Y. Tang, hlth.  11/10/09
Hello,
<Hi there>
I've got a mysterious bubble of gas stuck in my yellow tang. I've noticed its formation about 4 months ago, ever since it has been getting bigger and bigger. Now it appears like the fish is going to pop any day and die from it. It's definitely not pregnant, im thinking it has some kind of blockage in its intestinal track (not likely) or that his gas bladder is dysfunctional.... any thoughts/suggestions?
<Perhaps the Epsom Salt route. Please search WWM re. Bob Fenner>
Thanks,
Matthew

Yellow Tang, Crypto, Reading -- 11/04/2009
Hi,
<Hey there! JustinN here!>
I have a yellow tang in a 55g tank i also have 3 yellow tail damsels, 1 bicolor Dottyback, and 2 scooter blennies. The tank has been up since September-19-09.
<This tank is too small ultimately for the Tang, and likely too immature to support even a single scooter blenny, much less two. The tang has potential to outsize the tank very quickly, and the scooter blennies are obligate fauna feeders -- they will pick your tank clean of their necessary food source quickly.>
I got a yellow tang on October-3-09 and he was doing fine until I had a ich infection which i treated with Kordon Rid-Ich+.
<Treated in your display? This should be done in a quarantine tank.>
I am still treating with this the yellow tang has no visible signs of ich but the Dottyback does.
<Is parasitic, and communicable to all fish in a mixed display here. This is why Quarantine is so important.>
I have just noticed (about 3 days ago) red spots on the Yellow tang and they seem to be getting worst by the day.
<Sounds like chemical burn/irritation here>
He looks like he has hole in head. The red spots are at the tail. I can't identify what they are. My tanks recent test values are as follows: Nitrate-30, Nitrite-0, Alkalinity-300, pH-7.9.
<What is your Salinity at? Your pH is a bit low, should be in the 8.1-8.3 range -- Nitrate should be at, or as close to, 0 as possible. The nitrate alone may be enough to cause the burning, but if the Formalin/Malachite
solution is being dosed too highly, this could easily cause the 'burning' as well."
Their is a small electrical current measuring .002v in the tank.
<Most likely unrelated, but there shouldn't be stray voltage in your tank.>
The filtration is a emperor 400 filter and a coral life super skimmer for a 125g tank.
<The main thing you need here is some reading -- your tank is very immature, and is likely still going through its establishing nitrogen cycle. Exacerbating this is your stocking levels -- you have too many fish, far too soon, and the tank is still attempting to establish its biota balance. In addition to this, by treating your display tank with the Formalin/Malachite compound, you are effectively killing all beneficial bacterium/biological filtration available in your tank. These medications treat indiscriminately. More reading is in order -- start here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/formalinart.htm
http://wetwebmedia.com/stocking1.htm http://wetwebmedia.com/quaranti.htm
http://wetwebmedia.com/watrqualmar.htm
http://wetwebmedia.com/nitratesmar.htm
 and related subheadings. -JustinN>

Rotting Fin After Freshwater Dip  10/29/09 Hi Bob. I have a quick question for you. My Yellow Tang had developed some red blotches on its body (see attached picture entitled "Before 1"). Due to the fact that I had recently lost a fish to some disease, I decided to quarantine the Tang. I placed it in my QT tank and later that day freshwater dipped it (matching the temperature and PH). The dip took about 15 minutes, during which time the Tang laid sideways, but did not act irate. After the dip, I placed the Tang back into QT. <So far...> This morning all the red blotches were gone, but the tang's fins seemed to be rotting (see attached pictures entitled "After 1," "After 2," and "After 3"). This literally happened overnight. There is no other life in the QT, so nothing could have eaten the fins. How is this possible for this to happen overnight? The before and after pictures are 24 hours apart. In the before picture, the fins are smooth, but in the after picture, they are ruffled and look rotten. Have you ever seen anything like this? What do you recommend I do? P.S. The Tang is not eating, but is swimming about kind of aloof. <I do think the dip is accountable here... and "general stress" associated with it... This fish looks in good shape otherwise, and I do think that if it was moved to propitious circumstances following the bath, all should be fine here. Bob Fenner>

Re: Rotting Fin After Freshwater Dip   11/6/09 Hi Bob. Thank you for the answer. The tang recovered and is eating perfectly. <Ahh!> Unfortunately, the red blotches on its body are coming back (see attached picture). It is still in quarantine, but not being treated with anything. What do you recommend? Thanks, Eugene <Time going by, good care. Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/ytangdisf7.htm and as much of the linked files above as takes to convince you. The red markings are environmental. BobF>

What's that stuff in my tank?? No pic...  Yellow tg. env. hlth.  10/2/2009
Hello - thank you for a wonderful site!
<Howdy. Welcome>
I have a 55 gal salt water tank and I have a Yellow Tang and some damsels in it. The other day my daughter said that my Tang had some red dots on his head - I could not see them - but well hey I wont mention my age :)..
Yesterday when we came home from school my tank had a black growth (it had long furry/grassy stuff) - anyway I went ahead and dug that stuff out and did a 25% water change. What is that stuff?
<Could you send an image?>
It almost looked like black grass - maybe??
<Not a graminean assuredly>
Not sure how to explain it.
<A photo...>
The sand had a growth/crust as well. My tang was ok this morning - still had the red blotches (looks like blood on his fins next to his body and on his mouth). I read some other emails and answers you have given about things like the bloody look on the tangs and have made sure he had seaweed and flakes to eat.
<More likely environmental in origin...>
I guess my main questions is what is that black stuff? And is my "Tangy" going to die? (The other fish are fine - and Tangy is acting somewhat normal).
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/ytangdisf7.htm
and the linked files above...>
I've got two other tanks but one I just refilled and letting it cycle and the other is a 90 gal tank that is real close to the 6 weeks cycle and I can move fish in soon do I need to put Tangy in there and it be a QT tank and do I need to put meds in this water?
<I would move this Zebrasoma now>
Have I confused you?
<No>
I'm just worried about Tangy - he is a funny fish and is VERY spoiled and we really like to sit and watch him.
(Oh before I forget I have not done anything different or added anything to the tank lately).
Thank you for everything! All this is a on going learning process.
Cecilia Lester
Paris Texas
<Ah yes. Cheers, Bob Fenner, San Diego, CA presently>

Sick Tang 09/15/09 Hi guys, need help, a fellow reefer passed away last week and some of my reef club members got together to help the widow out. <Ah, good> She wanted all livestock to go to good homes and remove the entire tank. The tank was a 325 glass tank which may have been neglected due to the owner's illness. Anyway, I took a 4" yellow tang and a royal gramma along with some Tonga rock and some coral. Unfortunately it took about 7 hours to move the fish from an Instant Ocean pail to a 20 gal tank I had setup at home. This was due to us emptying and moving the main display tank. I have had the fish since Saturday and the Tang does not look good. It is not eating and has a white film over both eyes and front of head, see pics attached. Any suggestions to help the tang would be appreciated. The gramma also had a few similar spots on it but looked better today, also not eating. thanks, Frank <Mmm, a toss up between causing further stress from manipulating this animal (for what good it might do...) and just leaving be and hoping. IF you are wanting to "do" something, I would net this fish out and gingerly daub a dilute solution of either an iodide or mercuric based (e.g. Mercurochrome) liquid prep. (with a cotton swab) on the afflicted area... yes, including the eyes... This may arrest the further decomposition to an extent. Otherwise, "just time going by" in your good care will prove whether these fishes will improve/survive. Bob Fenner> re: Sick Tang 09/15/09 Bob, Thank you for your prompt reply. I am assuming you took a look at the pics provided, this condition is a result of stress/neglect? I was concerned that it may be some type of fungus or other illness. <To extent Frank... perhaps a physical injury was the origin> If not, then I believe I will take your advise and hope that it will recover. I'll keep water conditions pristine and hope for the best. I don't think that netting it again will be advantageous. thanks again, Frank <I agree. Thank you, BobF>

