Powder Blue Tang question

[grouper25]

Last Friday at my LFS, a gorgeous Powder Blue had just arrived and was still in the bag being temp acclimated. He was large with spectacular coloration and one of the nicest specimens I have ever seen. I bought him on the spot.

I acclimated him to my 220 and there was no aggression with the other fish whatsoever but here is the thing----he keeps crashing into everything in the tank(rocks, glass, pumps) almost as if he is blind. I find that hard to believe as how could he have survuved in the Ocean. Also, I suspect perhaps he was caught with cyanide and it has destroyed his equalibrium. Just dont know.

He has not eaten a thing and his fins are showing some decay and deterioration. Anyone have a clue whats going on here. Such a gorgeous fish...Thanks


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Grouper25

 

[Michelle L]

It could be that he is just disoriented. Is he swimming upright?

I have read that fish caught with cyanide display extremely bright coloration. Does he appear brighter than what you consider normal?

Hopefully someone can give you more input than I have.

 

[grouper25]

he is swimming fine and has very clear eyes. As to coloration, its hard to say. he does have vibrant colors however. I am going to try some Brine(live) tonight although I doubt he will eat. WE will see. Very Wierd.

 

[hankthetank]

Do you know where it was collected?Powder Blues from East Africa naturally possess much more intense coloration than those from other areas.FWIW they are also much more aggressive.Powder Blues imo should be the only tang in a tank of that size.They tend to be very shy at first and often never adapt.And if they do adapt they often become terrors.I once read a study that concluded that PB's in the wild hold an average territory of 200 square meters.Something to think about!

 

[hankthetank]

Madly rushing about is often a sign of fluke infestation,and the fin deterioration could be a secondary bacterial infection caused by the flukes damaging the slime coat.This is a good time to mention a quarantine tank.............

 

[REEFRHEAD]

yes a quarantien tank is key expecially for a fish right out of the bag.

 

[grouper25]

For those still curious here is the status. Because the tang was crashing into all the rocks in the 220, I set up a 15 gallon and moved him. Only sand bottom. He was bruised from the trauma so, absent any other ideas, I teated the small tank with Bi-Furan, a broad spectrum anti-viral medication. He appears to be doing better but is still unable to see. While really not eating, I have so Nori in there and he sometimes tries taking a small bite which is at least something positive.

Anyway, I have a blind fish, at least for know, and I am doing all I can to nurse him along hoping that it may just be temporary but who knows. Even tried some melafix this morning as he does have some discoloration on a fin. ThLFS is perplexed as well as they have never seen such a fabulous specimen turn out blind. There is no way this fish survived in the ocean blind. No way.

Thanks mates

 

[seapug]

If the fish looked/acted great in the store but has become blind and deteriorating in your tank, I'd suspect it is having a reaction to some aspect of your water quality that doesn't bother the other fish. Have you tested?

Or it could just be stressed beyond belief...

 

[grouper25]

No, not at all. All water parameters are fine and the other 16 small fish(including a rock beauty) in my 220 are doing great and thriving as are my softies and amenones. This guy was crashing into things the moment I transfered him from the drip bucket. I suspect it may have been something placed in his water when bagged for shipment. I know for a fact from a large importer here in NYC/NJ that most overseas sellers "juice" the water with a special additive(not metalene blue) to calm the fish during transport. Perhaps this poor guy was overdosed. Am just hoping nature helps him regain his sight and am trying everything but seeing an opthomologist(LOL).

By the way, as my post stated, he had just arrivd at the store and was in the shipping bag. Hard to discern any problems when in fish is in a bag. Since I was taking him, and the store has always had excellent quality specimens, I decided not putting him through two acclimation processes in the same day following an overseas flight. That said, I know, dont buy from a bag but it is what it is, and that is no longer the issue here. I am just trying to help this fish survive.....
Thanks for your interest..........

 

[grouper25]

Update. The fish is stillm in the 15 gallon tank and and has improved markedly. He has eaten live brine and nori but is still blind. He eats by just bumping into food. Have been doing water changes every 2 days but dont know how long I can maintain this exercise given its practicality. This is such a shame as the fish is fat and has gorgeous coloration and markings. At some point I must decide to put him down if things don't improve. Putting him back in the 220 and watching him crash into live rock is just toooooo cruel..... Anyone have eny ideas??? Wonder if a dash of Visine would help.....

Thanks Mates

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I think it is oxygen deprivation- or maybe more accurately effects from oxygen deprivation.