Whats wrong with my tang?

[wondermidget]

I think my yellow tang is dieing and I don't know why. It was doing fine for months and then a couple of weeks ago it looked like maybe it got into a fight or something, it had some red soar looking spots on it. After 2 days the soars went away but now it wont eat and it seams to be breathing hard. None of my other fish are having any kind of problems. A while back I had the same thing happen to a dimond gobby (red spots, red spots gone, then dead!) Any ideas about what it might be and what to do about it?

 

[wondermidget]

No ideas? anybody

 

[IslandCrow]

I'd have to take a shot in the dark on this one. It could be some sort of internal parasite. The best thing to do would probably be to remove the tang to a hospital tank and treat with antibiotics. Have you tried asking the guys in the Fish Disease forum? They'd probably have a better idea.

 

[kraze3]

Check this site for some pics

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=127010

Take note of HLLE and bacterial infections
You need to correctly identify the problem and we can help you with a solution. You will most likely need to set up a hospital tank to treat this fish asap. If you can get some pictures it will help others here to help you also.

 

[djlindo2001]

Do you have any other tangs in the tank?

 

[MLindsay]

One of my chromis did the exact same thing! It looked like a big raw spot on its side. It was huffing and puffing like crazy, but he was gone the next day.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14705043#post14705043 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IslandCrow
I'd have to take a shot in the dark on this one. It could be some sort of internal parasite. The best thing to do would probably be to remove the tang to a hospital tank and treat with antibiotics. Have you tried asking the guys in the Fish Disease forum? They'd probably have a better idea.

+ one on this answer---internal parasites are very hard to deal with because the signs can stay invisible for a long time.

I tried human antibotics with my copper banded butterfly but unfortunately the internal damange had gone to far before it was noticeable.

 

[reeferstace]

I agree with the above. Try and get him to QT and start treating for internal parasites. You might also treat with antibiotics. Many bacterial infections will often cause the redness under the scales. Good luck with him.

 

[wondermidget]

Thank you everyone. I could take pics but now that the red is gone you cant tell that there is anything wrong with it other than it's getting skinny from not eating. I can't believe that it is still alive it hasn't eaten in over a week! And no I don't have any other tangs. Kraze3, thanks for the link. From the pics it looks like it is a bacterial infection. Now I just need to know how to treat it.

 

[IslandCrow]

Bacterial treatments are treated with antibiotics (no big surprise there). Most bacteria that infect fish are Gram Negative, so if you can't identify it, that's your best bet. I always keep some Maracyn 2 on hand for just that.

 

[wondermidget]

Do I have to put the tang in a different tank to treat with Maracyn? And does that mean that the bacteria got in my tank somehow? If so how and how do I get rid of it before the rest of my fish get sick?

 

[surgeonfishbarb]

It sounds parasitic to me. I would say teat with Maracyn. Also you can buy garlic from your local fish store to enhance his appetite. Also the parasites hate the smell of garlic and will retreat as well

 

[IslandCrow]

Yes, wondermidget, you have to put the tang in another tank to treat with any medication. Adding garlic to the food as surgeonfishbarb suggested may help entice the tang to eat, but there's is absolutely no scientific evidence to support claims that it has any effect on parasites common to saltwater fish. If you want to try it, though, it's not going to do any harm.

 

[wondermidget]

Hmmm, I tried garlic the other day and none of the fish would eat. Where can I get Maracyn?

 

[carlosngloria]

soak the food in garlic guard. also can try selcon and if that doesnt work at publix buy a live clam and take it home open it up and stick it in the tank

 

[IslandCrow]

Maracyn can be found online or at many fish stores. You'll probably want Maracyn 2, but I can't say for sure since we're not certain what's wrong with the fish.

 

[wondermidget]

Thank you all so much. I will see if my LFS has the Maracyn 2, if not I'm afraid that by the time I order it online it will be to late. I hope that I can help Bubbles (the tang) because I realy love this fish it is the first fish I have ever had that liked to be petted.