Yellow tang didn't make the night... killed by improper env.    8/24/09
Hello WWM Crew,
<G>
I have a new 24g salt water set up.
<... this is way too small for a Zebrasoma species. Read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/ytangsysfaqs.htm
RMF>
It's been cycled and water tests show good. I've had 3 blue chromis that are doing fine. Unfortunately the
yellow tang I just got didn't make it through the night. Heart breaking since I thought they're one of the tougher fish for a newbie. I acclimated the tang to the water properly before I put him in and he seemed fine. He seemed to be eating within the first few hours, so I can't imagine why he didn't make it. I initially needed him since I have green algae on the walls of the tank and it seems like darker brownish algae that collects at the bottom. Any popular reasons he\she didn't make it? What should I do to ensure the next one makes it? thanks GeraldB

Yellow tang problem, 6/17/09
I got a 55 gallon fish only tank from a couple moving to Germany about a month ago.
<Nice>
I have a very small amount of experience with saltwater fish (clown and blue damsel in a 20 gallon tank for about 6 years now). The tank had been badly neglected before I moved into my house. After the ordeal of moving settled down for the native fish (green bird wrasse, maroon clown, three striped damsel, 2 feather dusters, and a pencil urchin) I decided to add a yellow tang about a week ago.
<Will outgrow this tank, and may get badly bullied by the current livestock.>
The tang has lightened in color progressively worse over the last week to a point of almost completely white with a yellow stripe. The tang has been eating great; seaweed clipped to the side, and an assortment of frozen foods from San Francisco bay brands, and even omega one flake food. I wasn't too concerned about the color change after reading multiple posts online about stress related "paleness".
<Stress can lead to may other problems, is something to be concerned with.>
Tonight while feeding I noticed a deep red spot that slightly bulges out on the base of the left pectoral fin, and I am concerned. Ammonia, and nitrite levels are 0. Ph is 8.2. Temperature is 79. Nitrate it s pretty high.
When I got the tank set up at my house last month the nitrate levels were off the page (160 is as high as the card goes) I kept about 90% of the original water. I have done about a 20% water change once a week to get the nitrate level down to 50, still high but steadily dropping.
<This is probably part of your problem.>
I figured the nitrate level would be ok for a fish due to the good health of the urchin (as much as an urchin looks healthy).
<Not necessarily, is probably causing a good part of your issues.>
Could the high nitrate level be to blame for the health of the tang?
<Yes>
Could it be some other health issue treatable with a fresh water dip?
<Not likely.>
Should I move the tang to the small tank and use the shotgun approach to fish medical care?
<I would not.>
Any help would be appreciated.
Bill
<Improve the water quality first and foremost. After that I would consider returning the tang as you are at the very minimum required to keep it long term, and with your current aggressive tank mates I think you will run into problems.>
<Chris>

Urgent issue with Yellow Tang - 06/05/09
Please help - I got my first fish two weeks ago after my local shop said my water was ready for fish.
<Dubious qualification....do bear in mind they seek to sell fish.>
He seemed fine at first but last few days seemed to be darting about a bit more and not just swimming naturally. However he was eating fine and water tests showed to be ok.
<What are you testing for? Ammonia? NO2, NO3?
I've come home tonight to find him quite listless, a bit pale and breathing quite fast. He also didn't react to feeding like he did this morning. I've done a partial water change but as its nearly midnight I only have about 15 litres of RO water here and the tank is holding around 160 litres. This is obviously not enough but Im not going to be able to get to the shop till they open in about 9 hours. I desperately want to save him so is there
anything else I can do? Or what is the best way to treat tap water ready to be mixed with the minerals as a temporary measure?
<Jo, this sounds to me like ammonia or nitrite poisoning. Was the tank cycled? Do you realize this will be woefully inadequate space for a yellow tang in the future? If the fish is still alive, do get your hands on water
fit for making WCs (deionized from the grocery works in a pinch, although it can be tough on the wallet) and run an airstone of some sort into the water...keep an eye on pH. Do read on WetWebMedia re: cycling, new aquariums, stocking, etc.>
Please help!
<Hope I have. Best of luck,>
Thanks, Jo
<Benjamin> 

Desperation for anorexic yellow tangs Tang health: Probable copper poisoning 5/31/2009
Hi there
<Hello>
I apologise in advance for the length of this message/question and would also like to congratulate you on the most informative and helpful website I have found.
<Thank you for your kind words.>
I am writing from the UK so will convert to litres.
<Liters, gallons, UK gallons, whichever you are most comfortable with.>
I have 3 marine tanks, 2 display (450l and 400l) and one QT (100l). The QT is my problem NH4 -0, NO2 - 0, pH 8.0, NO3 currently about 10 SG- 1.020 for past week. (I only use in date Salifert test kits so I am sure they are reliable measures, expensive but the best IMO) QT is completely bare except a few plastic pots to hide in, is run by external Fluval 204, 1 wave p/head and 2 air pumps.
<Sounds fine.>
I have had 2 yellow tangs and a maroon clown in the QT for several months now due to various problems/diseases. Within 3 weeks of getting them both tangs developed white spot /ich and I treated this successfully with a copper based treatment called Cuprazin (clown showed no symptoms at all).
<Hmm, not familiar with the product.>
They all fed well until towards the end of the treatment when the tangs stopped eating, but within 2 days of stripping it out and adding vitamins they began eating again. All 3 seemed fine and I was at the end of the
further 4 wk period, almost ready to transfer into display tanks when I went away for a few days and neighbours clearly massively overfed whilst I was gone.
<As neighbors tend to do. Read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/feeding.htm >
NO3 was 15- 20 when I went and a huge 40+ when I returned. Consequently all 3 fish were struggling /breathing more heavily, both tangs displayed reddened areas on both sides at the back end and base of fins, and the clown was covered in grey film patches and some white spots. I obviously did repeated water changes to get control of NO3 again and added an anti internal bacteria product by interpret, with no response, so after required time I discontinued use, changed more water and stripped out ( using Polyfilter). LFS then recommended using a combined malachite green and formalin product as they wondered if it was Brooklynella on the clown?
<Hmm... not Brooklynella.>
I couldn't come up with an alternative diagnosis so I did as suggested for required time, again with no response, so I stripped out ( using carbon) and water changed etc.
<Do read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_6/volume_6_1/brooklynella.htm >
At this point after searching on your site and everywhere else I decided to just keep improving/maintaining water quality to see if they would heal themselves and indeed this seemed to happen, very steadily the patches became smaller and red colour went paler on tangs and, the clown began to look more normal.
<Very good.>
Throughout these earlier treatments they all kept eating but the tangs were slightly less interested than usual in Nori, however, just as they appeared almost fully recovered one of the tangs started flashing against the
plastic pots repeatedly (near its gills particularly) and stopped eating and the breathing became more rapid. Spoke to LFS and they stated it must be a parasite, not just bacterial due to this behaviour so I began treating with the copper product I had previously used successfully.
<Hmmm....>
Both tangs seemed distressed by this and began doing some strange behaviour - nose pointing upwards/ heavier breathing/ moving around less and neither of them were eating whilst copper was used ( clown again eating like a horse) . I became deeply anxious but continued to treat until the flashing stopped, then stripped out (using Polyfilter) and did 30% water change.
<You need to stop dosing with copper. Copper is toxic, particularly to the natural fauna that live in the digestive tract of Tangs.>
Again I left them to improve and again steadily the red colour continued to fade and the greedier tang started eating again but only brine shrimp (not mysis which is their usual staple) and occasional flake, no Nori whatsoever. The other tang has not eaten since this time which must be at least 4 weeks now, except for one day (when he ate some Nori and one flake). I am astounded that he is still alive and am thoroughly despondent at what to do for him ! He continues to have heavier breathing and moves around but is almost skeletal. I have tried everything I can think of : a huge range of formula flakes/ herbi flake, live brine, mysis, enriched Spirulina/omega 3 frozen food, krill etc etc I have added garlic and vitamins to both food and water. Nori is constantly available and replaced daily. I have racked my brains for changes as the other tang has now also stopped eating for the past 5 days and is getting rapidly thinner too. The clown continues to eat like a horse and is eating for 3 now ! !
<As Clowns will do if given the chance. It doesn't look good for the one Tang, just keep trying to get it to eat.>
In terms of symptoms the clowns have gone except for 1 tiny grey/white spot above the eye. The tangs bodies are yellow again, although there is light pink discolouration on the skeletal one at the back end and one persistent small red patch on the other tang over his brow / forehead and a few red/brown dots on his body.Both tangs still seem to be breathing slightly heavier than their usual pattern.
<Stress, healing.>
The only changes I can think of in the past week are: reducing SG slowly from NSW to 1.020 ( approx 1 week ago) in an attempt to aid healing and breathing, adding extra vitamins to the water on a daily basis ( the product suggests this if they are sick or weakened),adding a skimmer and new carbon.
<Are they still in the QT tank, or are they in the main tank? If they are still in QT, I would get them back in the main tank as soon as possible.>
So my first question is could any of the above be making them anorexic ?
<Stress, repeated exposure to toxins that may or may not have been beneficial>
my second question in desperation and complete confusion is please, please, please do you have any ideas or advice of what else to try ? ? I have scanned your site over and over in the hope of finding some answers or inspiration but so far the only new thoughts I have had are adding some coral sand from existing display tank that contains tangs in case they have lost internal gut fauna/bacteria,
<This is likely.>
adding rotifers/ plankton in the hope they mistakenly ingest some and adding other marine algaes Caulerpa/hair etc (which I did 2 days ago with no success yet)
<I would put them back in the main display.>
Also what do you think the clown had ? and could the anorexia just be a further declining stage before death and if so what disease do you think they have had for future reference of how to treat etc ?
<Likely poor water quality and not necessarily a disease.>
Many thanks for any help you can give, I am absolutely desperate now or would not have bothered you. Please respond quickly if at all possible.
Keep up the great work you do
Many thanks in advance.
<MikeV>

