Naso tang not eating with sores

[sealover113]

Hi,
I noticed that about a week ago our Naso tang that we have had for 3 yrs stopped eating. She was acting normal, swiming ect...
The next day we saw a thin, filmy flap going up and down at each breath, like a peice of tissue inside her mouth was loose. We recently added a huge spiny urchin to the tank, and my hippo tang tried to eat it when she first saw it , then she stopped, knowing it wasnt edible, so we suspected maybe she knicked her mouth on one of his spines. This went away the next day. She still wasnt eating. she is still very fat and chunky, we cant figure out how she still is since she isnt eating. She is acting normal, swimming with the others. Then 3 days ago we saw these red sores on her mouth. They went away in a day, then today we noticed them again. I have included a picture as good as I can get. They are little, like a small cut.
The parameters are all normal but the nitrate has been high since we started the tank, near 80. They have been living in this high of nitrate for 3yrs with no ill effects.We have something in there to bring down the nitrate and we are doing water changes frequently.
Is this some type of disease? We have a hospital tank if needed and many meds on hand. Please help, she is a well loved fish and now since the other tangs are big, they wont let any new additions in if she dies.
Thanks alot!
Alyssa

 

[IM_A_CLOWNFISH]

HI All!

I have a similar problem but without any physical evidence of sickness and was wondering if my fish is ill or am I just paranoid?

I have a small naso tang that has been in my 65 gal aquarium for about 4 weeks. He was always a picky eater, only eating mysis shrimp and special sea veggies, but now it looks like he has almost completely stopped eating.

He's not really hiding much, no clamped fins, no labored breathing, and nothing to indicate ick or marine velvet. The other fish aren't chasing him either, like what happens in my FW tank when a fish gets sick. He does have some small pale white discoloration patches on his skin, but I think that is just how he looks. I think it is too faint to be velvet. I'll keep an eye on it to see if it gets bigger - but this has been going on for about a week now - marine velvet kills in a few days doesn't it?

Any ideas what might be wrong? He was always a picky eater but now doesnt seem interested in anything really. He seems to be swimming a bit slower than usual (I think) but is still fairly active swimming around with his buddy my foxface.

Help! I love him and he is my favorite fish!

Not sure if he is sick or stressed or what. I introduced the fire shrimp about a week ago and they scared the crap out of him for a while, but he seems to be okay now. No more hiding and blotchy colors. Is he still bothered by the new introduction or could something really be wrong?

specs:
nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia - zero
temp: ~80 degrees
salt: 1.02
ultraviolet sterilizer
fluval 304 canister filter
6 small fish
2 cleaner shrimp
2 fire shrimp
40 snails/hermits
70 lbs of liverock
tank up for abou 2 months - fully cycled

 

[sealover113]

I've been watching the tang alot today and it seems that her breathing is a little fast compared to the others and every once in a while she seems to like almost shudder through the mouth and gill area. I also noticed a few ich spots on her fin, but our Hippo tang occassionally has some and it never becomes anything serious.

I hope someone can give me some suggestions.

 

[Torno]

Im a clownfish, you're sort of highjacking alyssas thread, dont you think? Good luck to both of you