Naso Tang Problems

[vettech28]

Hey Guys,
I just got a new naso from my LFS that I had my eye on for about 5 weeks. When I bought him he was plump and healthy. Over the weekend I noticed that I can see his ribs now and has lost a considerable amount of weight. He eats the flakes I put in but doesn't nibble the algae sheets or nori. I have been feeding him like crazy so that he doesn't kick it, but you can imagine what that is doing to my levels. My yellow tangs could also use some more meat on them while I am at it but at least they eat the algae and the nori. Any suggestions?

 

[reeformadness]

My guess would be that your tank is too small. LOL. Just kidding. I wish I could help you. How long have you had the tang now?

 

[vettech28]

I have had him for about 3 weeks now. He looks great other than being too skinny. I just upgraded to a larger tank, otherwise you would have been right about the tank size! At least it is bigger than the one he was in at the LFS!

 

[Asuran]

try feeding some mysid shrimp

 

[rustybucket145]

yup get them fish some meaty foods!! Tree Hugger!! hehe, jk. Yeah, you might want to try to vary thier diet MUCH more. For instance.... one day feed enriched brine, the next feed mysis, the next feed plankton, the next feed bloodworms... etc....

Just mix it up a little, flake food is good but not for all the time, these fish need some meat!!!

EDIT: Also forgot, Formula II, It's good for tangs and also contains a little garlic!

 

[Hop]

I found that soaking my nori in garlic did wonders in getting him to start eating it. When first introduced he wouldn't take nori at all. After soaking it in garlic, he would eat it. You could put one sheet soaked in garlic in the tank next to one that had not been soaked and that evening, the one soaked in garlic was gone and the other was still there Once his smell and stomach told him the nori was food, he's an animal when I put it in the tank. He usually rips most of it from my hand before I get it in the clip

Might be worth a try.

 

[seaduck]

Get them some caulerpa- feather and grape..they will get fat in 1 day and stay that way as long as u keep a fresh supply in the tank....grow it in ur fuge w/reverse lighting. U will never have another skinny tang. U should also give them a variety of meaty foods and flakes.

 

[MCary]

Naso's also have a taste for brown macro algae. Sargassum, kelp, that tang heaven stuff.

 

[vettech28]

I have never heard of some of this stuff. Where can I find caulerpa and Sargassum? I don't think the fish store carries it but I will call and ask them. I will definitly change up their menu daily to see if that helps. I fed a cube of brine yesterday but he hid the whole time while the other fish went nuts over it! He looks like crap so I have to do something. Thanks.

 

[samson78945]

same thing happened to my naso..i ended up losing him. its possible that it could have been some kind of internal parasite

 

[fish like me]

Naso Tangs get big. Very big. If it's in your 150, I'd say take him back. Not enough room for it, which is probably causing it stress resulting in this behavior.

 

[alan214]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9203842#post9203842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by samson78945
same thing happened to my naso..i ended up losing him. its possible that it could have been some kind of internal parasite

That or they were caught using cyanide. The symptoms are nearly exactly what you're describing. They look good and then slowly starve to death even though they appear to be eating.

 

[balmiesgirl]

When I got mine he wouldnt eat any flake or frozen. I finally got him to take a little dried nori, but he was struggling....then I ordered some of that Tang Heaven and he has been a happy camper ever since I grow it in my fuge then I tie a bunch on to a rock and drop it in the tank and feed him a little bit each day. (Although he's definitely eating faster than its growing so I'm going to have to buy more after awhile.)

 

[IPowderBlueTang]

I am agreeing with samson78945 and alan214 most likely it had internal parasites or cyanide caught. My first Naso would eat a little but never pig out like the other Tangs and end up dying and would not eat nori and not very active ( I suspect cyanide caught from my research after) My second naso kept on pooping white strings, internal parasites medicated with jungle parasite food, solved the parasites and to this day he is a character in my tank!

 

[balmiesgirl]

IPowderBlue- What kind of parasite food was that? And where do you get it? Is it reef-safe? I had a yellow tang for a long time...he ate well (he wasnt picky. He would eat flake, frozen, dried, etc...)but he just got skinnier and skinnier then died. I'm sure it was a parasite.

 

[alan214]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9206327#post9206327 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by balmiesgirl
IPowderBlue- What kind of parasite food was that? And where do you get it? Is it reef-safe? I had a yellow tang for a long time...he ate well (he wasnt picky. He would eat flake, frozen, dried, etc...)but he just got skinnier and skinnier then died. I'm sure it was a parasite.

I hope you're right that it's a parasite, balmiesgirl. Just be aware that the symptom of cyanide poisoning is that the fish's digstive track is damaged but still allows it to eat normally. The problem is, thee fish cannot digest the food properly and starves to death very slowly.

I sincerely hope that's not your problem and that the parasite food does the trick.

 

[TrojanScott]

My Naso didn't eat at first either. Try Tang Heaven. It works. Do a search on it, you'll find it. Pricey, (unless your local store has it) but it works.