Identification Problems - Need Guidance... Scuds, Myrionema and fish health problems. 5/13/09 Hello WWM Crew! <Hi Christopher! Mich with you today.> I've searched through the WWM website for a while now and I just can't seem to find a positive identification for three different things/issues I am having with my aquarium. <Let's see if I can be of help.> For starters, my 90 gallon aquarium has been established for a year and a half. All water parameters are within normal ranges with 0 nitrates/nitrites/phosphates, calcium approx 420, pH 8.2-8.5. I have 2 percula clowns, 1 Firefish, 1 scooter blenny, 1 yellow tang, 1 powder brown tang, 6 green chromis, 1 brittle star, 1 sandsifter star, <Not a fan... decimate your sandbed and slowly starve to death. Best left in the wild in my humble opinion.> red hermit crabs, <Not a fan of crabs either... or hermit crabs... Just not to be trusted.> common snails, 1 rose bubble-tip anemone (clown host), frogspawn corals, button polyps, yellow polyps, an beautiful Alveopora, various mushrooms, a green brain coral, finger leather coral, disk coral, 2 feather dusters, 2 cleaner shrimp, and a large decorator crab. <I'm skeptical with crabs... opportunistic omnivores in my experience.> Everything is lit by 150W metal halide lamps and blue actinics. I have a sump set up below tank with a protein skimmer, filter pads, and a carbon bag. I do a 10% water change every other week. <Good husbandry practices will serve you well.> The first unidentified problem is with my yellow tang (picture attached). I can't quite tell what the problem is <Is difficult to see the damage on the tail section in your photo.> - but there seems to be some damage developing along both sides near the 'nails' by the tail. Almost like erosion. <I will bounce this to Christine, our resident sick fish expert.> The lip of the tang also seems to be wounded and he is constantly twitching up against the glass on one side of the tank. <I do see the abrasion on the lip. This could be caused from the tang rubbing against the glass, or both wounds may be aggression from tankmates, perhaps the Powder Brown.> When fed, he eats normally (which is a lot!) and his gills look okay. <Good signs.> I thought maybe HLLE but I really have no idea and this doesn't quite seem to fit the descriptions. <Doesn't look like HLLE to me from this photo. I would recommend supplementing your food with Selcon for the HUFA's.> No signs of any problems or damage with my powder brown tang or any of the other fish. <This would be my first guess as to where the trouble might be originating.> The second is a sort of bug that first appeared in my overflow tank. There are a bunch of tiny swimmers in there also and they recently have populated the main section of my tank. These 'bugs' (picture attached) get pretty big but they don't seem to hurt anything - but I like to get things identified in my tank and do research just so I know. Any help with this one would be much appreciated. <Is a good "bug" is a Gammaridean amphipod also called a Scud. They are harmless detritivores that make good food for your tank inhabitants.> The last is a brown growth that has recently started taking over my tank like an algae (maybe it is an algae). <Oh! Bad news here. Is not an algae. Is a hydroid, likely a Myrionema, and you will need to get rid of it. Not fun! More similar images here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hyzoidf3.htm> I looked through my algae book and none of the pictures match this (picture attached). <Ya won't find it there!> It is made up of bunches of tiny stemmed 'fuzzies' that now and again detach and float somewhere else, where it lands and a new colony starts! <Get it out ASAP!!!!> I'm not sure what I can do about this stuff. <Manual removal with gloves! Most hydroids can sting, not sure this variety, but better safe than sorry.> FEEDING: I feed the tank twice daily. The morning feeding is always the same - Spectrum color-enhancing pellets, which all of the fish eat. <Glad to hear.> The evening feeding is always frozen food and I rotate between Spirulina brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and Emerald Entree. <Very good.> I very recently (last week) started supplementing with a Green Marine Algae with garlic for the tangs. <Am not familiar with this product.> As of yesterday, I started supplementing with Marine Snow also, for the filter feeders. <Mmm, heard some not so good things about this product. Cyclopeeze seems to have a better rep.> ADDITIVES: I add liquid calcium to the tank nightly (as per the instructions) and I also add Strontium/Molybdenum every 4 days and Iodide every week. <And you test the levels for all of these additive, correct? Because add things in unknown quantities is just as dangerous or more than having a deficiency.> Thanks for your help crew! <Welcome!> Your site is the best and I always find great answers looking through all of the pages. <And there is a lot to look through!> -Christopher <Cheers, Mich> Re: Identification Problems - Need Guidance Christine can you take a look? Images are in the emails with images folder.

