Achilles Tang Primer
- Thread starter BrianD
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Jacob D
New member
I'd concur that some fish don't like to crunch on mysis, but I try it anyway. I attempt to get all my fish eating mysis as soon as possible since it's reasonably nutritious and one of the primary foods I feed my wet friends. It didn't really take with the Achilles so I switched to Spirulina Brine and Nori soaked in garlic and selcon. I'm trying to wean off the brine and back onto mysis now. Pellets and flake are being totally ignored now.
(p.s. very nice tank you have there)
No. Experience has led me to not treat for Ich unless I see signs of it. IMO all the viable options are stressful and/or open the door to other potential problems. If Ich is present it should show up sometime during the quarantine process, if it does I'll proceed accordingly.
Everything is going fairly well in QT so far. On the first day I offered a little of every food I had and Spirulina Brine proved to be the favorite choice. Although he sampled mysis, live black worms, squid, and Forumula 1 Flake he since would not eat any of those. Just the brine and nori. I've been working on weaning back to mysis which may happen, but the good news is that he is now eating black worms. It's not the usual "go nuts" response that a lot of fish show for them but he's eating enough to get full. Other than that not a spot of Ich or any other problems to be seen. Behavior-wise seems comfortable in the 55g QT. Between eating well and the calm behavior my two biggest concerns are at rest... for now.
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Jacob D
New member
It's difficult to tell anything from the photo but if his dorsal area is sunken in it could be malnutrition, although I would think he'd have a sunken stomach and overall thin appearance. If only the dorsal area is sunken nematode infection could be a possibility.Hi guys. I've had my achilles for about 3 months now, and he has been doing great so far. Recently I started feeding him more with time off during the holidays, and now he has an "indent" going down his body where his spine is. I'm confused as to why he has gotten this, because my first instinct would be that he is losing weight. If he was losing weight, wouldn't his spine be sticking out, not in? Can anyone tell me what's happening? Here is a picture of him that shows what I'm talking about:
Oh yeah, the spots are on the glass, not the fish.
IFbettas
New member
It is only the dorsal area. Could you please elaborate on the possibility of a nematode infection?
I've treated him with prazipro twice since I got him, but I don't know if that would rule out all internal parasites.
Jacob D
New member
Prazipro won't do anything to treat nematodes (I have this straight from Hikari) as it is a cestocide. Nematodes will be more like heartworm in a dog (for example). They infect the body cavity itself. I thought I had an article from Univ. of Florida regarding nematode infection of marine fish... but I can't find it... may be on my other computer.
IF (and could be a big IF seeing that nematodes typically originate in mammals or birds and are more likely to be found in freshwater fish or ocean going marine fish from cooler water) it is nematode infection Levamisol or Fenbendazole are your treatment options. I have no experience using them in a confirmed nematode infection though.
IF (and could be a big IF seeing that nematodes typically originate in mammals or birds and are more likely to be found in freshwater fish or ocean going marine fish from cooler water) it is nematode infection Levamisol or Fenbendazole are your treatment options. I have no experience using them in a confirmed nematode infection though.
Jacob D
New member
I don't have a set amount of time but my minimum is 3 weeks assuming the fish appears healthy. 4-5 weeks is probably average.
IFbettas
New member
Tonight I really noticed how much skinnier he is getting. This is incredibly frustrating because his belly is always full. Is it possible that he has internal parasites, or maybe something wrong with his digestive system? I've had him for about 2.5 months, and up until last week he always looked fat.
What else could be causing him to lose weight?
What else could be causing him to lose weight?
IFbettas
New member
Today's a sad day...
Last night I was rearranging stuff in my tank and I took off the net cover so it would be easier to work in. Well, I forgot to put it back over the tank before I went to bed. Today I got home and my achilles was nowhere to be found. This was really odd, because he was always swimming front and center begging for food. I searched everywhere for him, and then eventually found him dried up between the tank and wall.
Anyway, I hope someone can learn something from my stupid mistake. ALWAYS keep a cover on your tank, because ANY fish can jump, even an achilles tang.
