Help for my Tang?!

[tflynn]

Hi,

I have a question regarding my Hepatus/Regal Tang. I just got him last Friday along with a Kole Tang. The Kole tang never ate and didn't stop breathing heavy and only lasted 3 days. At first my regal Tang was fine. Swimming, picking algae, looked just fine. The day after my Kole died my Regal started hovering at the top corner of the tank with his mouth open(his mouth now never closes). Now at day 3. He will swim around, when I feed - he'll eat and swim, but after a while he'll go back to the corner. He keeps going by my cleaner shrimp but for the most part the shrimp wont go on him. So, at moments he looks fine and then other times, almost floating at the top corner.

Being new at this I've done a lot of reading and even hired someone to set up my tank and do the maintence on it for a while while I learn. He's great. I called him regarding the fish and he said it sounds like velvet. Since the parasites are so small the shrimp may not see it, which would explain the shrimp not going on him. He also was just over to do a water change and tested everything - everything (tank wise) was great. He said from the sound of what was going on with the Kole and now the Regal, he's pretty sure it's velvet.

Now - solution?
He said my tang will most likely die, but that I could try and do a freshwater dip for 10 min (15 min if he can take it) and then put him in my hospital tank for 21 days and treat with copper.

He was realistic and not positive. He said if my fish handles/survives the treatment(probably wont), once I put him back in the tank he will probably get it again

I've checked the water several times - all levels are ok, all my other fish are ok.

So...my dilema. Does it sound like velvet (not scratching, no white spots, does however kind of look like he has a film on him, but I'm not sure - don't quote me on that)? If you think it's velvet - is it worth it - treatment wise. I'm all about doing everything I can - he's not just a fish, it's a life, however, is it really humane. Which is worse - letting him suffocate or dosing him with freshwater and then copper for that long.

Also can all my other fish get it or was it probably in the water and my other fish are just immune (4 clowns, 5 blue/green chromis, 1 yellow watchman goby, 1 molly miller (combtooth) blenny, 1 pistol shrimp and 1 cleaner shimp, with live rock, 125 gallons).

Thank you all in advance for your time.
Tracy

 

[annetate]

what are you feeding it?

 

[tflynn]

seeweed(clip) which he'll browse, but for the most part Formula One/Two(I rotate) mixed with either emerald entree(from mixed saltwater pack) or mysis shrimp. Also a little flake in the morning. He'll have a little bit of everything.

Feeding schedule:
little flake in morning
at night frozen food
every other day I clip a little seeweed to the side of the tank.

He eats a little here and there of everything

 

[Habib]

Tracy, I moved this to the Reef Discussion forum.

I'll also copy your thread and post it also in the Fish Disease forum. I'll supply the link to it in a moment.

 

[leebca]

I would like to know where you got these fish from. If they came from an LFS, you should be sure they were eating and healthy before taking them home. If you bought them mail-order this is the kind of thing you can expect now and then. I'd stick to the LFS source for tangs, Butterflyfishes and some angelfishes.

Even when you buy from an LFS (or mail order) going through a proper quarantine process is recommended for new fishes. This is a good reference for that:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.htm
This is a good way on how to prevent disease(s) from killing your display tank fishes.

Marine Velvet spreads quickly and kills quickly. Usually it takes just a couple of days. Some info for you to read about that disease:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/sp/feature/index.htm

If the diagnosis is correct, then the proper thing to do is remove all fish to a hospital tank for treatment. Copper is the favored treatment. A freshwater dip can help but it isn't a cure. The key -- a proper diagnosis. I can't likely do that for you without photos, but you can look at text (like the above) describing the disease and see if there is a 'match.'

If the display tank remains fishless for 6 weeks, that should kill off all the MV parasites. The parasites can't live without a host fish. You don't have to move the inverts, shrimps, crabs, snails, etc.

Improve the diet of your fish immediately, including additions of beta glucan to their foods. This is a good diet recommendation:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=785228

If it is MV it is worth treating. It's a horrible disease. It is very contagious and that is why all fish must be treated now.

Now, having written all that, I'm not convinced it is MV. You can try your own diagnosis:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/diagnosticresources/

The above link takes you to other links that have internet diagnosis help.

If you have more ? just ask! :rollface:

 

[tflynn]

Thanks Lee, ya I was reading about MV last night from those very same sights. The only thing that matches up is erratic swimming (hovering at the top corner), but his "actual"swimming is fine, he's eating, and as far as pictures - he doesn't really have spots or anything. The only thing that I really notice is when he goes to the shrimp he opens he mouth real wide. Like he wants the shrimp in there-not by his gills. It's wierd - I can't pinpoint it. I did also last night try the diagnosis sites (which I just went through again), nothing really comes up. I don't know.

I got him from an LFS. I've purchased several fish from there before with no problems. It's actually a pretty reputable place and has been around a while. The Kole tang didn't look good and questioned that fact but the sales person (key word sales) said they had him for a while and was doing good. Well, he was gone in 3 days. My H. Tang was doing good up until a few days ago.

I liked your info on food. Do you have a specific recommendations for types of food? I see you have for the supplements, but with ALL the products out there, is there a few you like or use?

Thanks for all you help
Tracy

 

[leebca]

Tracy,

I avoid supporting any particular food over another. The vitamins and fat supplements aren't that many so I can list almost all that exist (to avoid appearing to have a favorite).

I am so dissatisfied with the so-called herbivore foods that I make my own, which (surprisingly) most of my carnivores gorge on too. (Go figure!)

Just don't be fooled by the 'name' on the product. Read the ingredients. Formula 2 isn't all that bad, still it would be best for an omnivore more than a herbivore. Offer macro algae (various colors) at least daily, gut loaded brine shrimp (if you need to feed brine shrimp), and then a Formula 2 or similar food high in kelp, algae, spirulina, and other veggies. Ulva is coming on the market and can be bought in bulk for feedings, too.

I rarely make this politically incorrect statement, but I notice that males in this hobby emphasize equipment and chemical control, but the women tend towards providing better nutrition. I wish the two could get together!