Identification Problems - Need Guidance... Scuds, Myrionema and fish health problems. 5/13/09 Hello WWM Crew! <Hi Christopher! Mich with you today.> <<with Christine chiming in>> I've searched through the WWM website for a while now and I just can't seem to find a positive identification for three different things/issues I am having with my aquarium. <Let's see if I can be of help.> For starters, my 90 gallon aquarium has been established for a year and a half. All water parameters are within normal ranges with 0 nitrates/nitrites/phosphates, calcium approx 420, pH 8.2-8.5. I have 2 percula clowns, 1 Firefish, 1 scooter blenny, 1 yellow tang, 1 powder brown tang, 6 green chromis, 1 brittle star, 1 sandsifter star, <Not a fan... decimate your sandbed and slowly starve to death. Best left in the wild in my humble opinion.> red hermit crabs, <Not a fan of crabs either... or hermit crabs... Just not to be trusted.> common snails, 1 rose bubble-tip anemone (clown host), frogspawn corals, button polyps, yellow polyps, an beautiful Alveopora, various mushrooms, a green brain coral, finger leather coral, disk coral, 2 feather dusters, 2 cleaner shrimp, and a large decorator crab. <I'm skeptical with crabs... opportunistic omnivores in my experience.> Everything is lit by 150W metal halide lamps and blue actinics. I have a sump set up below tank with a protein skimmer, filter pads, and a carbon bag. I do a 10% water change every other week. <Good husbandry practices will serve you well.> The first unidentified problem is with my yellow tang (picture attached). I can't quite tell what the problem is <Is difficult to see the damage on the tail section in your photo.> - but there seems to be some damage developing along both sides near the 'nails' by the tail. Almost like erosion. <I will bounce this to Christine, our resident sick fish expert.> <<I agree with Michelle--if you can get a better pic or describe it in detail it might help. Redness (erythema)? Loss of scales? Symmetrical on both sides of fish? Look like bite marks?>> The lip of the tang also seems to be wounded and he is constantly twitching up against the glass on one side of the tank. <I do see the abrasion on the lip. This could be caused from the tang rubbing against the glass, or both wounds may be aggression from tankmates, perhaps the Powder Brown.> <<Yup, likely. Sit for a while and watch them--are they obviously at each other, is one hanging out in a spot that is unusual for it? Could be signs of sibling rivalry. "Lip locking" is common in tangs. If not that, could be bacterial, could be a secondary bacterial infection as well. I'd recommend close observation, with the potential for moving him out to a hospital tank to treat with antibiotics. Also, considering the scratching, look closely at how he moves his gills--are they symmetrical, and more or less rapid than before? Either could be signs of parasites like ich, which, while not causing the redness might be taking advantage of a weak immune system.>> When fed, he eats normally (which is a lot!) and his gills look okay. <Good signs.> I thought maybe HLLE but I really have no idea and this doesn't quite seem to fit the descriptions. <Doesn't look like HLLE to me from this photo. I would recommend supplementing your food with Selcon for the HUFA's.><<HLLE usually runs more anterior, towards the front or head of the fish, and looks kind of like ulcers. Selcon is always a good idea, VitaChem, beta-glucan--all good. Even if you never figure out what the initial issue is, helping him fight it off by keeping his immune system in good shape via good nutrition is a big help. Feed often! Good time too to watch for aggression.>> No signs of any problems or damage with my powder brown tang or any of the other fish. <This would be my first guess as to where the trouble might be originating.> The second is a sort of bug that first appeared in my overflow tank. There are a bunch of tiny swimmers in there also and they recently have populated the main section of my tank. These 'bugs' (picture attached) get pretty big but they don't seem to hurt anything - but I like to get things identified in my tank and do research just so I know. Any help with this one would be much appreciated. <Is a good "bug" is a Gammaridean amphipod also called a Scud. They are harmless detritivores that make good food for your tank inhabitants.> The last is a brown growth that has recently started taking over my tank like an algae (maybe it is an algae). <Oh! Bad news here. Is not an algae. Is a hydroid, likely a Myrionema, and you will need to get rid of it. Not fun! More similar images here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hyzoidf3.htm> I looked through my algae book and none of the pictures match this (picture attached). <Ya won't find it there!> It is made up of bunches of tiny stemmed 'fuzzies' that now and again detach and float somewhere else, where it lands and a new colony starts! <Get it out ASAP!!!!> I'm not sure what I can do about this stuff. <Manual removal with gloves! Most hydroids can sting, not sure this variety, but better safe than sorry.> <<Could try the toothbrush-attached-to-siphon hose trick too and scrub those buggers out. They're nasty.>> FEEDING: I feed the tank twice daily. The morning feeding is always the same - Spectrum color-enhancing pellets, which all of the fish eat. <Glad to hear.> The evening feeding is always frozen food and I rotate between Spirulina brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and Emerald Entree. <Very good.> I very recently (last week) started supplementing with a Green Marine Algae with garlic for the tangs. <Am not familiar with this product.> As of yesterday, I started supplementing with Marine Snow also, for the filter feeders. <Mmm, heard some not so good things about this product. Cyclopeeze seems to have a better rep.> <<Coral Frenzy is also a good one.>> ADDITIVES: I add liquid calcium to the tank nightly (as per the instructions) and I also add Strontium/Molybdenum every 4 days and Iodide every week. <And you test the levels for all of these additive, correct? Because add things in unknown quantities is just as dangerous or more than having a deficiency.> Thanks for your help crew! <Welcome!> Your site is the best and I always find great answers looking through all of the pages. <And there is a lot to look through!> -Christopher <Cheers, Mich><<and Christine>>

Orange Spots and Lines on Zebrasoma Tang: No Useful Information, no reading, ref.  4/26/2009 Hello, <Hello Jen> Our Yellow tang has orange "spots and lines" on him now. <Hmm... where? May be HLLE, but can't tell based upon this email.> Can you please tell me what that is or is from. <Based upon the information given, no This is the same as dropping your car off at a repair shop and leaving a note on the windshield "Car is broken"> And if there is anything we need to do. <Some more information would be helpful here. How big is the tank, what is in the tank, what are you feeding him, a picture, that sort of thing...> Thank You Jen <Mike> Re: Orange Spots and Lines on Zebrasoma Tang: Severe Overcrowding\Mixing Incompatible Species 4/29/2009 Hello Mike Again, <Hi Jennie> There is <in addition to a Yellow Tang> 1 6 line wrasse, <Moderately aggressive> 2 gobies, 2 Nemos, <Clownfish, aggressive> 3 blue damsels, <Aggressive> 1 trigger, <Extremely aggressive, most grow to over 12" in length> 1 blue bird wrasse, <Moderate aggressive, grows to over 12"> 1 powder brown angel, <Tang - Grows to 8 - 12 inches long> 1 juvenile, <?> 1 spotted grouper, <Panther Grouper - Grows to over 12" in length, will eat anything it can fit in its mouth> some cleaning shrimp. They get feed Prime Reef Flakes, Marine Pellets, Algae Pad and Feeder Fish. <Feeder fish are an exceptionally poor method of feeding see here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fdgfdrartneale.htm > The tank is a 55gal. <There is no way that this mix of fish is viable in a 55 gallon tank. This mix would be pushing the limits of a 300 gallon tank What are the results of your water tests (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, etc). Read Here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/stocking1.htm and here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mtestrat.htm> We haven't had no issues with it <Yes you are, your tang is turning orange - likely as a result of poor water quality and stress Read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ytangdisfaqs.htm > and we pulled some fish out to put into another tank so we could add the blue bird and spotted grouper. And now our tang is turning orange. There are pictures attached. Thank You Again. <Please read the above linked articles. Again, there is no way what you have in that tank will survive in the long term> Jennie <Mike>

