how sick is my yellow tang?

[viodea]

He's in the QT for a couple weeks or so. Looks like he's getting sicker everyday. He eats fine and swims around quick a bit when I'm not near the tank though.

How sick is he? What kind of disease is this? he doesn't look good at all

pic 1

pic 2

 

[Jerry W]

HLLE. (head and lateral line erosion). Not uncommon in these fish. Possibly reversible with excellent diet/water quality and time. I've seen tangs with pretty bad cases recover nicely. Also test for any stray voltage in your tank as this has been a suspected cause.

 

[woodycb]

my tang had this for a couple of weeks in the beginning also. with good tank maintenance he should recover nicely. keep feeding him as much as he wants to eat right now and he should remain stress free. If he is in QT make sure he has plenty of hiding spots.

 

[viodea]

He started developed this about a week ago and seemed getting worst.
so, no medication needed? Is there anything I can do to speed up the healing process?

I really want to move him to DT ASAP because my QT is too small (10g). I have a 4" elbow PVC pipe in there. He hinds behind it at the back corner all the time. So, hiding place is not a problem.

The only thing he eats is nori. I try to too feed him too much. I did it 2 days and the water quality was bad.

What is the easiest way to test stray voltage. The only device I have is a voltmeter.

thanks

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Personally I think that stray voltage stuff is poppycock. Look at your water parameters as a whole. Im would bet something is way off- ie- salinity, pH, etc. What are your params (and test today, dont just repeat what it was 3 weeks ago when you did last).:thumbsup:

 

[bocachula]

This looks like lateral line...

I suggest you start mixing up his diet. Try all types of algae, bellet food, spirulina.

Try to feed at least twice a day.

Great!! Nutrition is the key...

 

[viodea]

I've been feeding nori daily and formula 2 once a while. What else is good food to feed him?

I just did a 100% water change a few days ago and 20% today. I'll check the param again tomorrow.

 

[viodea]

Is this some kind of disease or just stressed? I'm thinking if it's not a disease, maybe it's better for me to put him in the DT because it has more room to swim around. He's been in QT since 4-21-2008. He's been LFS for a while before I got him.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Thismproble is not contagious, nor necessarily treatable. Wh was he originally in QT? It may be a very good idea to just get him to the display.

 

[viodea]

I bought it from LFS on 4-21-2008. I was told to QT any fish at least 4 weeks. That's the reason I put him in QT.

 

[Reeftanks6]

I had this on my hippo in my old tank. But what i can tell you from doing a lot of research about HLLE is that good water quality, good feeding is very important. These will help the fish have a better chance of coming back but the return is not always guaranteed.

 

[viodea]

that's one of the reason that I want to move him to DT. Water quality is better and more room to swim and hide.

 

[viodea]

my QT params are
FA - 0
TA - 0
Nitrite - 0.05
Nitrate - 4
pH 8.1
Alk - 8.4
SG - 1.25

 

[viodea]

I decided to move him to DT last night. I hoped that was the right move.
At least, he's been much happier in DT than in QT. He swims around all the time and eating all formula 2 in there which he never touched before.

 

[cr8signs]

When you are feeding, try soaking food in crushed garlic and selcon (vitamin supplement). Try all different kinds of foods and algaes. The garlic makes fish crazy. It looks like a feeding frenzy in my tank when I put any kind of garlic extract in with the food.
I prefer to crush my garlic fresh, it is said to be the "best" way for them to get the goodies they need from the garlic, but I have also used garlic extreme, but it is expensive and I always question how long does it really last and how long has it been at the store. If you soak brine shrimp in the selcon, even they can become an ok food source, and most fish love brine shrimp, use in moderation as a treat.

 

[viodea]

Can I just chop garlic and feed him by dropping them in DT? I'm feeding him formula 2 & nori but the nails ate them all.
I'm glad I moved him to DT. He in way much better shape than yesterday. He swims around and eats so much.
I start to wonder if it's a bad idea to QT a tang if the QT is not big enough.