Help Blue Tang not doing too well

[Prozium]

My dad's blue tang isn't doing too well.

he has it in a 55g hex flat back with a yellow tang and some damsels. He has had them for about 1.5-2 years. (I know WAY to small of a tank for those fish.....but he wont listen to me on that:debi

I noticed the blue tang not move from the same spot behind a rock for 3 days, and wouldn't eat. I set up a 40g breeder as a hospital tank and he's in there now. but he just sits on the bottom on his side.... whats going on?

 

[Gill_bucket]

Love your sig. ;-)

 

[dzfish17]

From the pic I would guess that he is as good as dead. Its going to take a little more to figure out what could have led to his demise...water parameters, filtration and diet are good places to start.

 

[EdKruzel]

I agree with DZ, but until it floats belly up give it your best attempt. You should add a clay pot or piece of PVC for cover. With nothing to hide it, there is additional stress that fish doesn't need right now.

From the patchy face it appears as it was missing some nutrients in its diet. Regal Tangs are planktivores and not herbivores but they will certainly eat vegatation. For best health, red nori algae should be added often. Its primary food source should come from vitamin enriched mysis and other meaty plankton.

Good Luck...

 

[Prozium]

well that sucks....

my dads parameters are not good, he has a bad red slime problem and hardly ever does water changes... (I'm going to do a full set of tests on his tank this week some time as well as a water change as soon as I can get to a LFS to buy more salt.)
feeding has been flakes once a day as well as green nori 2-3 times a week, with some frozen shrimp (mysis or brine) 1 or 2 times a week.

I have a piece of live rock in there as well as some green nori and I'll add some red nori tonight.

I hope he pulls through, if he does maybe I will be able to convince my dad to let me put him in my 150...

thanks for the reply's!

 

[snorvich]

Love your sig. ;-)

That term is considered a pejorative and we would appreciate your not endorsing its usage. Thanks.

 

[hddtran]

put a couple of pieces of pvc in the qt and not to use live rocks.
why? just in case you want to use medication in QT to help the fish and you do not want to do that with the live rocks.

 

[MrTuskfish]

As long as the tank size (What are the panels on a 55 hex? maybe 18") can't come into the discussion; helping is impossible. This would be like going to the Doctor with an incontinence problem and telling him he can't do anything involving latex gloves. Tangs need exercise, these two get very little. Two years of that certainly could be the problem...like it or not.

 

[Prozium]

put a couple of pieces of pvc in the qt and not to use live rocks.
why? just in case you want to use medication in QT to help the fish and you do not want to do that with the live rocks.

will do if I decide to medicate at all.

As long as the tank size (What are the panels on a 55 hex? maybe 18") can't come into the discussion; helping is impossible. This would be like going to the Doctor with an incontinence problem and telling him he can't do anything involving latex gloves. Tangs need exercise, these two get very little. Two years of that certainly could be the problem...like it or not.

actually its a hex flat back, its 48" long and the front panel is 30" but there is an area in the tank that they have the full 48" length to swim.

edit: this http://yhst-32494300360055.stores.yahoo.net/maafb0055.html