Blue Tang Sick?

[josenunez1]

Hello everyone, first let me say I appreciate any help that will help me cure my prized blue tang. I noticed this morning with these SCRAPES on his belly. They look like he had scraped himself along some LR. I know that when the lights are out, he goes to sleep between two piece of LR. My Salinity, NA and Nitrates are all good and he is very active and eats like a horse. Any recommendations would be great. If their is any additional information I can provide, just let me know.

Thanks again,

Jose

 

[Jonviviano]

what are you feeding and how big is he?

 

[josenunez1]

I am feeding him nori, prime reef cube, some flake, and ,mysis shrimp. I alternate every other day or sometimes mix it up in a cup and then feed that.

 

[frags4u]

This is another my two cents but I swear in my 15 years of keeping that tangs can fake ich any info good or bad Im a big boy hehehe

 

[frags4u]

This is another my two cents but I swear in my 15 years of keeping that tangs can fake ich and sickness to protect themselves any info good or bad Im a big boy hehehe

 

[leebca]

It could be an injury. Tangs make occasional 'mad dashes' across the aquarium. Not being the sharpest fish in the sea, they do run into things.

I notice a slight fading of color though which has implications of not the best nutrition. The foods you list don't contain enough vegetable matter. Out of 21 feedings, no more than 7 should be of brine shrimp or mysis. DO NOT FEED straight brine shrimp. Always feed gut loaded brine shrimp. Feed alternately spirulina gut loaded brine shrimp and fat loaded (HUFA or Omega 3) b.s. and just once or twice out of that 7, mysis. The other feedings need to be foods high in greens, PLUS the daily addition of algae. Offer not only nori, but alternate with algae and if possible algae of different colors (green, brown, purple, red). Other foods to consider are foods containing kelp and spirulina, Formula Two, broccoli flowers, etc.

Soak one feeding in vitamins every other day; soak a feeding in fats every other day; while it is healing put some beta glucan into one feed per day. After healed, stop the beta glucan but continue the vitamin and fats soakings.

Keep an eye on the injury. It may worsen or get infected. You should be prepared to treat for an infection. I recommend getting a hospital tank up and running and obtain some antibacterial medication such as a good antibiotic.

I think if you immediately improve its diet, make sure your water quality is the best you can have, and that you are up on your maintenance and detritus removal, the fish should heal AND return your fish to its normal brillliant colors.

Consider using a moon light at night, if you aren't already.