Hole in the head?

[starionesir]

I had been treating my blue hippo tang for ich and everything went well and is just waiting in the QT tank for another couple weeks while my DT tank goes fallow. I have noticed around the eyes and the whole length of his black strip from head to tail is not a vivid black anymore and is more of a lightish gray white color. Around the eyes mouth area is also looking like hole in the head or laterial line.

The fish eats well and is very active. I'm thinking its a nutrition thing and bought some selcon and vita chem to soak the food in. I've tried different foods but he only really eats frozen mysis shrimp and of course nori sheets. Any other ideas to help him recover?

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Can you post a pic?

 

[HumbleFish]

Sounds like HLLE. In addition to soaking fish food in Selcon/Zoecon/Vita-chem, I would check for stray voltage in the QT. Also, are you running any carbon in there?

 

[starionesir]

I did check for voltage with my meter and nothing present. I am running carbon in my hob to remove the copper. I tried to get some pics but the fish is so dang fast every picture was kind of blurry.

 

[HumbleFish]

I am running carbon in my hob to remove the copper.

So many theories as to what causes HLLE, but nothing definite has been proven yet (to my knowledge).

Stray voltage, vitamin/nutritional deficiency, tiny particles from running cheap carbon... all possibilities.

Hippo tangs seem especially susceptible.

 

[starionesir]

I just read something about carbon is a possibility so I will remove the carbon when I get home and do another large water change and see if there is any improvement. Right now its not a lot compared to other pictures I've seen but I'd rather do something about it early if I can vs letting the fish suffer and ultimately die.

 

[HumbleFish]

I just read something about carbon is a possibility so I will remove the carbon when I get home and do another large water change and see if there is any improvement. Right now its not a lot compared to other pictures I've seen but I'd rather do something about it early if I can vs letting the fish suffer and ultimately die.

I've never seen a fish actually die from HLLE; although I'm sure they do suffer and it weakens them/leads to other problems. Below is a "feel good" before & after thread on HLLE:

Before: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=888778

After: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1786961

 

[starionesir]

I've read its usually not fatal as well but I try my best to keep them as healthy as possible. I'm hoping my supplements come in today. Pretty much all my local fish stores have gone out of business so most of my stuff I have to order online. Those pictures are insane. You can't even tell the fish had anything wrong in the end.

 

[HumbleFish]

I've read its usually not fatal as well but I try my best to keep them as healthy as possible. I'm hoping my supplements come in today. Pretty much all my local fish stores have gone out of business so most of my stuff I have to order online. Those pictures are insane. You can't even tell the fish had anything wrong in the end.

He did it by soaking Selcon one day, Zoecon the next. Rinse & repeat.

 

[starionesir]

I ordered selcon and vitachem. I'm guessing the vitachem is similar to the zoecon. I guess I could always order the zoecon as well and do one a day alternating all three.

 

[HumbleFish]

I ordered selcon and vitachem. I'm guessing the vitachem is similar to the zoecon. I guess I could always order the zoecon as well and do one a day alternating all three.

That's probably what I would do in your shoes.

 

[starionesir]

I've also read people don't like rinsing there mysis shrimp as it washes off some of the beneficial parts so I might start thawing it then soaking the different additives and with removing the carbon hopefully notice a good improvement. Thank you very much for the quick answers and info. Its greatly appreciated.

 

[snorvich]

I've also read people don't like rinsing there mysis shrimp as it washes off some of the beneficial parts so I might start thawing it then soaking the different additives and with removing the carbon hopefully notice a good improvement. Thank you very much for the quick answers and info. Its greatly appreciated.

Rinsing mysis with fresh water is a problem with mysis? Soaking thawed mysis in various supplements is probably a good way of adding additional nutritional value to it.

 

[starionesir]

Snorvich are you saying rinsing is a bad idea as well?

 

[Rea17]

Did the hlle come on suddenly? Btw, copper can cause it too.

 

[starionesir]

No seemed to slowly get worse. Not as bad as I've seen from pictures but can tell it's the start of it. I want to try and stop it before it gets any worse.

 

[starionesir]

And oddly enough during the copper treatment it wasn't there. It wasn't till after about a week or so after I starting running Carbon to remove the copper.

 

[DasCamel]

Randy Holmes makes some great points regarding rinsing the mysis, not really worth it for lowering the phosphates. I would just soak and feed.

 

[snorvich]

Snorvich are you saying rinsing is a bad idea as well?

No, I have been rinsing PE mysis for many years.