Last night I was rearranging stuff in my tank and I took off the net cover so it would be easier to work in. Well, I forgot to put it back over the tank before I went to bed. Today I got home and my achilles was nowhere to be found. This was really odd, because he was always swimming front and center begging for food. I searched everywhere for him, and then eventually found him dried up between the tank and wall.
Anyway, I hope someone can learn something from my stupid mistake. ALWAYS keep a cover on your tank, because ANY fish can jump, even an achilles tang.
hey bro
I am really sorry about what happened with you achilies
its sad...however I think it prob jumped out of the tank b/c it was in some pain or had some issues, I dont think a healthy tang will jump out of the water
is your tank rim less?
also...did you try selcone and garlic with sea weed during the past one week
Pran
I am really sorry about what happened with you achilies
its sad...however I think it prob jumped out of the tank b/c it was in some pain or had some issues, I dont think a healthy tang will jump out of the water
is your tank rim less?
also...did you try selcone and garlic with sea weed during the past one week
Pran
IFbettas
New member
I was shocked too. I've had wrasses and firefish jump out, but never expected to see a tang jump.
IFbettas
New member
Hey Pran,
I believe the reason he jumped out was because my dad went down into the fish room while the tank lights were still off and freaked him out. There was a small patch of algae high up on one of the overflows that he had been nibbling at lately. I found his body right behind this overflow, so I'm pretty sure he was eating the algae when he got startled, and his instinct was to go up.
My tank is not rimless, and I have a cover made out of 1/4" birdnetting to keep fish from jumping out. The cover wasn't on the tank last night, which was unfortunately when he decided to jump.
I'm now gonna be on the look out for another achilles, because they are my absolute dream fish. I learned a lot from my couple months keeping him, and now I'm a lot more confident to try another.
hey dude...sorry what is your name
yea thats prob the reason, bc I had a really nice super male flame wrasse and it was doing good and one day when the lights was off I went near the tank with a chair and it freaked out and jumped thru the egg crate and fell to the other side and died (mines a in wall tank)
yee..do that bro, dont give up...just use selcone and garlic marine once or twice with food and keep an eye on your ph to make sure it does not go down.
yea thats prob the reason, bc I had a really nice super male flame wrasse and it was doing good and one day when the lights was off I went near the tank with a chair and it freaked out and jumped thru the egg crate and fell to the other side and died (mines a in wall tank)
yee..do that bro, dont give up...just use selcone and garlic marine once or twice with food and keep an eye on your ph to make sure it does not go down.
Its ok buddy...it was like 1 year ago...but I know how it feels, b/c if a fish gets sick and goes then its a different story
but a healthy eating fish jumping out it messed
oh u know what...I think before u get achilies, see what other fish you want and buy those and put it first then buy your achilies as the last fish...
the reason why say this...b/c I really want to buy 5 angels (personifier, scribble, emperor, blueface, and conspecic (if I get a nice deal - these are exp tho))
the other 4 angels are easy to get in LFS store and they are reasonable price...but I am afraid cuz if I get those and if they get ich then it will affect my achilies
thats why I feel...you should add achilies as ur last fish
Pran
but a healthy eating fish jumping out it messed
oh u know what...I think before u get achilies, see what other fish you want and buy those and put it first then buy your achilies as the last fish...
the reason why say this...b/c I really want to buy 5 angels (personifier, scribble, emperor, blueface, and conspecic (if I get a nice deal - these are exp tho))
the other 4 angels are easy to get in LFS store and they are reasonable price...but I am afraid cuz if I get those and if they get ich then it will affect my achilies
thats why I feel...you should add achilies as ur last fish
Pran
geaux xman
New member
theres an achilles at my LFS that i'm considering. i can see on one of its fins having a few white spots that resembling ich. its been there for about a month now, but this is the first time i've looked at it this closely. i didnt talk to the owner today, but a couple of weeks ago when i was there, he said it is in copper.
opinions? it wont be til about the end of the month before i get my tank. check back in a couple of weeks? i was wanting to pick it up to QT-hypo for about 2 months before i noticed the spots.
opinions? it wont be til about the end of the month before i get my tank. check back in a couple of weeks? i was wanting to pick it up to QT-hypo for about 2 months before i noticed the spots.
