What's wrong with my tang?

[klwheat]

Ok, so in the last few days my Atlantic blue tang has gone from pretty blue to nearly transparent and what looks like "dirty". He's also stayed flashing against the sand.
I don't see any obvious external parasites, but I have no idea what to do to treat this guy. He's eating fine, but looks terrible!
Any help greatly appreciated!! Tia

 

[falconut]

You may need to pull him from your DT and place him in a QT with cupramine.

 

[snorvich]

Unclear from photos. When was the last fish added to this tank?

 

[HumbleFish]

He looks "splotchy" in some of the photos; that usually indicates a bacterial infection.

 

[klwheat]

What's wrong with my tang?

This tang was the last fish added to the tank. He's been in there a month or so. If it's bacterial, how should I treat it? I'm probably going to pull him to qt tomorrow...have to probably dismantle my reef to get him out

 

[angelfish7]

If he's flashing against the sand he could have a parasite like flukes. you can always treat him in a qt but unless you leave the dt fallow hell likely get reinfected again

 

[klwheat]

So, what would you suggest?

 

[HumbleFish]

So, what would you suggest?

Before you move him into QT, perform a f/w dip. This will confirm or deny whether he has flukes. If he does have flukes, you should see tiny white worms pour out of his gills at around the 3 or 4 min mark.

If you confirm flukes via the f/w dip, treat with Prazipro. If not, treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic (i.e. Furan-2, Mararyn Plus, Kanaplex) in QT.

He may also require treatment for Ich (or not), but that can come later as you observe for further symptoms in QT.

 

[klwheat]

Ok, I'll give that try. I'd planned to do a fw dip too, already got the water warmed and waiting. Now I just have to catch the little crap!

 

[klwheat]

Thanks to the great "catch a fish" ideas in the stickies...I didn't have to dismantle my reef! Thanks guys!!!
see through water bottle with some nori at the bottom, tang went in, net went over
So, FW dip, now she's in the 10gallon qt with melafix and antibiotic.
I didn't see anything in the fw that looked like flukes, no signs of ich or external parasites...so antibiotics it is.
Now...just keep hoping it works. How long should I keep her in QT?

 

[HumbleFish]

How long should I keep her in QT?

Do at least one course of antibiotics - 4 doses over 4 days. I wouldn't move the fish back into the DT until she looks 100% recovered. Monitor closely for symptoms of Ich while she's in QT. IME; most fish that develop bacterial infections - the infection is secondary to a parasitic outbreak.

 

[klwheat]

hadn't thought about it as a secondary infection. Will have to monitor. I haven't seen any signs externally yet. She's been eating well still as well.

 

[klwheat]

Well, day 3 of antibiotics, and she's doing fine. Eating well, no issues, still don't see any external parasites. The other idea that was mentioned to me was that this is some sort of color change with aging. Perhaps that it's even a different type of tang than the Atlantic blue I was sold it as.