Help with malnourished Yellow Tang

[glenns]

Last night I came home to find my 5yo Yellow Tang blown on to a chunck of live rock by my Tunze. At first I thought he had died. Then I noticed he was looking at me. So I turned off the Tunze and he got away. But while he was on the live rock, he seemed to be very skinny. He also appeared to be very weak. I can find no evidence of disease, so I'm guessing it is a lack of proper nutrition or an internal parasite. I cannot see any external damage nor bruising that my suggest internal injuries.

I had slacked off in feeding him veggies because of the Christmas holiday travel and travel due to an unexpected death in the family. I immediately gave him a large piece of romaine and some Mysis. He did not go after the Mysis and only nibbled on the Romain last night. I guess he could be too week, not to mention being bashed on a rock has got to take alot out of you. Anyway, I'm hoping he is still alive when I get home. Is there anything else I can or should do to build him back up? I have freeze dried algea that I can feed him. None of the other fish seem interested in his food, so there is no competition.

Thanks,
Glenn

 

[Puffer Queen]

Glenn,

I would enrich the tang's diet with vitamins, garlic and beta glucan to boost its immune system so it can hopefully recover.

Make sure you are offering appropriate algae/veggies. Romaine lettuce is not a good nutritional source for tangs. Nori (non seasoned) can be purchased at oriental/asian markets or at LFS - marketed as seaweed (many brands).

I would also deworm the tang. I would suggest praziquantel (droncit) which can be obtained through a vet or through this website: www.nationalfishpharm.com. It is best to give the praziquantel in the tang's food.

I would also consider placing this tang in a separate hospital/QT where it will be quieter and less stress on the tang. Stress (witnessed or unwitnessed, chronic or acute) can lead to opportunistic pathogens and can determine whether a fish recovers or not. In a tank by itself, it will not have to worry about other tank mates and can hopefully recover.

Best of luck,
Kelly

 

[Gobie]

you can get Seaweed Selects at the aquarium store, it's like nori and they have different types of algae.

 

[glenns]

Thanks. I have the seaweed selects and Garlic. I've noticed his anal fin and one of his pectoral fins is messed up. I think the Chromis is harrassing him now. hopefully he'll recover soon enough.

 

[johnstringer]

If you have a friend with a little extra macro algae...toss it in.

 

[glenns]

Thanks John.

I have some macro algae in my sump/fuge. I'll give him some of that. He seems better now, but he appears to have HLLE symptoms. Hopefully I've caught it in time to prevent too much damage.