Purple Tang won't eat...

[wakerider017]

Received an online shipment of various inverts and fish last Friday.

Everything was floated in their bags in the sump for 30 mins to temp acclimate and then drip acclimated for another 30 mins.

Lights were turned down and livestock was added to the tank. Most everything new ran for cover which I am used to.

The next day everybody seemed fine except for the one purple tang who was new. He seemed stressed and confused.

Since last friday he has either sat on the bottom or swam around the tank (acting like he was drunk) bumping into things. He is about 4.5" and has been bullied by a larger 6" purple tang and a little 3" yellow tang (to a lesser degree). The bullying is there, but it is not awful like I have seen before in other fish. Every once in a while there is a bump, shove and maybe a little nip.
(I was aware there may be conflict between the yellow and the purple, however I had not planned on having two purple tangs in the same tank. That happened last minute against my desire, but I figured it would be neat if it could work).

I had a copperband once that my yellow tang beat up on bad and I was still able to get him to take mysis and they eventually became friends.

Anyway I cannot get this guy to take any food. I've tried mysis, cyclopeze, flake, pellet, soaked in selcon, soaked in garlic. I've seen him nibble at the surrounding water when I've target fed him, but he just seems utterly confused. Almost like brain damage or complete shock from stress.

I'm sure I'm going to be asked about water parameters. I believe the water quality to be pristine. I know temp, ph, alk, ca, mg are all perfectly stable because they are monitoed all the time. Haven't tested for trates or phates in a while, but I have virtually 0 algae and I am socked and have an awesome skimmer. Don't think there is any issue with the tank.

This fish did not go into QT before entering the DT. I didn't see any sign of disease although now it looks like there might be a small white parasite on the tail.

It's stomach is starting to look sunken and I am afraid I will lose this fish if some immediate action is not taken. Advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[triggreef]

So purple tangs are at about $160 from what I've seen recently. I probly wouldn't have risked your dt with an un qt'd fish. That said, you didn't list that you tried any macro algae.

 

[wooden_reefer]

It is best to not drip accilimate in this situation.

Tank water has too high a ph and even with dilution the ammonia will be more toxic. The ph in the bag water will be lower due to CO2.

If will not order online if I have alternative.

No Qting is like suddenly walking in the street naked to me. Never thought of not QTing.

 

[wakerider017]

So purple tangs are at about $160 from what I've seen recently. I probly wouldn't have risked your dt with an un qt'd fish. That said, you didn't list that you tried any macro algae.

Yup, well I only paid for one.

You're right QT is the way to go. Didn't know what to do though because I ordered a bunch of fish at once.

Added a bunch of tang at once to reduce fighting, which has mostly worked great except with the sicky.

I also tried nori which I forgot to mention.

I don't use a fuge so I don't currently have macro on hand.

 

[wakerider017]

It is best to not drip accilimate in this situation.

Tank water has too high a ph and even with dilution the ammonia will be more toxic. The ph in the bag water will be lower due to CO2.

If will not order online if I have alternative.

No Qting is like suddenly walking in the street naked to me. Never thought of not QTing.

So if you did buy online you'd skip drip acclimation and dump right in the tank?

Regardless, what is done is done. Not going to cry over spilt milk. Just looking for solution on saving the life of a beautiful fish.

 

[wakerider017]

Video of the fish. Spends most of his day at the bottom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFdI9Y4oHcE

 

[wooden_reefer]

You're right QT is the way to go. Didn't know what to do though because I ordered a bunch of fish at once.

You should have planned to QT multiply fish at once if you order multiply fish.

This is what I do, but this take a bit of skill in disease control.

 

[HumbleFish]

Video of the fish. Spends most of his day at the bottom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFdI9Y4oHcE

If you can catch him, you might want to put him in a large acclimation box for awhile. Get him away from those other tangs.

How big is your tank BTW? It's possible this situation with the two purple tangs might not work and you may need to re-home the new one.

 

[wakerider017]

If you can catch him, you might want to put him in a large acclimation box for awhile. Get him away from those other tangs.

How big is your tank BTW? It's possible this situation with the two purple tangs might not work and you may need to re-home the new one.

I don't have an acclimation box. I suppose I could purchase one of those little rodent carriers at a pet store if I needed.

He was swimming around aimlessly again last night after lights out.

None of the other tangs have even bothered him so far today. Yet he has still been sitting on the bottom all morning with a sunken stomach.


Very possible two tangs wont work. Tank is a 225 Gallon

 

[HumbleFish]

None of the other tangs have even bothered him so far today. Yet he has still been sitting on the bottom all morning with a sunken stomach.

