Purple Tang w/ HLLE

[ReefObsessor805]

I rescued this guy from a LFS about two weeks ago. He had the HLLE before I purchased him, but unfortunately at the time I did not know the HLLE was present. I was not aware of the disease and what it looked like when it was present on fishes.
He was living in a little cubicle and I had to rescue him.

Is this case looking really bad?

Could it be reversed and his colors restored to an extent?

Is he suffering? My water parameters are excellent and I am feeding him a variety of foods. I am starting to soak his veggie clips in VitaChem. Because he is the only one in the tank that is interested in the clips, which is good, and he is eating like a pig, I hope it will be easy to treat?!

Will I be able to cure him? I believe he is an excellent environment (compared to what he was in in the LFS) and it has not gotten any worse. I am keeping an eye on it carefully.

He is eating Formula Two Herbivore (green) flakes, TetraMin tropical flakes, Ocean Nutrition (green marine algae) seaweed clips, Hikari brine shrimp, Hikari ocean plankton.
He is a pig all the time. And I feed him several times a day.

Does anyone have some good suggestions?
Vitamin soak every other day?

 

[Steven Pro]

Here is an article I wrote on this condition,
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/sp/index.php

 

[ReefObsessor805]

What other supplements should I be using besides VitaChem.

How about Kent Marine Vitamin C? Or Zoe?

Is there anyone you prefer over the other?
Thanks.

 

[RichConley]

I'm utterly convinced that HLLE isnt a disease. I'm convinced its a stress reaction. The nervous cells that are affected are very sensitive, and extremely expensive from a biological standpoint.

Something gets the fish sick, and the lateral line is the first thing to break down because of its sensitivity and biological expense.

I've seen it happen with bad nutrition.

I've seen it happen after adding a competing fish.

I've seen it happen when a bad carbon reactor was grinding up carbon and putting dust in the water.

I've seen it from stray voltage.

etc. etc. etc.

The myriad of cuases leads me to believe that its more of a symptom of general poor health than a specific cause.




In the case of your purple, I've got a hippo that was like him at one point. He'll probably have scars, but should heal up.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7779813#post7779813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
I'm utterly convinced that HLLE isnt a disease. I'm convinced its a stress reaction. The nervous cells that are affected are very sensitive, and extremely expensive from a biological standpoint.

Something gets the fish sick, and the lateral line is the first thing to break down because of its sensitivity and biological expense.

I've seen it happen with bad nutrition.

I've seen it happen after adding a competing fish.

I've seen it happen when a bad carbon reactor was grinding up carbon and putting dust in the water.

I've seen it from stray voltage.

etc. etc. etc.

The myriad of cuases leads me to believe that its more of a symptom of general poor health than a specific cause.




In the case of your purple, I've got a hippo that was like him at one point. He'll probably have scars, but should heal up.

I'm glad that I'm not the only one that feels this way. But I have no proof to back up my theories. But then again, no one has taken a culture sample to prove that HLLE is a "disease" and not a "reaction"

 

[Steven Pro]

I agree. If you look at my article, I use words like syndrome or ailment to describe MHLLE. I am not convinced it is a disease in the techincal sense either.

 

[Ciarán]

I don't mean to be condescending to your noble efforts, but i dont think a purple tang of that size will be in an "excellent environment" in a 36 Gallon system. I reckon 75-100 gallons is the benchmark for Zebrasoma spp. tangs. It may not improve if it is still stressed in an environment too small for it.

 

[Serioussnaps]

Also, you need to soak his food at every feeding...every other day is useless IMO.

 

[Jens Kallmeyer]

HI

Besides that I think that your tank is by far too small for that fish, I would feed that guy with basically everything you can get hold of, plus Vitamins FOR EVERY SINGLE FEEDING!
You already feed quite a variety, I would perhaps add shaved clams or schaved sqid to the menu. I don't know where you live, but can you get some fresh Algae from the Ocean? If yes, give it a try. At some asian stores they sell a variety of dried algae and seaweed, perhaps you try those as well.
Ok, some people call my fishes obese, but at least I never had any trouble with HLLE or other malnutrition issues. Like some others here I am not convinced that HLLE is a desease but rather a reaction on malnutrition and perhaps stress.

Good luck with the fish and please keep us posted

Jens

 

[exoticaquatix]

it has been a year now since i adopted my purple tang who had terrible HLLE. i fed him New Life Spectrum pellets, mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp and nori all soaked in selcon and within 3 months all the color came back into the eroded areas. he has since been in perfect health (aside from the typical short bouts of minor ich) and has yet to show any signs of regression. a few other things i have done is limit my use of carbon and any unnessesary chemicle additives and make sure to have the tank properly grounded ( all suspected causes of HLLE).
i want to thank you guys for all the help i recieved on this subject last year.

-nick

 

[exoticaquatix]

one more thing......

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7781842#post7781842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ciarán
I don't mean to be condescending to your noble efforts, but i dont think a purple tang of that size will be in an "excellent environment" in a 36 Gallon system. I reckon 75-100 gallons is the benchmark for Zebrasoma spp. tangs. It may not improve if it is still stressed in an environment too small for it.

it does come off a bit condescending but judging from the size of the algae clip thats a pretty small tang at this point. as long as the water is kept perfect and the nutritional needs are met (seems like they are) then this seems fine on a temporary basis IMO.
-nick

 

[LesMartin]

I too bought a purple tang in a similar condition back in february. It was approx. 1" in body length then. Now at 3" I'd say that it's well on the way to complete recovery. Both his lateral lines now only show traces of the white areas and only a few dots remain on the face. I haven't done anything in particular apart from maintaining water quality and feeding a varied diet. Best of luck with yours !

 

[wds21921]

I strongly disagree that the tank size is a precursor for any specific stress or disease. I've maintained tangs of various species in a 30 gallon for years and experienced no symptoms or problems due to the size of the tank.

I've never had any fish with HLLE either but I do also use Selcon on a regular basis.

As long as they're in a healthy enviroment and a reasonable sized tank thats properly maintained you shouldn't have any problems.

Actually the only times I've even seen HLLE has been in fish stores not in many home tanks.

 

[rpisces]

Many years ago I bought an adult Purple Tang from a LFS with severe HLLE along the Lateral lines and fins.

I fed him with broccolli and it recovered fully except the the top fin where damages already done on its bones. The top fin grown back but is irregularly shaped.

Rgds
khoo