp: A constant 78 degrees
<I certainly do not want to sound rude, but the SG and temperature isn't telling me very much about your water quality. There are many more factors that can lead to the condition of your tangs such as high nitrates, nitrites, low pH, etc. I'm pretty sure the problem was caused by an environmental problem. Your tank is too small for these fish and you did not state what your tank load is along with other water parameters.
It may be too late to do much for them, but for starters I would change 50% of the water, discontinue the use of carbon and go with a product like Chemi-Pure, which will do much more for water quality than what carbon does.>
Diet: 4 types of frozen food (Formula 1 and 2, Angel formula, VHP formula) soaked in garlic and Selcon, dried Nori sheets given everyday.
<A good diet.>
Filtration: Rena Filstar XP-2 canister filter
Skimmer: Coralife Super skimmer
Maintenance: 10% water changes every 2 weeks, fresh activated carbon every 4 weeks.
I spent 2 years as an aquarist at a public aquarium and I have been in the hobby for 10 years, but I have never seen anything like this. I have read (and enjoyed) my copy of A Conscientious Marine Aquarist but haven't found anything relevant to this problem in the text. Any help you could offer would be most appreciated.
<Danny, the best thing you can do for the tangs is get them into larger quarters and/or reduce your fish load. I would continue with a 50% water change every two weeks. After four or five water changes, hopefully the fish will look much better. I believe environmental stress and diet are one of the major contributors to poor health. A friend of mine has a couple of tangs in an overcrowded tank that were in poor health despite his efforts in maintaining high water quality and diet. Since money prohibited him from buying a larger tank at the time, I lent him a large Rubbermaid tub and suggested he transfer the two tangs into this with a circulation pump, some live rock for a bio-filter, a thin layer of coral sand for substrate, a couple of inexpensive large ceramic hollow logs for security, and then I suggested to maintain a good diet with food soaked in Selcon along with a weekly water change. Lighting was provided by a nearby window. Guess what? Within a month the tangs gained weight, showed excellent color, and all fins looked good. Two weeks later they were sold to my LFS for a fair price. It's been about three years now and they are still alive and doing quite well in a customer's 450 gallon reef tank. What I'm depicting here is that tangs just do much much better in larger systems that offer little or no environmental stress. I have a five foot long 85 gallon tank and as much as I'd like a Purple Tang, I just won't do it...I know what lies ahead as the fish grows.>
Thank you very much!
<You're welcome and sorry for the lengthy reply, just got a little wound up.>
Best regards,
<And to you. James (Salty Dog)>
Danny

Distressed Tomini Tang... yes, exposure to Malachite, Formalin  12/7/07
I appreciate the time. I will try to keep as short as possible.
I've had a Tomini Tang that I got as a birthday gift 3 weeks ago. The first 2.5 weeks went great, he was eating up everything in site. In the last couple days, he has started to show some white spots on his fins and now on his body.
<... a pic?>
I gave him a Furan-2 bath plus QuICK Cure (LFS recommended) for about 2 hours
<! I hope not too concentrated... the "Cure" is toxic, very>
with water from the tank. I put him back in and after a few hours he is looking worse.
<Formalin burned little doubt>
I also did a water change just in case, but not sure what to do next. He is breathing fine, but his appetite is nowhere what it once was.
<Poisoned...>
I'm not sure if this is a parasite, Cryptocaryon or protozoan?
<Me neither... again, an image... Please try to put yourself in my/our place... this is a bad guessing game>
His mouth also is white (not sure what that could be from).
<Some specimens just are... others from rubbing in bags, tanks...>
There is no scratching at all, so can I cancel out ick?
<... how would I be able to tell?>
All other tank mates look fine.
<This is a good sign... Likely nothing contagious...>
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Neil
<Careful observation... only at this point. Please show this note to whoever advised the hours long Malachite Green/formalin exposure... NOT! Bob Fenner>
 

