PBT losing color & tailfin.

[tongareefer]

Please help. My Powder Blue Tang is losing color
& tailfin. I am trying to post a pic.
http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg56/tongareefer/[\img]
TIA

 

[tongareefer]

http://s245.photobucket.com/albums/gg56/tongareefer/
Please click on this link to see photo.
If someone can explain how to post the pic it would be
much appreciated.

thanks!

 

[tongareefer]

Please help!

 

[tongareefer]

Anybody know what this is?

 

[tongareefer]

This is him/her.
Losing all pigmentation & taifin.

[/IMG]

 

[Reeftanks6]

it is either the start of HLLE which is where there litheral line gets infected and the lose the color on there face and body and lose fins. Or it could be some bacterial infection

 

[Pescado Racing]

What are your water parameter's? Powder blues are a delicate fish? Tail looks like finrot to me.

 

[LargeAngels]

Do a FW dip in a clear container. Look for "jelly" like things, which would be flukes.

 

[rlcline76]

I am guessing MHLLE with a vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A is necessary for building the bony spine structures on the fins. Are you using a vitamin supplement? If not, this is a good time to start. Vitamins are also needed for healthy coloration.

 

[rlcline76]

But water parameters are also a good idea...

 

[Copperhead1]

Thanks for all the input!
The only issue I see being a problem with parameters
would be NO3 20-25 ppm.
There are 3 others tangs,5 other small fish & several corals in the tank & all look good. This pic was taken w/lights out.
I did a 20% water change last night & will do another tomorrw.
I have started soaking all food(roasted seaweed,spiralina & formula 2) in garlic, vitamin C & vita chem. Not sure if vita chem has vitamin A.

I have had all these tangs for more than 2 years & this is my first sick one. I have alot of softies in this tank & had a problem with
GSP not opening & I started to run some carbon. I read an old thread on here where some people thought carbon was not a good thing for tangs. But some people don't seem to have any issues. I ran the carbon for about 3 weeks & removed it about a week ago. PBT is looking a little better this afternoon. I went home @ lunch to check. I will keep a close eye & see if a freshwater dip is in order. I have never done this but have read some threads on it. I will have to remove alot of rock to catch the guy but that's part of it. Sorry for ramblin' on.

P.S. I also have 2 cleaner shrimp, 2 peps & 1 green sebae(8-10")

 

[rlcline76]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/sp/index.php

Carbon...it's possible. And it is good that you are trying to improve the nitrate situation, as well. I am not sure if it is in the article I just gave the link to, but supposedly tangs can handle higher nitrates than 25 ppm without a problem. However, logically speaking, tangs in the wild are generally not messing with out of whack water parameters so unless all tangs have been tested, provided everything else is a constant...best to just do a couple of water changes and continue with the diet strategy. Not sure about Vita-chem. If you are using Formula 2 pellets, I want to say that it contains all sorts of vitamins and minerals... the flakes pretty much lose their value as soon as they hit the water.

GSPs are pretty hardy. As long as the light and flow are good, you may very well see an improvement as you get the nitrates under control.

 

[LargeAngels]

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/freshwaterdips.html