Tang problem

[VictorE]

Note sure if there is even a problem, but I'm noticing one of the yellow tanks has some discoloration (i.e. not yellow) on each side behind the eyes but is bright yellow otherwise from the gills back. Hard to get a picture to show what I think I'm seeing. The other tang is showing some similar signs, but not as apparent.

All the other fish, (clown, angel, etc) don't seem to be showing any problems. Even the tangs are not exhibiting any unusual behavior.

All water parameters are in spec.

 

[VictorE]

Anyone??

The spot seems to be getting larger as of this morning.

 

[Jacob D]

Sorry, but a better photo would be helpful, a closeup of the affected area for example.

If I was taking a shot at it with the info above I would guess it's probably just the fish displaying some pigment change.

 

[VictorE]

Sorry, but a better photo would be helpful, a closeup of the affected area for example.

If I was taking a shot at it with the info above I would guess it's probably just the fish displaying some pigment change.

o.k., make me pull out the professional camera with better resolution than the iPhone! :lol2:

Had to take quite a few shots to catch him. He seems to want to hide when the camera is out!

So skin pigment can change and there is nothing to worry about? How do you distinguish normal pigment change from disease?

 

[GhostCon1]

Isn't there usually behavioral change with disease/illness? (IE: breathing, swimming, activity, etc.)

 

[PghFishNerd]

From what you're describing, it sounds like Head and Lateral Line Erosion. This is most common in Tangs, and that's probably why none of the other fish are showing symptoms.
Here is an article about it, which shows a picture you could reference. While it could be true that it's just a pigment change, I'm thinking it is HLLE. You be the judge.

 

[VictorE]

From what you're describing, it sounds like Head and Lateral Line Erosion. This is most common in Tangs, and that's probably why none of the other fish are showing symptoms.
Here is an article about it, which shows a picture you could reference. While it could be true that it's just a pigment change, I'm thinking it is HLLE. You be the judge.

Well, the trier of fact has returned with a verdict. Looks like the same thing I've got.:sad1:

The more annoying part is that since the problem is not clearly identified, the solutions cited in the article are best guesses, snake oil and a lots of hope.:sad2::thumbdown

So I may just have to tolerate a couple of fish that will slowly get uglier over time??

 

[VictorE]

Well, I went to see my local fish store, which is run by a marine biologist. I told him what I thought I had and that the article above that suggested no known root causes.

Apparently this is quite common in Tangs (as the article suggests).

So what was I doing wrong, you ask?

Well, for starters, the diet for the 6 fish in the 320 gallon tank has consisted of 1 serving of brine shrimp per day. Apparently, the Tangs need more algae in their diets, and picking the little bit off the 300# of rocks is not a good supplement.

So I got new food that consists of brine shrimp, but also other algae type nutrients and a vitamin C supplement. This should arrest the discoloration trend and eventually get them bright yellow again in a few months time.

I was told that the solitary diet of brine shrimp was the equivalent of feeding them snickers bars. A good source of energy, but not a balanced healthy diet.

 

[stingythingy45]

Why don't you just feed nori sheets(algae sheets)?
My YT never touches brine(little-0 nutrition).

 

[Chris27]

While the picture isn't very clear, I can tell that the fish needs a better diet. Tangs should be fat - without a good deal of algae sheets every day or two they will look much like yours. How much are you feeding currently, and what are you feeding?

 

[VictorE]

Until today, the only food that I have used since strtup two months ago is brine shrimp, one frozen cube per day to be shared with 2 clown fish and two flame angels and the two tangs.

The store that sold me the tangs did not educate me on alternate food that would be needed even though they know I'm new at this.

 

[Chris27]

By changing up the diet to include other frozen foods supplemented with a good deal of algae sheets I would expect that your fish will look much better in a few weeks, if not days. Get feeding bro - make sure to let us know when they are all fat and healthy!

Good Luck

 

[GhostCon1]

You can also soak the food in garlic, if you search for it on here you can find how to do this, it helps fishes' immune system.

 

[The Reef Expert]

Discoloration seems to happen a lot to yellow tangs under some certain lighting conditions.

 

[CorkPullerPHL]

I'm going with malnutrition on this one. Good luck with it.

 

[Jacob D]

The diet doesn't sound good, fix that regardless. HLLE could be possible.

 

[sedor]

Its good to know that you've learned about a varied diet and that your on your way to correcting the mistake. Nori is a must for tangs, you can get it at the grocery store or an asian market and it should be fed daily. Its the same green sheets they use to make sushi and your tangs will LOVE it. Also, as i'm sure you know now, stay away from Brine unless its in a mix of some sort and stick with mysis shrimp as more of a staple diet, but get a few different kinds of food and change it up. I usually don't feed the same thing twice in a row, I go back and forth with mysis, rods food (its a new frozen mix and its great so far), formula 1 and 2 pellets and flakes, and whatever else I happen to have at the moment.