Sail Fin Tang... HLLE and trematodes... -11/27/2007 I have a Sail fin tang. He has small holes all over his body and fins. <I see these in your photo> I thought it was Ick but have not had any luck treating for Ick. <Are likely flukes... and neuromast destruction...> The best way to describe is the holes with something white in the middle of them. Something seems to be eating away at the skin. I have attached a very large photo so you can zoom in. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks, Brian Safian <... I would treat... successively... with Metronidazole... then Praziquantel... see WWM re the use of these compounds... AND you need to address your water quality and nutrition... Something is amiss here that has allowed the HLLE to advance... see WWM re HLLE causes/cures... Write back with specific issues... Bob Fenner> Re: Sail Fin Tang... hlth. f'   11/27/2007 Bob, <Brian> I have been putting Metronidazole in food regularly for about a month <This is MUCH too long for exposure to this material> and I treated the tank with PraziPro. <This... should have "done it"> Some folks have suggested I do the formalin dip as that is also effective against Flukes and Ich and maybe feed Metronidazole while the fish are in QT after formalin dip. Basically, setup QT tank, do Formalin dips and then put fish into QT tank for a while. My next question is, "Does the eel need treatment." <...? What eel?> I know most flukes and worms can be fairly species specific and this one might only go after tangs. <Likely so> I just do not know what the resistance to flukes is by different fish or eels. <Many species are almost commensals...> I know that in tank treatment is not recommended by most, but having a fish only tank might be able to get away with dosing Praziquantel in the tank? <Is done... frequently. Often times with success... though the issue of co-interactions is pertinent... may absorb the medicant/s> If it is not recommended, what the life cycle of the fluke is and that way you know how long your QT has to be for. <What?> Thanks, Brian Safian <See WWM, the Net re Trematode diseases of fishes... BobF> Re: Sail Fin Tang... hlth. 11/29/07 OK....Let me clarify. The Sail Fin Tang is in a FO tank with a Naso tang and a Snowflake Eel. The Naso and Eel have no signs parasites what so ever. Last night I gave the Sail Fin a 45 Minute Formulin bath. <... depending on strength/concentration, this is too long for formalin exposure> It seems today that several, but not all the holes are empty so it may have gotten some of the flukes off. Everyone seems to think I should bring the tank into Hypo, which I may begin stepping down today. Sorry for the confusion Brian <... please, don't write; read instead... on WWM re hyposalinity... RMF>

Powder Blue with a white blob on fin  11/26/07 Hi there really appreciate all you guys do <Welcome> Wondered if you could help me identify what if wrong with my powder blue? <I think so> The blob is on his fin near the base, looks like a small spider egg sack about 2mm in diameter just wondered if you knew of a treatment or what it was because it looks like its starting to bother him and affect his swimming other than that he is eating just fine. Keep up the good work Many thanks Luke, Hertfordshire, UK <This apparently is a not-uncommon "reaction spot" from a tweaking of the soft fin support and membrane in this area... Nothing to do other than general good care. Will resolve on its own in a few days to weeks. Bob Fenner> Ps levels are all fine tank is 150g all my other fish are totally unaffected.

Re: Anemone Lighting help!... Now... no prev. corr., summat about tang hlth.   11/22/07
Thanks for the prompt response!
<Please... always send the prev. corr.... there are quite a few of us here, many incoming/outgoing messages... and am feeble at remembering/finding...>
One quick follow-up, however:
Will the lights make the aquarium's temperature rise?
<... possibly>
Also, the tang, although very active and a hearty eater, has developed some slight redness around his mouth and tail.
<Usually environmental>
I did around a 35% water change today and soaked his new algae food in Maracyn.
<Mmm... I would not start/use antibiotics in such an indiscriminate manner>
If the problem persists, I have a 5-gallon bucket that I use as a quarantine tank that I will move him to,
<Too small to be stable, useful here>
but I have no way to get any medications other than the ones I have (Maracyn and QuICK Cure) until the weekend. I live
around 50 miles from the nearest LFS.
Any tips?
Again, thanks for the quick response, and keep up the good work!
<... I really have no idea what your situation is other than what is offered here in this msg. I would NOT treat an acanthurid given what you list... with what you list... I would continue reading on WWM re Tang Systems, Nutrition, Health. Bob Fenner>