Sailfin Tang not growing

[ReeferKimberly]

I'll start with saying I am not really bothered by the fact....but yeah what is the growth rate "usually" with these guys?

Yes Yes I wish I wouldn't have done it but about 2 years ago I got him for bryopsis. What can I say, I was desperate (no he did not eat it, somehow it just kinda 'went away'). I have a place for him to go and was planning on rehoming him really any time in the past year since he is in a 65 gallon. The tank is lightly stocked and he is only about maaaaybe 3 inches.

For a while I was underfeeding I think. I started to feed more about 6 months ago because even though I was not keeping him, I wanted him to be healthy and fat like a tang should. So now he is fat, always got a belly especially after feeding of course.

Since I am no longer underfeeding and it appears he has not grown except for his belly, is it worms/parasites? How does one test for that? If so, is there something to feed in the DT or would I have to QT to treat?

I know this is not really needed, but people like pics. You can kind of see that he does have a belly. I was not trying to take a pic of the fish, he just happened to be in it.

If he has grown in 2 years, I personally cannot tell.

 

[Marshall O]

Is it just his belly that is big, or is he the same all around? If its just his belly, then yes, I would suspect internal parasites. Sorry to be blunt, but have you witnessed it poop? If so, what's going on there? Is it white & stringy? Solid chunks? Again, both of these would indicate internal parasites.

 

[Rea17]

You kind of answered your own question with not growing, under feeding and being in an undersized tank will do that. As far as the belly goes, healthy tangs all kind of have "bellies," a picture of the fish would help determine whether it is abnormal or not. I can't really tell from the picture you posted above.

Grow rate on sailfins is crazy, given proper environmental factors. I would expect a healthy one to grow from 3" to 8" in as little as 8 months from personal experience.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

In my experience, fish will not reach their full size potential in aquariums that are too small. Several years ago I had a majestic angel, mimic tang, and scribbled rabbit in a 75g for a few years then later a 90. All of them maxed out at about 4". Decided it couldn't possibly be good for them and sold them to larger homes.

This is what makes the "I'll re-home it when it gets too big" argument invalid. Most fish won't get to big, they just get stunted.