Whats wrong with my Sohal Tang?

[r0cksteady]

Hi All,

Ive had my Sohal for about a month now, he's been eating nori and even started eating flakes\pellets now. He appears to eat every day and doesnt seem bothered by any of his tank mates. Hes actually swimming with the Naso Tang happily to date.

Yet his head and even body seems sunken or gaunt and im not sure if its something wrong of if its normal for juveniles to look like this. Any ideas?

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=IMGP1817.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/IMGP1817.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[r0cksteady]

I think it may be cyanide poisoning from how he was caught. At the moment he is still eating is there anything I can do to try and combat the poison before he just dies? Im absolutely devastated.

 

[wayne in norway]

That is extremely thin. You do stand a fair chance of waking up one day to find that fish has simply died in the night, but on the plus I have pulled a few fish back from that sort of condition. What is it eating apart from nori - pellets and flake would be a big help. have you tried mysis - many herbivores also eat plankton when small as they need the extra protein to bulk up, so you try that, and try to feed him numerous times (as many as possible, and if that means 10 or 11, all the better). A traditional 'tang diet' is likely not ideal for this guy.

He also seems to have cryptocaryon -quite frankly that fish is a poster child for QT - if he was in a 3 footer by himself you could fix the crypt, and concentrate on feeding him without the other fish getting in the way.

 

[r0cksteady]

Im good mates with my LFS so I could easily use their hospital tank but im just not sure if theres anything to treat him with. Thanks so much for replying, greatly appreciated. I live in Australia so for us to get anything from the Red Sea in very very rare. Apparently Im the only person that posts on the Aussie Forums with a Sohal so its such a shame.

Any other advice you can think of?

 

[wayne in norway]

Personally I've used chelated copper sulphate like coppersafe on tangs - I'd avoid hypo as it can be hard to keep a steady pH and kH. My main advice though would be get it going on something meaty as soon as possible. you likely only have a couple more days to go. Pellets and flake would be great as they can go in an autofeeder - even brine shrimp to get started would help.. It will take a few months of work to get him fattened tho'. The problem at that sort of size, thnness is they can seem to be making it, but the slightest extra stress or fatigue and they'll jsut peg out.

 

[r0cksteady]

Ok Ive been doing some research and found that theres some medication that can help in the reversing of cyanide poisoning. Its called Kordon Methylene Blue Disease Preventative/Inhibitor listed at http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~NV37344.html

Has anyone heard of this stuff before or is it witch doctor stuff?

Also Ive read that vitamin b12 is a good way of combatting it as well. Something called "hydroxocobalamin" is apparently the best method but im struggling to find any product\use in the marine traide.

Would anyone be able to help enlighten me further? Any chemists available here?

 

[r0cksteady]

Thank you very much for all your advice I really appreciate it, even the slightest glimmer of hope is worth hanging onto.

 

[jmicky41]

I highly doubt that your fish was collected with cyanide. Cyanide may be used in Indonesia, the Phillipeans and Vietnam - but not in the Red Sea.

 

[r0cksteady]

Yeah I had a friend confirm the same fact for me actually. Any ideas what else it may be even though he is eating?

 

[wayne in norway]

Ich, stress amd lack of opportunity to feed continually, you need to feed, feed and feed some more really small tangs. He might also have worms as well, and as before, to treat for that a QT is going to be needed

 

[alprazo]

Several thoughts -

Hypo may reduce metabolic activity in the kidneys - they will not need to work as hard and allow the fish to add weight.

In theory Methylene blue may assist in acute cyanide poisoning but by the time we receive the fish, the cyanide has been broken down and the damage is done. It may also increase the ability of the fish's hemoglobin to bind oxygen and this in itself may increase metabolic activity.

Very difficult to bring a fish like this back - I would definitely try treating for intestinal parasites - worms and flukes that may be competing for nutrients. Even though treatment could easily kill this fish.

Must be moved to its own tank.

Good luck.