Yellow Tang, env. dis., reading, not, as usual  – 4/17/09 I am new to your website and this hobby. I have a 150g 48Lx24Wx31H Tank. I am using a Sump 30lx12wx19h. Overflow box. NO SPECIAL LIGHTING YET. Just the cheap lights that it came with so no Corals yet. I have a protein skimmer (Octopus). 2 Top Fin 300W heaters. 2 big powerheads and 2 small powerheads for water flow. <Okay> Fish Stock: Yellow Tang, Purple Tang, 1 Black Percula, 2 True Perculas, 2 Red Firefish, 1 Green Chromis (The Survivor), 2 Sandsifting Starfish, a couple of turbo snails, 1 Sea Urchin, 1 Cleaner Shrimp, 1 Fire Shrimp. I feed them Frozen Mini Mysis Shrimp, Green Algae, Green Seaweed, Vitamin Brine Shrimp, Pellets, Flakes with garlic. Not all on the same day. That seems about all, water is great. Had ph low but I raised it to 8.2. My problem is that my yellow tang seems to keep getting sick. It had ich a few weeks ago and it finally went away. <Mmm, no... tis still about> Then he had brown spots and the ph was low so I raised it. Brown spots went almost all away and then he got black spots (not a lot). Started feeding it seaweed soaked in Zoë or garlic. I am also putting VitaChem once in a while. Black spots went away. I added the 2 Perculas on Saturday and yesterday I noticed the Y.Tang has now white goose bumps. And some brown spots have returned. The picture I have attached was taken on April 7. I have tried to take a pic of him but he swims away and I can not seem to get what I see in the pic. It just seems like he's clean. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do so he can be well. <Your moves at improving nutrition will help... as will providing a stable setting here chemistry-wise. I am fairly confident that what you're observing, doing is a matter of environmental stress... Not pathogenic... whatever you treated the system with for the Crypt, the prevailing conditions... Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/ytangdisf7.htm and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Re: Yellow Tang – 4/18/09 Here are some pictures I took last night. How do I stabilize the chemistry? What should I do? I read the link you sent. I check my water and everything checked ok, just a little bit of nitrates. I am due for a water change on the 2nd of May. Is there something else I can feed him or do I just wait. <Keep reading where you were referred to. BobF>

Death of Yellow Tang 4/10/09
Moving/transferring Fish
Hi,
<Hello Adam>
I wanted to change from one tank to the other a 2 inch juvenile Blueface Angel and a 4 inch Yellow Tang as the Blueface was being bullied by an Emperor Angel introduced into the tank at the same time. Both fish were very healthy and the Yellow Tang was one of the fattest I have seen, as these fish seems to suffer malnutrition. I fed him on fresh tuna and various other fresh marine diet 3 times a day. On this point I think diet is overlooked in marine fish keeping, personally I use as much a variety of frozen raw seafood as possible not brine shrimp etc.
<The main staple of a tang's diet in the wild is marine based algae.>
One of the tanks had had Ich previously so I decided to do a freshwater dip for both fish whilst transferring them. The Blueface was in the freshwater for about 3 minutes less than the Yellow Tang, in total 8 to 9 min.s for the Yellow Tang. The Blueface is fine and eating but the Yellow Tang died about 3 hours after the transfer. I write as I presume the death was stress related as I cannot find any information the Yellow Tangs are very prone to salinity change. Can you please confirm this is the case as hopefully other can benefit (and their fish) from this article.
<All marine fish are sensitive to sudden changes in specific gravity, does not occur on the reefs. When transferring fish to another tank, water parameters should be very close to the tank they are leaving. And yes, this will cause unneeded stress on the animal.>
<<Mmm, Zebrasoma flavescens regularly swims into very fresh water near the sea shore in Hawai'i' (where it hails from.). RMF>>
Regards,
<Cheers. James (Salty Dog)>
Adam

Yellow Tang/Health 4/1/09
Hi crew,
<Hi Marc>
I purchased a Yellow Tang today, it <I> added it to my 75 gallon reef tank.
I was reading on your site about them last night, when I got home, prior to putting him in the tank, I noticed a very faint red coloration on his fin. I wouldn't have even seen it, if I wasn't looking for it. It looks like Septicemia.
<It's no surprise to me as these fish can only be kept in water taken from Cozumel's Paradise Reef (April Fool).
Septicemia is the presence of bacteria in the blood, and I've never heard of this disease present in fish. Bob may input here.><<Have witnessed this on MANY occasions... in fresh, brackish and marine fishes. RMF>>
I have been reading the FAQS, and I am confident this is the result of handling, and being in too small of a tank at the pet store, plus it was kept with much more aggressive tank mates. My question is, do you think it
should go away, now being in a bigger tank, and very possibly better water quality?
<Likely stress/environment related. With good water quality and diet, the tang should recover.>
Or is this something I should really treat it for? It's swimming all over the tank and eating non stop off the sides of the tank, live rock and powerheads. And like I already stated, it looks like a very mild case.
<I would not treat but concentrate on water quality/diet and continue to observe.>
Thanks for your help,
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Marc

Sickly Yellow Tang  3/14/09
Hi. I browse your site often, and usually find what I am looking for, but I have a problem with my yellow tang that I have been unable to resolve through research. I have had my tank set up for about a year and a half now, and moved it last November (saving every drop of water in the tank) with no problems in the move. The tank is 55 gallons, with at least 25-30lbs live rock, a Marineland C-360 canister filter, a protein skimmer, and I keep it at around 78 degrees. The pH is 8.2, but it has been around 7.8 for a month because my first protein skimmer broke and there was not enough oxygen in the tank.
<Yikes>
My calcium is in the range of 450-500mg,
<Mmm, high>
and the alkalinity is slightly high. The specific gravity is usually in the range of 1.25-1.23,
<Missing a decimal place... but I get what you likely mean>
and there is 0 nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia. The phosphates are slightly higher than zero, but probably worse because I have rampant hair algae growth since the move, which I am working on remedying by using Algaefix
<I would NOT use this... too likely to cause toxicity problems>
and pulling the algae out manually. In the tank are 6-8 hermit crabs, 1 turbo snail (I haven't had much luck with them), a mushroom polyp, some very happy Zoanthids, a branching coral fragment, a blue chromis, two pink skunk clowns, recently two Firefish, and the yellow tang, who is about 2.5-3" currently. (I plan on purchasing a larger tank in the near future for him) I feed them frozen Spirulina brine shrimp once a week, flake food daily (they won't eat pellets) and the Tang has Julian Sprung's Seaweed sheets. The problem I am having is that the tang's color is not good. He remains in the stress coloration- very whitish, and he sometimes is reddish. His appetite varies from ravenous to just picking at food, but he has never refused to eat.. He hides, but is still curious about what is going on with his surroundings. I do small twice monthly water changes, and he perks up after them.
<A good clue here>
Also, his dorsal fin has not been right for months. It is jaggedy on the edges,
<Good observation>
but there are no different colors at the edges to indicate infection. I have tried treating him with Melafix and Pimafix, but nothing seems to help. I worry that one of the fish might be biting him, but I have not observed it. If you have any suggestions on how to make him happy and colorful again I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
Chardelle Cochran
<Mmm... well, the use of the Algicide is trouble... and there may well be some trouble with Cnidarian allelopathy here... Please see WWM re... Here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/maralgcidefaqs.htm
and here: http://wetwebmedia.com/cnidcompppt.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Yellow tang - urgent help... Not urgent as in rapid onset... iatrogenic...  02/09/09 Hi crew, I need help, please. I have noticed that 4 of 15 yellow tangs have some redness within a FOWLR. <15?! I'm afraid to even ask... how big is this tank??> If have checked nitrate < .2ppm, nitrite 0, phosphate .05 ppm, KH 10, calcium a bit high at 550ppm, magnesium 1250ppm still need to get a new test kit for ammonia. I am unsure if it is a dieses, injury, etc, I have attached some pic to help. <These fish are clearly not in good shape. Please do measure your ammonia. Are they eating?> Can you please let me know what would cause this? <15 tangs in one tank!? I suspect, unless you have a 1000g tank... you have a serious overcrowding issue!> thanks Mohamed <Best, Sara M.>

