sick fish

[ichthyojason]

My sohal tang just suddenly started breathing heavy and laying towards the bottom. Any thoughts if he could have been stung and cause some sort of paralysis or something. He has been very healthy to this point and I have had him for 5+ years. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

 

[leebca]

You've given very little information. Hard to say if it got stung when you don't list the other marine specimens in your tank. How about more details? If you can, you can also post a photo.

Some additional information that may be useful:
How old is your tank? When did it originally cycle?
What kind of system do you have (tank volume, dimensions, bio-filtration method, the equipment you use, any carbon or other chemical filtration, kind of substrate, etc.).
List all specimens & sizes in the tank (fish, inverts, corals, clams, snails, crabs, shrimp, etc.).
If you have a refugium and/or sump, what is living in it?
Do you use a quarantine tank and procedure?
Foods you use and feeding schedules.
Do you use any vitamins? Fat additives? Any elemental or other additives? Please list all.
Chemistries ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ please give actual numbers (Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, Silica, Ca, Alk., and any others you have)
Water parameters ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ please give actual numbers (pH and your pH range, salinity or sp. gr. & range, temperature range)
Do you see any of the following in your system: hair algae; micro algae; cyanobacteria growths (red slime algae); dinoflagellate (zooxanthellae) growths; brown algae; diatom growth; slimes; off-colored patches on rock or substrate that are not coralline; etc.?
Water changes (how much and how often).
List what you added or taken out of your aquarium system (living, decorations, and equipment) during the past 6 weeks.
Have you really been keeping up on the maintenance?
Maintenance schedule. What have you done lately?

For good food/feeding recommendations, see:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=785228

If you can be at the next meeting, there is more info there:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=7276154#post7276154

Good luck!

 

[ichthyojason]

unfortunately i think it is too late - but the tank has been cycled for at least 6 years - 135 with sump from overflow no carbon that i recall, just skimming, also a small hang-on refugium w/ chaeto and Caleurpa. Other fish in the tank are 2 hippo tangs, a Asfur Angel, Maroon Clown (with two RBTA), a spotted hawkfish, and a mandarin goby. Too many other types of things in the tank to name, but imagine standard cleaning crew and varius sps and lps. No changes have been made recently. Water changes every week or two. Is it possible that this was a "natural" death? Any ideas on lifespan of this fish in captivity? Thanks

 

[leebca]

With optimal conditions, the Sohal should live a long life in captivity. If the fish was acquired youngish (less than 5") then I'd expect it to exceed 20 years in captivity. But the conditions needed for this lifespan are usually not provided by hobbyists. That is, this fish needs a tank in excess of 300 gallons (preferably 500 or more), with a lot of open space for long and frequent swimming, and an exceptionally wide and varied diet with supplements and additives. People sometimes think, 'I'll get a bigger tank later,' but the harm of having a small tank starts the slow chronic affects of stress.

What shortens their life are conditions that create small, but continuous (chronic) stresses. Reviewing what info you provided and perhaps some speculation, I can see small but ongoing stresses in these areas:

Tank too small for this fish
Tank too crowded for this fish
Unknown foods, supplements, and additives - maybe less-than-optimal nutrition.

I am sorry to hear your fish is not improving. On the small chance there is something in the water accidently introduced, I would make at least one effort -- perform a very large (70%+) water change if you can. Make sure the source water is good and the final mixed water has proper readings.