Unsure if Sohal Tang is ill or just standard behaviour (my first tang)

[r0cksteady]

Hi All,

I have has a Sohal tang in my 5x2x2ft tank now for over a month and randomly I noticed him rub his face up against a rock now and again.

When he starts he might do it 2-3 times in a row and then not do it for a few hours only to randomly do it again. Ive noticed he is breathing rapidly but im unsure if this is a normal habit as he is eating like a pig all the time and ive noticed the behavior for almost the full 4 weeks.

Any ideas?

Ive read up on itch and don't think its it only because he doesn't have any physical signs ie. spots, sores etc.

Would love some links or photos if you have them to possible diseases OR because ive never had a tang before this may be common behavior. Thanks

 

[JHemdal]

Jason,

I generally hold the opinion that "mammals scratch when they have an itch, fish scratch when they have a disease". Meaning that this behavoir can be ignored in your dog, but not your tang.

Did the the tang go through any proactive quarantine, like with praziquantel? If not, I'd be leaning towards trematodes (flukes) as being the problem. The rapid breathing may indicate gill flukes, a very serious disease. What other fish are in the tank? You are probably looking at moving them all to a QT and dosing with prazi.

Jay

 

[r0cksteady]

I dont think its flukes only because its been about 3-4 weeks now and no-one has died nor shown any physical indication other than a behavioral one.

I just purchased 2 red line cleaner shrimp (i previously haven't had any) too see if the fish come lining up to be cleaned or not.

Unfortunately theres no way I could catch the Sohal in my tank without causing major havok too it. So intsead I will see if I can use some other means instead.

Ive purchased a new tank today as well which I will try and get cycling asap so that I can take all the extra precautions seeing as though removal of the specific fish isnt an option.

I have a hospital\quarantine tank but considering there was no rock for him to scrape against no strange behavior was noted. Although Im still inexperienced so this might be a lesson for me to take in more detail next time.

 

[JHemdal]

Jason,

Fluke infestations can take weeks to months before their numbers get high enough to cause morbidity / mortality. Cleaner shrimp will have no affect on gill flukes if that is what the fish has.
Sohals swim very actively, and you'd expect their respiration rate to be a bit higher when they are swimming relative to other types of fish. However, if you mean that the sohal is breathing more rapidly than it used to, that can be another very serious symptom. I have a database of fish respiration rates. If you want, I can compare your sohal's rate to the data set I have. All you have to do is count the gill beats for 15 seconds and multiple it by four. Do that a couple of times and get an average. Or, if you can track the fish long enough, just get the full 60 second count.


Jay

 

[vamaro]

I have the same exact fish with the same issue. The fish started rubbing against the rocks about a week ago. I went on a business trip for 6 days and came back to a messed up fish. His body is all messed up from rubbing on sand, etc. My local fish store said to lower the salt level, which I did but nothing seemed to help.

I purched the Prazipro (thanks Jay) last night, and this morning the fish has stopped rubbing on the rocks. His body is really messed up but he is swimming much better.

Is there any meds that I need to help with the recovery?

 

[r0cksteady]

Wow thanks Jay I will do that tonight.

As the Sohal is way to hard to catch is there any reef safe ie. non-copper treatments I can try?

 

[r0cksteady]

Not sure if PraziPro is available in Australia but if it is can I use this without effecting my INVERTS?

 

[r0cksteady]

Is PraziPro the same as 'Praziquantel'?

As this is available in Australia.

 

[r0cksteady]

After much 'googling'. I think I figured it out. I need to buy Praziquantel which is ReefSafe with everything except for Feather Dusters and Xenia which will die with the 'Flukes' and unfortunately but acceptable loss

 

[ChrisKirkland]

The sohal probably has ich and wants to get it off of him. Was the tang qt'd at all?

 

[r0cksteady]

Yes QT was done as noted above but no strange behaviour was noted

 

[vamaro]

My fish is looking a little better tonight, than a day ago, but his body is really beat up from rubbing on the rock. After 2 days of not eating, I managed to hand feed it a little, but better than nothing. I hope the worst is over.