Re: yellow tang - urgent help 02/10/09 Hi Sara, they are in a temporary holding tank with +-200g with 2 medium 6cm and the rest are between 3cm -4cm in size. Yes they are all eating, Nori, a variety of frozen food, pellets, live food, etc. A LFS checked the ammonia which is 0. <Redness on tangs is sometimes evidence of the fish just being over stressed. Have you tried looking through these articles? http://www.wetwebmedia.com/toxictk.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tanktroubleshting.htm> Thanks Mohamed <Best, Sara M.> Re: yellow tang - urgent help 02/11/09 Hi Sara, Thanks for the link to the articles, interesting read. I have come to the conclusion that all parameters are okay so the only logical explanation will be stress. I did a 60% water change yesterday to be safe but I am going to move some of the tangs to another tank by the weekend. <This is a good idea.> Thanks Mohamed <De nada and good luck, Sara M.> Re: yellow tang - urgent help    03/04/09 Hi Sara, an update on the yellow tangs. I have moved some of the tangs to another tank and the redness is gone. <Ah, good.> Another question, I have noticed that 1 yellow tang is bloated but still eats fine. Firstly is this dangerous, secondly is there a known cause and remedy? <Could be... it might be constipated... please see here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tanktroubleshting.htm> Thanks Mohamed <Cheers, Sara M.>

Yellow Tangs and QTs Q&A    1/29/09
Hey crew!
Thanks so much for always being the to save the butts of us struggling hobbyists ;-)
<Happy to help>
Have been patiently awaiting the time when I could afford to add more fish to my 75g display tank :-) (I've had one 3" GSP in there by himself for 6 months now!) Lucky little fellow... (Is he ever going to grow bigger?
That's the size I got him 9mos ago in FRESHWATER at Wal-Mart (bless his heart!))
<Mmm, may have an internal parasite issue... or maybe you're just underfeeding?>
Anyway, the display tank is wonderful. A healthy amount of Coralline Algae is starting to appear (pinks, purples, and reds on rocks...and greens on glass. Any explanation? I read it had to do with lighting...no big deal - just curious.)
<More to do with physical, lighting, chemical conditions, a dearth of predators and competitors... Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/corlinesysfaqs.htm
and the linked files above>
Anyhow, I decided to get a yellow tang, under the advice on the puffer forum that he would be an okay fit in the tank, and due to the fact that some of the live rock I initially placed in the tank seeded small amounts of red bubble algae, green hair algae, and another unidentified similar looking form of nuisance algae which I've been keeping at bay with manual removal, but thought the help would be nice. :-)
Enter Yellow Tang. Purchased at not-so-great LFS (attached to an Ace Hardware). They were wonderful until the girl who ACTUALLY knew what she was doing moved. Now they don't know much over there.
<Good point re the value of individual staff...>
They didn't even know what a yellow tang was!!!... one of the guys called it "the Nemo fish" (In reference to bubbles, I'm sure). At any rate, looked relatively healthy - but most of their fish did not. I didn't ask questions (my mistake!) when I purchased him...just brought him home.
Acclimated to same salinity, cycled, 10g QT for about 30 minutes, and then released from bag. I'd also placed some of the more heavily algae filled rocks (just 3) into the QT, giving him something to munch. He hid all day the first day...second day placed a half a cube worth of brine shrimp to supplement his eating. Also brought home some Nori :-). He had started to come out and was swimming fine, later that evening (he had been fine 30 minutes before) we went to check on him, and he was lay ing on his side on the bottom of the tank with labored breathing. At the time, I knew I had done everything I could, and knew how to. But I knew he was probably going to be a goner. The LFS said they'll give us another one (tomorrow!) when it gets shipped in.
<Best to leave such new arrivals to rest for at least a few days...>
Generally, because of the horrible conditions of the LFSs around here, I preventative treat all my fish while in QT.
I was using a combination of premeasured "Super Ick Cure" by API and "Triple Sulfa" by API. I have since read some nasty things about Malachite Green (even though said it was safe for saltwater...) Wondering if this could have been the cause of death?
<Might "push" animals over the edge if they are too far gone...>
The mix contains 3.6 mg of Malachite Green and 60mg of Nitrofurazone.
Triple Sulfa contains 664 mg Sodium Sulfathiazole, 168 mg Sodium Sulfamethazine and 168 mg Sodium Sulfacetamide. Would it be smart to only use half recommended dose on next fish? Should I use any?
<I would not use this/these product/s unless there was clear indication of need... evidence of protozoan infestation>
Also, in re: my QT tank. My plan for today (since I don't have time to completely cycle new saltwater) is to remove 10g from my DT (PH 8.2, SG 1.019, NitA: 40ppm, NitI: 0, Amm: 0), and place it in my QT, while adding 10 gallons of new salt water to my DT (raising the SG just a bit - less than .002). Does this seem like a good plan?
<I would be checking the spg of the shipping water to/through the store and the store itself... and reading on WWM re hyposalinity... See the search tool/link on every page>
Lastly, the few pieces of rock I had in the previous QT. Should I just scrub them down and start over with them? Can I just rinse them in some new saltwater? What would be your suggestion?
<Reading>
Sorry for the dissertation. thanks for everything. Hopefully I'll get to speak to the manager of the fish dept tomorrow, and he can answer some q's for me and get the fish to eat in front of me, etc.
Is there anyway to make the QT less stressful for him?
<... see WWM re>
Jessica Bishop
PS I just got the coolest job in the world! My husband is a CSM for Wal-Mart, and people return live (albeit sick) fish all of the time.
Wal-Mart's policy is they have to dispose of the returned fish. SOOOOO my hubby brings them home and I get to try to save them! YAY! (usually goldfish, maybe one of these days I'll get some GSPs :-))
<Ahh! Good for you. Bob Fenner>

Dark Splotches on Tang   1/28/09 Hi there and thanks in advance for reviewing my correspondence. I, like so many others, appreciate your expertise and for sharing it in this type of forum. <A pleasure, honor and duty to share> I have live rock only 55 gallon salt water set-up with a 1.5 inch pacific blue tang, a 1.5 inch Huma Huma trigger, 1 false percula and a 3.5 inch yellow tang <Yikes... this is too crowded and incompatible a mix...> which is my fish with the problem. Ammonia – 0, Nitrites – 0, pH 8.4, Nitrates – 10, spg 1.024. I will start by advising that I will be trying to finding him a larger home if I am able to get him healthy again. <Needs this TO be healthy> I am aware this tank size is too small for him but he came to us with nowhere else to go and I couldn't turn him away. He came out of quarantine about 2 weeks ago where he was being treated for septicemia with Furan II. He refused to eat the entire stay (2 weeks) in quarantine but when he appeared healthy again (as best I could assess visibly) he was returned to the display tank. I did notice where he had been red with the septicemia, the places turned to a darker red, to brown and then to black. I assumed that was blood and the small black spots have since been clearing up. Although it may be something else entirely. I have seen black ich and it doesn’t look like that when you can see him up close. While in quarantine he did loose some of his bright yellow coloring but with lack of nutrition, stress and meds I assumed this to be somewhat normal for his circumstances. I returned him to his home in the evening and he immediately began eating vitamin soaked mysis shrimp again the next morning as though he had never been away. <Good> However, I still have not witnessed him eating his seaweed or Nori, which he aggressively ate in the past. His respiration is increased, he is eating but not very much as compared to just a week ago, doesn’t swim around as much as in the past and even seems to slightly lean to one side or the other intermittently. This morning I woke up to find 2 black-ish colored splotches on him that appear to be under the skin. One splotch is on his nose and the other is more toward his tail. I am wondering what is now plaguing my already stressed out fish. I am concerned that any further quarantine could do more harm than good for him at this point and I wouldn’t quarantine without feeling confident about a clear diagnosis and treatment. His tank mates appear unaffected. I have attached a couple of pictures (the one that is most clear is the spot on the nose )in hopes that you may be able to make an identification and tell what, if anything, I can do for him. Thanks for your time and help Monica <The decolorizing manifests itself from general "stress"... in this case the crowding mostly... With movement to larger, more suitable quarters, space to get away from the Paracanthurus and trigger... it can/should heal. Bob Fenner>

