Ive been in the hobby and even worked in the industry in my early 20's. Ive had a successful 300g reef tank for over 10 years with no huge problems. All my fish are over 5 years old except for school of lyretail anthias i just got from live aquaria on black friday. I did my normal prazipro quarantine. Now for the problem. My prized and beautiful black tang has decided to stop eating completely and seems to have white blocthes on hid fins only. He is hiding in random rocks and only comes out to try and get cleaned by shrimp. Its very sad and i have no clue what to do for him. Please help!
Please Help!! Black Tang (Rostratum)
- Thread starter Kevy792
- Start date
Three weeks of "quarantine" would be insufficient. Please describe behavior of the fish. From previously described information, I have significant concerns.
Except, of course, the lyretail anthias.
He is un-interested in eating or grazing. Hides in his normal sleeping area and is very aggressive to a few fish that swim in "his area." Comes out every 20 mins or so to find a cleaner shrimp and attempts to be cleaned, shrimp hopes on his occasionally but has nothing to clean.
Since cleaner shrimp do not eat parasites, it will have no effect. What is the level of respiration (gilling) compared to other fish? Does he tend to hang near water returns? Avoid light? What temperature do you keep that tank?
My blue hippo tang was interested in what was going on and seemed to be stressing him more so i have cornered him (hippo) off in an isolation tank. Breathing seems to be normal afterwards. He is definitely swimming only low parts of tank and his cave happens to be infront of a mini tunze that cycles during the day so its hard to tell about current. Temperature has always been at 76-78
The time line is very concerning as is the introduction of non-quarantined fish. Watch very closely for the next week. If you see progression or other fish behaving in a similar fashion report back quickly. Do you have Chloroquine Phosphate in your medicine cabinet?
I never "compete" giving advice with LFS folks. Best of luck!
He told me this days ago and it didn't seem right. When you have a sick loved one who has a serious condition and the Dr. gives you bad news you always get a second opinion... If you want to stop helping than thats on you. Hopefully someone with a heart will continue without having some silly "ego rule"
Shanet
New member
I think what Snorvich is thinking is it may be Velvet, treatable with Chloroquine Phosphate. Sounds like it to me as well, you need to act fast if it is or it has the potential to wipe out your tank. It doesn't help getting people offside when they are trying to help, Snorvich is usually spot on with his diagnosis'.
Can you post a photo of these spots? Are they regular, raised, fuzzy, flat, irregular?
I'd also get the cleaner shrimp to the sump. They can get too aggressive and actually cause problems---possibly could be driving the fish to hide. I've honestly never had either flukes or ich on a Live Aquaria purchase, but there's always a first time. Photos would help. Use a free account on Photobucket.com and they'll resize nicely for RC.
I'd also get the cleaner shrimp to the sump. They can get too aggressive and actually cause problems---possibly could be driving the fish to hide. I've honestly never had either flukes or ich on a Live Aquaria purchase, but there's always a first time. Photos would help. Use a free account on Photobucket.com and they'll resize nicely for RC.
Photos could be helpful.
There is a difference from Diver's Den and the plain live aquaria stock from California. DD has a QT and treatment protocol if something is noticed. From what I understand LA is now shipped directly from QM. Could be wrong about the latter - anyway neither help you right now. In the future, Prazi alone is not enough to treat a fish IMO. You need something for Ich and velvet - the greatest killers of closed system fish.
I would rec pulling the fish and placing it into a tank that you can observe and treat it accordingly. A freshwater dip may help you identify the cause too.
There is a difference from Diver's Den and the plain live aquaria stock from California. DD has a QT and treatment protocol if something is noticed. From what I understand LA is now shipped directly from QM. Could be wrong about the latter - anyway neither help you right now. In the future, Prazi alone is not enough to treat a fish IMO. You need something for Ich and velvet - the greatest killers of closed system fish.
I would rec pulling the fish and placing it into a tank that you can observe and treat it accordingly. A freshwater dip may help you identify the cause too.
Divers Den has a low level of copper in their fish system (as well as UV and ozone) but a non-therapeutic level of copper can/will mask some of the more virulent parasites such as velvet, brook, as well as, of course ich. I do not know if QM runs copper in their fish system. The time line I have experienced masked parasites showing up is about 3 weeks which is why the OP time line concerns me. Diagnosis of these type parasites is initially behavioral with visual symptoms showing up later. Since you had two doses of prazi, a diagnosis of flukes is far less likely and the quarantine period was inadequate for behavioral or visual expression of any of the other parasites.
What the OP is describing behaviorally is loss of appetite, reclusiveness, avoiding bright light, and remaining close to a water circulation function for oxygenated water. More oxygen in the water is beneficial. If it is, as I suspect, velvet, then a fresh water dip will alleviate symptoms but not cure the problem as the fish will get reinfected after reintroduction.
The treatment of choice for velvet is CP which can be obtained with a vet's prescription for the medical grade version.
What the OP is describing behaviorally is loss of appetite, reclusiveness, avoiding bright light, and remaining close to a water circulation function for oxygenated water. More oxygen in the water is beneficial. If it is, as I suspect, velvet, then a fresh water dip will alleviate symptoms but not cure the problem as the fish will get reinfected after reintroduction.
The treatment of choice for velvet is CP which can be obtained with a vet's prescription for the medical grade version.
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