Tang not eating or coming out

Luke Schnabel

New member
I've had my fish in a QT tank for the last 56 days while I've been treating ich. My tang has been doing great except for the last two days he hasn't come out and eaten at all. For the first 14 days they were in copper. Then 3 days ago I wanted to make absolutely sure no Ich was on the fish before I put them in my tank (which is 6 days from now) and dosed a small amount of copper. About 2/3 the dose of what it suggests. Ever since the tang hasn't eaten or come out. All Ther fish are doing great.
I had since done a 75% water change and then put carbon in to get the copper out. Has anyone had any experience wih copper making fish sick. Or how should I go about taking care of my problem?
 
I have next to no copper in the tank though. After today it should be pretty much zero... I'm thinking he had a bad reaction.
 
It'll stay in his system and it may have damaged his liver or other organs I would keep an eye on him and make sure the tank stays as stable as possible try feeding him live macro algae like gracielra that will perk him up I've saved a few tangs with live gracielera and caulepra
 
I try to avoid copper if I can actually it's been 6 years since I've used copper on anything I do hypo and malachite green dips instead
 
Man I hope not. When I tested the copper level it was at .25mg/L. Which is half of the dose I had them in when I first started the tank. All the other fish seem to be doing great.
 
some fish that have not eating or have shown sings of sickness have reacted well to garlic in SOME cases, some people still argue the benefits of garlic in fish. I personally soak my food in bright wells garlic power.
 
I would get some live macro algaes for him that seems to perk tangs up

Tangs are sensitive fish what kind is it? If it's a naso or any of the powder tangs you may be out of luck sorry to tell you that
 
Tangs and Angels are not that fond with copper. You really have to watch them closely. I do not recommend cooper. Best way to get rid of Ich is the tank transfer method.
 
Try some frozen Mysis. When I can't get a fish to eat in QT I start feeding frozen Mysis. Tangs are herbivores but will generally readily eat Mysis. I then combine with other food to wean them off the Mysis. LLT is said to be possible from to much Mysis - insufficient nutrition.
 
Tangs do not do well with copper to begin with.

Correct. Which is one of the many reasons tank transfer is preferred when dealing with (ich) cryptocaryon irritans. Also, 14 days of copper treatment would often not be sufficient to remove ich.
 
Try with Garlic and seaweed combo

Try with Garlic and seaweed combo

Try spreading fresh garlic paste over the Seaweed for 15 minutes, make multi fold, so that the garlic juice is absorbed and then feed that Seaweed, might get better luck
 
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