Yellow Tang eye problem - Question 12/28/08 Dear Wet Web Media, <Mark> I haven't posted here before, but I use your site a lot for advice and suggestions. You have produced an excellent resource here, so keep up the good work. <Trying> Now, naturally, I would like to ask you some advice if you have time: <Sure> I have a yellow tang that has developed a cloudy lens in one eye, with what appears to be a small white raised "mountain" in the centre of the lens. <I see this in your pix> I do not detect that the white "tick" on the eye is a living parasite, but it could be. <Mmm, no, not here> And that is my question really: Is this likely to be a parasite I should be treating, or is this likely to be just an injury that requires no treatment? <The latter> He (or she) appears to have gone off food a bit. He is usually picking on the rocks all the time, but now he appears listless and does not pick on the rocks. Although he did just come for some flake food. The yellow tang first developed this condition a few days ago, and then he appeared fine for a few days. Yesterday I had to rearrange the tank to extract a failed powerhead from behind the reef and add 5 anthias and some corals I had quarantined (for 5 weeks), and today his eye condition has returned, worse if anything. Could this be related to the stress of rearranging the tank he lives in? <Yes... and the other livestock addition, though it likely originated with a physical trauma> Could he have bumped something in the unfamiliar environment? In the exophthalmia and pop-eye FAQs on WWM, I see that much of the time similar problems appear to be an injury, <Yes> but the fact that this problem has reappeared again, makes me wonder if this could be something other than an injury? <Could be a recurrence> Or is he just silly enough to keep bumping the same eye? <Unfortunately, yes> More details: The yellow tang shares an approx 625 litre (165 US gallon) tank with: 5 Lyretail anthias 2 common clowns 2 cardinals 2 yellow neon gobies 1 orchid Dottyback 1 psychedelic mandarin 1 cleaner wrasse <Not easily kept> 1 yellow watchman goby 1 yellow pistol shrimp (paired with the goby) 1 fire/blood shrimp 5 blue leg hermit crabs about 15 snails various soft and hard corals about 80KG of live rock and about 35KG of live sand. Water parameters are: Ph 8.0 Ammonia 0 NO2 0.01 (if you look hard and you want to see some color) NO3 2 PO4 0 KH/Alk 8.48/3.03 Mg 1200 Ca 390 O2 8 Tank has a sump which incorporates: Mechanical filtration Deep sand bed Refugium Skimmer Fluidised Rowaphos in a reactor Fluidised aragonite sand in another reactor The usual heaters and a chiller Tank is lit by 3 400w metal halides and 2 80w T5 actinic tubes. Tank has been running for 9 months. I attach the best two pictures I could get. I cropped them. I hope they are not too big. Thank you, Mark <Sounds/reads as a very nice system. I do think this Zebrasoma "ran into something"... and will likely cure in time of its own accord. Bob Fenner>

Re: Yellow Tang eye problem - Question  1/5/09 > I do think this Zebrasoma "ran into something"... > and will likely cure in time of its own accord. Bob Fenner Thanks Bob. It seems you were right. He must have run into something. We now call him Bang Tang. <Heeee!> I took your advice and did not treat the problem. I thought I would send a follow up note for the benefit of others who might experience this problem in the future, to say that a week later the tang's eye seems to have returned to normal of its own accord, as you predicted. Thank you for your advice, Mark <Thank you for this follow-up... Know that you have saved many folks consternation, and preserved the health of their livestock. Bob Fenner>

Yellow Tang Distress  10/22/08
Hi,
I am relatively new to marine aquariums, I bought a 65 gallon tank in June.
It currently has around 50 pounds of live rock and I use a protein skimmer.
I have had my yellow tang since the beginning of July and he has done wonderfully until a week ago. Last week he began scrapping up against the live rock and red blotches began appearing on his side. A few days later he was still doing this and the red began to spread from the areas he was hitting with the rock (around his tail) to the front of his body. He has now stopped eating which is my biggest concern. Other inhabitants of the tank are two clown fish, a porcupine puffer,
<Misplaced here... needs much more room... may indeed be a factor>
a blue damsel, and a cleaner shrimp. Any advise would be very much appreciated, the store where I have
been getting all my supplies and fish was not very helpful with this. Thank you.
-Beth
<Mmm, there could be a few things amiss, but given that you don't report troubles with the other fish life, the root issue here is very likely environmental... Either social, with some of the other fish present bothering the Tang, metabolite accumulation (NO3 as a measure) or it ill-reacting to its own reflection. Read here please: http://wetwebmedia.com/ytangdisfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

My Yellow Tang, hlth., env.    10/3/08 Hi! Ted K Here Thank everything that's wet your site exists. The problem is my wife think I read to much now. LOL I have been reading so many FAQs, and have come close to finding a description of the problem. I still haven't found the answer??? My tank is 110g tall 120lbs of LR, w/ inverts and fish. Water parameters are all good and have been for a year or so. I have a Yellow Tang that has been in the tank from the beginning and in the last few weeks he has been breathing very rapidly. His mouth looks like its stuck open he stopped eating and there are little red soars around his entire mouth. <I see this in your excellent photo> The soars resemble little red lines. I have attached a pic. If you need more info please reply. I hope you can help!!! Thanks in advance Ted <The reddening is termed "septicemia"... "dirty blood"... evidence of something/s not right water quality wise in this system... Perhaps other life poisoning this fish, maybe simply metabolite accumulation. I would be testing your water, changing a good deal of it, cleaning up your skimmer... Perhaps looking into long-term ways of making the system more stable, optimized. Please peruse WWM re: http://wetwebmedia.com/marsetupindex2.htm Bob Fenner>

Black string like object on yellow tang   9/6/08
Hi guys hope you can help, I have a yellow tang that has a black string like object coming out of its anus. The fish is otherwise healthy and behaviour is normal. Although some weight loss seems to have occurred. It began growing yesterday and is now about 4cm long. Is this intestinal worms?
<Mmm, might be... but could also likely be just something the fish ate, is passing... I wouldn't panic... would wait a few days... Bob Fenner>

Re: Black string like object on yellow tang  9/10/08
thanks heaps for your help, you were right. The tang passed it the next day and is doing fine. Thanks again
<Ah, good. Thank you for this follow-up. BobF>

Yellow Tang Not Eating 8/5/08
Hey, guys. Thanks for your great resource. I've learnt A LOT from spending many hours reading through the many FAQs. Saying that though, I've tried searching through the site but haven't found a direct answer to my problem.
<OK>
I have a 35 gallon tank and have a lawnmower blenny,  Flame Hawk,
<Needs a larger tank>
Yellow Sailfin Tang,
<Also needs a larger tank.>
Coral Beauty,
<larger tank...>
Blackcap Basslet, two True Percula Clowns and a couple of cleaner snails and Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp. The tank inhabitants are all pretty happy. I've had them for more than a year now. The Yellow Tang's normally the "boss" and eats almost everything.
However, it has stopped eating for close to a week. I normally feed it baby brine shrimp, Tetra flake food, tiny blood worms, red seaweed and also romaine lettuce.
<Not really good foods for this fish, needs vegetable foods of marine origin.>
Not all at once, of course. :-). I've stopped feeding romaine lettuce and give more Nori now...
<Good>
The Tang is no longer eating anything at all. It's still pretty active but now seems to rush against the aquarium glass like it's trying to break through it.
<Results of the cramped quarters.>
There is a faint whitish stripe along its body, even with lights on.
<Stress markings.>
There aren't any red streaks or anything, though. Its belly also looks a little bloated with bumps all over it. It looks like it ate a bunch of little rocks or something! It extends its fin every now and again...
<Could be a result of the diet, or an infection, difficult to say.>
What could possibly be happening?
<Too small of a tank, inappropriate diet takes it toll.>
I've grown very attached to all my tank inhabitants and would absolutely hate it if anything happened to the Tang. What do you suggest I do?
<Get it into a larger tank, change its diet to something more appropriate.>
Thanks for your help.
Charles Tang
<Welcome>
<Chris> <<Obviously has NOT done a lot of reading... on WWM. RMF>>

