Half chocolate mimic tang died

[ksmmike]

Hello all,

I realize it's impossible to know, so only looking for suggestions or thoughts.
I started a 120 gallon tank that was cycled for 7 weeks before adding any fish. I added a few snails and hermits and all were fine.

I then added 3 tangs on the same day. One was my yellow from another tank I have, one was a yellow kole eye and one was the half chocolate mimic.
All there were no more than 2-3 inches in size. The last 2 I bought from 2 different local stores, each said they had the fish for weeks and was treated with copper.

The fish got along really well with no fighting at all. My water parameter are checked daily and all well within good limits. No ammonia, no nitrites, nitrates barely visible. Salinity at 1.025 to 26. Calc at 480. The corals in there are all doing well.

Last night my mimic refused to eat and hid in one spot all day. This morning he was on his side and soon died He has zero signs of ich or marine velvet.
He was thin, but was eating until yesterday. He showed no signs of hard breathing that I could tell, and he wasn't bullied or stressed. I am clueless as to what happened other than I added some roi water yesterday as a top off, but the water was fine after adding the extra water. And I warmed the water to 78 degrees, the same as the tank before adding it. The other two tangs seem to be just fine, tho the yellow one is showing his white stripe that he will do on occasion when stressed. Something happened, but looking for thoughts.

thanks
Mike

 

[JustinM]

Always Qt regardless what they tell you. I am going to lean towards velvet. Copper will mask symptoms if kept at low levels(more than likely what the store was doing) and unless they were given a full copper treatment, they still could have been infected.

Also, when you add coral, snails, hermits, etc., they can bring parasites in with them. Anything wet should be quarantined for 76 days because dinospores can be in the water, tomites, you name it, always expect the worst. I’m sorry to hear about your chocolate range, one of my favorite tangs.

 

[ksmmike]

Thanks Justin,

All the coral brought into the new tank were in QT for 2 months. They were also treated again right before I put them in the new tank. Yes the snails were new. I didn't think of that. I still couldn't see visible signs of any disease. He was only in the tank for 5 days. Something happened. It's the first fish I've lost since setting up salt water tanks 6 months ago, so I'm a bit depressed.

My other 7 fish between my 2 tanks are doing really well. I just hope my other 2 tangs in the new tank don't come down with whatever killed Snickers.

Thanks for the response.

Mike

 

[lagatbezan]

Always Qt regardless what they tell you. I am going to lean towards velvet. Copper will mask symptoms if kept at low levels(more than likely what the store was doing) and unless they were given a full copper treatment, they still could have been infected.

Also, when you add coral, snails, hermits, etc., they can bring parasites in with them. Anything wet should be quarantined for 76 days because dinospores can be in the water, tomites, you name it, always expect the worst. I'm sorry to hear about your chocolate range, one of my favorite tangs.

I agree with this as well.
Besides what Justin said, I will add that it might also be internal parasite or flukes since you mentioned that the fish was eating but not gaining any weight.
did you notice any white stringy poop, rapid breathing, flashing (scratching against rock) or cloudy eyes?
Never trust anyone else to do a full qt except yourself.

 

[ksmmike]

He was eating, then stopped. I only had him a few days so not sure if had gained or lost weight. I didn't notice any stringy white poop or any scratching or breathing issues. I look for all that type of thing every day with my fish. That's why its bugging me so much. I went back to where I bought it today and the manager said it was likely just a weak fish. whatever... if it was weak then they should have noticed it before selling it.

 

[scooter31707]

Also having a fairly new tank, it probably wasn't enough algae for them. Did you supplement with Nori?