Naso Tang Rescue. HELP

[imcosmokramer]

I am re-posting this here, since it is the correct forum. Mods, pls delete from "new to hobby"

I just came back from a local store that had a very sick (ich) and very malnourished Naso Tang. They were not set up to treat it and agreed that it will die today or tomorrow. After a discussion with the manager they agreed to let me adopt it. I brought it home and placed it in a qt I already had set up for a few other fish. Rather, I had a setup for a few other fish that were just taken out today, so I moved over the water (good parameters) and the filter to the new QT setup.

Should I just hypo it or should I treat with copper. I have 3 QT setups, this one has already had copper in it (The filter I moved over will not be the dedicated copper filter).

Should I just hypo the tang or should I use copper med.

Other than garlic, is there anything else I should add to the food to entice it to eat?

Any other suggestions?

 

[paulamrein]

Hypo is my preferred treatment for ich. it is gentle without any proven ill effects. When QTing tangs it's the preferred method as well considering there are studies that show copper effecting the digestive tract. As far as eating goes. nori, or romaine lettuce with a vitamin soak should stimulate, also, with most fish live foods such as glass shrimp or worms has also proven to stimulate appetite. Live brine is more readily available but it isn't nutritious enough. But can be used in the short run to get them to eat other foods.
Having said all that if you would allow me to give my opinion on "saving" fish. First off, your system may prove to be too small for a naso (assuming it's going into your 75g. Secondly, although your intentions are very noble, it may require more than what you are capable with you being a beginner, if an LFS can't take care of it, you may find it more difficult. Third, and my biggest point, Why would you want to reward an LFS for causing such meek conditions for the fish by giving them your business? If I were to see conditions like that at an LFS, than I would choose to go elsewhere. It tells them it's ok to leave a fish in that state because of the quick turn-around they received. I would also bet next time you come to that store there will be another lost cause in it's place. It doesn't help that fish, but atleast they may think twice if it turns into a trend. I'm not saying it's a lost cause, I'm simply saying it's an uphill battle for an already difficult fish. But, it can be done, and I hope you can post later proving me wrong. I'm not even saying you are wrong for doing what you did, just my opinion, fish saving, usually the only one that wins is the LFS.

 

[pescadero]

I share many of Paul's opinions.

an LFS that has ich in their tanks and doesn't take measures to correct the problem is a bad LFS and supporting them (in any way) will just perpetuate the problem.

Another thing that I would mention is that given the time, effort, and expense that it takes to "save" a diseased fish, you'd be better off going to a different store and starting off with a healthy fish. diseased fish that are "free" are never inexpensive to adopt. don't be lulled into thinking that you're getting a great deal. chances are that you're not.

with the gripes out of the way then, here's what i think of hypo:

although i use hypo for eradicating subclinical ich infestations, i don't rely on it for treating clinical ich infestations, especially if the disease is in an advanced state that has led to compromise of the fish's health. if the fish is badly infected, i won't waste time on hypo -- i go straight to copper to effect a more immediate cure.

YMMV.

 

[imcosmokramer]

I agree that I might be perpetuating the problem. This is not a LFS but a Petco (I was there getting dog food). I don't buy fish there. It was just hard to see the fish suffering, but you're probably right, it probably means they will just order another one. Maybe they need to look at losses due to fish sickness and perhaps reevaluate their practices.

I was thinking of bringing it to health and then finding it a good home. It should be fine in my system for the short term (I think). As for being a beginner, the fish has a much better chance here as I at least am going to treat it. The store was not equipped with the setup or staff to try and revive this one. At least I am doing the research and am willing to put forth the effort. I believe the lesser of two evils. The fish would have died for sure had it stayed there. I don't believe that they don't care, but don't really have the ability/flexibility to make a change (at least the employees don't; clearly the chain could).

If the tang ends up dying, then, at least I think it had a chance.

This thread continues on in the New to hobby forum

Pest, just saw your post - just as a note, I wasn't trying to "get a good deal" I was trying to help the fish, then find it a good home. I agree with this not solving the problem though.

 

[pescadero]

Pest!?! :eek2:

I have been to Petco many times. I have "rescued" fish from PetCo, and having learned my lesson. I won't try it again.

I've been looking locally for good specimen of an Atlantic Blue Tang for quite some time. A nice sized one appeared at an LFS (a chain store that I won't name) with an obvious ich infestation. The store has done nothing about it. The fish is covered with white spots and it is dying a slow death. It looks worse every time that I've gone in there. The fish is getting very skinny and its wasting away. I keep pointing out the problem, but they only reply that keeping their tanks at 1.017 will take care of the problem. I guess they're leaving it there in the hopes that somebody will pay $40 for it and take it off their hands. In the interim, they keep putting more fish into the tanks that share a common filtration system, including a number of juvenile yellows and a pair of 4-inch koles.

the bad situation just goes on and on and on. i have no expectations that those people will ever get their act together -- they're not even paying close enough attention to notice the dead fish that i have to point out to them whenever i am in the store. i've found dead fish 4 out of the last 4 times i've been there.

don't spend your money at places that exhibit such poor husbandry. it only perpetuates the problem. by trying to save one fish, you only damn more of them to suffer the same fate.

 

[imcosmokramer]

Sorry about the "pest" thing, must be a pescadero-petco hybrid

It's amazing that they can still pay for the system to be up. Like you, I was thinking.....ummm....ALL THOSE FISH SHARE THE SAME SYSTEM!!! You might as well take him out and flush him. Yes, there are dead fish in the tanks almost every time I'm there.

They must get those fish for a $1 each, so that if they sell one, it pays for the 30 dead ones. Plus, it's not like they treat the system with copper (they have inverts), they don't do hypo, they don't keep the system fish free for 4-5 weeks, so the problem never goes away. Unreal.

Yeah....1.017 will work..... CLEARLY WORKING SO FAR GENIUS. Look it's really working, he's getting more white spots, and not eating. Good work!

 

[paulamrein]

Petco is notorious for bad stock, regardless if it's fresh salt or any other animal. It's a corporate type business which means, it's about the money not the animals, and you can write off your loses to make it still show a profit in the numbers. Also, most of the workers are part-time teens in highschool and college that aren't interested in the hobby, it's just a job to them. Not all mind you, but It's a safe bet it's most.