Any signs of disease? White dots on the skin? Or stringy white feces? Is he rubbing on anything? Have you tried soaking any of his good in garlic to stimulate his appetite?

 

[Northside Reef]

Sounds almost like he is suffering from some kind of toxic shock. Hopefully you can catch him and isolate him. But I would contact the vendor and let them know that this fish is acting very disoriented and may not pull through.

I hope the little guy snaps out of it, but if he's not eating it's not looking too good. The sooner you let the vendor know, the better.

 

[wakerider017]

Any signs of disease? White dots on the skin? Or stringy white feces? Is he rubbing on anything? Have you tried soaking any of his good in garlic to stimulate his appetite?

I didn't see any sign of disease when he was introduced to the tank although now it looks like there might be a small white parasite on the tail.

Not rubbing against anything.

Have not seen him poop yet.

Food has already been soaked in garlic.

 

[wakerider017]

Sounds almost like he is suffering from some kind of toxic shock. Hopefully you can catch him and isolate him. But I would contact the vendor and let them know that this fish is acting very disoriented and may not pull through.

I hope the little guy snaps out of it, but if he's not eating it's not looking too good. The sooner you let the vendor know, the better.

I'm wondering what isolating him would accomplish at this point? Possibly just stress him more?

 

[HumbleFish]

I didn't see any sign of disease when he was introduced to the tank although now it looks like there might be a small white parasite on the tail.

Probably just Lympho, but a pic of this would be helpful.

Have not seen him poop yet.

The sunken stomach is a possible symptom of internal parasites. Stringy white poop would confirm this.

 

[Northside Reef]

I'm wondering what isolating him would accomplish at this point? Possibly just stress him more?

easier to remove once he dies. If you have a QT tank set up. he would be safer in there than in the 225 where he is open to being picked on. It will also let you target feed him better. If he is as disorientated as you are describing he should be easy to pull out once the lights are out. Also if he does have a disease you will need to isolate him to treat him

 

[wakerider017]

Ok, I might fill up the QT and get him in there today if you guys think that would be the best course of action

 

[wakerider017]

He is currently in QT.

I was able to scoop him up with a net first try. Almost zero resistance. Not usual behavior for a tang.

I've spent an hour trying to catch one before.

 

[wooden_reefer]

So if you did buy online you'd skip drip acclimation and dump right in the tank?

Regardless, what is done is done. Not going to cry over spilt milk. Just looking for solution on saving the life of a beautiful fish.

If a fish, particularly a large one, has been in a bag for many hours, the water will have high ammonia and low ph due to CO2 accumulation.

First allow temp to match by floating, if the bag has no leak. Or put the bag in a rigid plastic container.

QT tank water should not enter the bag slowly as its higher ph has greater negative impact than its dilution effect.

As little as the bag water should enter the tank water as the ammonia is included in the generally high ph of the water. This is less important if the amount of QT water is many many times greater than the bag water.

You adjust the tank water salinity and temp to suit the bag water.

If the bag water has very low ph, it is better too acidify a smaller amount of tank water so that the sudden rise in ph is no more than 0.4-0.5. If you do so, it is particularly important to include as little bag water as possible, say just the water that clings to the fish.

Do not use a net. Use a dark opague rigid container of the right size and place the bag into it. This way calms the fish as you approach it with your hand very slowly, if the fish is harmless to you. If the fish can hurt you, use a plastic tool.

 

[wakerider017]

Still cannot get this guy to eat. Almost 1 week now and he hasnt consumed a thing.

Sometimes when the food gets shot in front of his face with the turkey baster he will move his mouth like eating, but nothing actually goes in.

 

[DrPat]

Hi maybe I can help, after looking at the video and reading about the ammonia and ph of the shipping water. It seems as thought the fish was exposed to high ammonia levels . His eyes seem to twitch which indicate neurological disease and possible vision impairment or blindness. AMMONIA TOXICITY is a possible cause, shipping water should not contain ammonia. The fish was probably fed prior to shipping which is incorrect. fish should not be fed prior to shipping and if so amquel should be added to the water . I would transfer him to a separate tank with amquel, keep salinity the same ,dont expose to other meds unless parasites are present. I would also warm him up to 82F, keep nori in-front of him by attaching it to a pvc fitting with a rubber band around it.he is also worth buying gracilaria from reed aquaculture as feed. Add kent garlic extreme to the water at 1 drop /gal twice a day. also add kents vitamin C 1 drop/gal once a day.by the way pinched abdomen indicates empty digestive tract and white stringing poop is caused by liver impairment sometimes caused by drugs. Years ago cyanide collected fiSh would poop white some would recover some not.