Yellow Tang... hlth., env.    6/23/08
Hello WWM Crew,
I have a question, my yellow tang has been acting strange and I'm a little worried. I have had him for about 3 weeks now, and up until about three days ago he had been eating normally and swimming around normally. For the most part he still has most of his color (fading occasionally for reasons unknown). The problem is he seems out of sorts, staying close to the bottom sometimes listing to one side. On a couple of occasions I found him laying on his side but then after a while he gets up and stays in one place next to the bottom. He does not seem interested in food. The only thing that has changed in the tank lately is that I put in 5 green chromis all about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. My tank is a 75 gallon bow front with approx 85 lbs of live rock. From what I've read on your website is that this tank is too small for the tang. This will be remedied at a later date. There is a scribbled rabbit fish that seems to be ok and a four stripe damsel in the tank as well. water parameters are good accept for the pH which fluctuates from 8.2 to 7.8.
<Mmm, this is actually a huge fluctuation>
I am constantly trying to get the pH up and stable and I'm buffering the water every day.
<Do read on WWM re pH, alkalinity...>
My corals seem very good, all of the leathers
<Oh!>
are fully extended along with the xenia, Kenya trees and my slipper coral. Back to my tang, he also seems to be scratching every once in a while, and there looks to be some rust colored spots on his face. My question is, did I stress the tang out by adding the chromis?
<This may have added to stress>
They seem to have taken over where he used to sleep, ( one of the chromis actually nipped at the tang once that I observed ). I am at a loss on what to do. Please help.
Best Regards,
Steve Harris
<I would "spiff up your skimmer", try to be patient here... I suspect that there is nothing "overt" or pathogenic going on here, but an additive accumulation of stress... from being new, the Chromis as you state, and generalized poisoning from Cnidarian interaction here... Should normalize in time... Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/cnidcompppt.htm
Bob Fenner>

A Sad Little Tang -6/13/08
Hello WWM Crew:
<Hello! Benjamin here today.>
I have a question for you and it may be somewhat odd but it has saddened me very deeply. I know all of you encourage the conservation of our marine wildlife and I know why.
<If I may wax poetic, I believe it was the great William Blake who said "For everything which lives is holy; life delights in life.">
Especially recently, as you will understand. I have been dealing with our local live fish store over the past year and have seen conditions continue to deteriorate during that time, especially in their saltwater fish department. I have seen fish stricken with ich, rubbing, flashing breathing hard, and starving, living in too cramped conditions. I have seen dyed anemones, rose anemones kept in under-lit tanks, and corals too close together in same said tank.
<Common conditions, and sometimes an unfortunately necessary evil- though hopefully we will continue to see changes in the habits and techniques used by retailers.>
Here is my question and it all started with a little yellow tang. About 3 months ago I ventured into the store to pick up the usual salt, buffer etc. and of course had to wander over to the tanks to take a peek like I always do (have to have a look, don't need anymore, mine are all fat and happy). There was a 2 inch yellow tang that looked like he perhaps had velvet, and I thought to myself he would probably not be long for this world.
<Certainly the case, if it had velvet.>
A couple of weeks passed and I decided to purchase my first Zoa frag from same live fish store, and saw the same yellow tang, still alive but noticeably thinner and still in poor health. Went today purchased another frag, and was amazed that the same tang was there now so thin that it is almost transparent, and moving very little.
<Unfortunate. Either poor nutrition or perhaps copper or cyanide have harmed this fish's digestive endosymbionts/commensals.>
Since I have one of my own I know this is atypical behavior. I thought to myself I ought to tell the guys to let me take him home for na-da. So here's my question. I'm sure the little guy would probably not survive the transfer but I don't know what would be worse. Dying during transfer or starving to death in an overcrowded tank. What are your thoughts?
<My thought is that sometimes there just isn't anything we can do. If you want to give it a try, make sure you keep it quarantined at your home; this fish will most likely bring/acquire disease. I suspect it has very limited time, however. To have purchased it early on would have supported this store; to wait until it is sick enough they give it away is to doom the fish- but better that one fish should die in the store than to support poor practices. The needs of many outweigh the needs of few, in this case.>
By the way, if it were to survive, there is a large marine aquarium in our town it could have been given to.
<Make sure they would want it. Yellow tangs are much more desirable to the average hobbyist than to an aquarium. Isn't it unfortunate in our hobby how well we delight in life, but how rarely we observe the first part of that couplet? Benjamin>

Yellow tang with redness around eyes and "nose" 5/6/08
Hoping you could give me some helpful info as what I need to do with my tangs. First of all, all parameters are relatively normal and salinity fluctuates between 32 - 35 ppm. First started having problems with my tangs not eating very well. Had them isolated into two separate tanks sharing same water, it's a 300 gal tank.. One set would eat Nori algal sheets, mysis and a gel diet but the others would not or very little. Eating habits dwindled down to practically not eating at all for one tank. Put some copper
<A poor idea>
on the system and did a 50 % water change and put them together. Isolated 3 that were fresh water dipped. One other dipped died the next day. They seem to be eating better and have not lost any since.
<Likely the water change...>
Today I noticed that they have this redness around the eyes and a bit going towards the lat line on some.
<Another clue>
Their eyes, on some, are darkened on the upper and lower part of the pupil which makes them look very dilated.
<Good observations, descriptions>
They are fed a diet of enriched flake food, Nori algal sheets, mysis and a omnivorous gel diet. Since they started eating better I have been alternating soaking their food in ALGA-MAC enrichment supplement enhanced and High Vite for added nutrition.
<Unfamiliar with these products>
What else can you recommend I do for my fish.
Thanks in advance for all your help.
Nat
<... Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/fishindex3.htm
scroll down to the tray on Tangs/Acanthuroids... re Health/Disease in general, the genera, species involved...
Something is amiss here environmentally... poisoning likely of some sort... Polyfilter may disclose the nature... Bob Fenner>
 

Yellow Tang Ill? Reading    4/27/08
Hi,
I have a question about my yellow tang. He has been in my tank about two weeks. Yesterday he was eating and acting as normal, very active, and ate 'dinner' with all the others (1 blue and yellow damsel and 2 clown fish). This morning he was not out as usual after searching I found him in the back of the tank (30gal)
<This volume is too small for a Zebrasoma (or for that matter any) Tang>
behind my live rock (25 lbs.). He has since been sitting there all day, propped up against a rock. He will move if I wiggle a rock or coax him with my finger. His color is bright and breathing is normal. I just noticed a brown "string"-like line coming out of his side behind his fin.
<?!>
I tried to gently pull it off thinking it was hair algae stuck to him, but it appears to be attached!? I called my LFS and they could not tell over the phone and they close in 10 minutes. I attempted to take a picture but it's hard to see it. It looks like fish "poop" for lack of a better term. Any ideas? Thanks! JB
<... Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/YellowTang.htm
and the linked files above. Return this fish... it won't live long under the present circumstances. Bob Fenner>