Yellow tang "twitching"

[koby325]

I just noticed that my yellow twitches almost like he is trying to itch something. he is eating perfectly normal, no white dots and the behavior only last for a couple min then he swims fine and then does it again. he doesnt do it when the lights are out either. Any ideas

 

[mcdonaldjosh7]

parasite of some sort? be proactive about this, you dont want whatever it is getting the better of your fish.

 

[Yogre]

How long have you had this fish? The twitching can be a sign of flukes.

 

[koby325]

about three weeks and he was quarantend for almost three weeks before i got him. all the other fish are doing really well

 

[koby325]

i feed him algae too to help supplement and for health usually 3-4 times per week but no less than 3

 

[Yogre]

Since he's new to your setup, he could have carried flukes in on him. My yellow tang had flukes when I got him, I only noticed it when one eye became cloudy. A couple of rounds of Prazi cleared that up.

Flukes are really difficult to see with the naked eye when they're on your fish. Only was to know for sure is to freshwater dip him and see if you see any translucent sesame seed sized things left behind in the dip bowl. If you can catch him easily you might put him back in QT for a precautionary Prazi treatment.

Otherwise, just keep an eye on him. If worse comes to worst, you can if necessary dose Prazi into your display tank without killing corals/inverts. If he does have flukes, they may spread to your other fish, and I know from experience they can be fatal.

 

[koby325]

Thanks Yogre!! hes seems to be doing better today but it was last night that it started. I will keep a close eye on him tonight

 

[snorvich]

How long have you had this fish? The twitching can be a sign of flukes.

Most likely flukes. Quarantine without prazipro would have no effect on flukes.

 

[koby325]

so just quarantine and don't treat with anything? and just let it run its course

 

[Terra Ferma]

Its most likely flukes - treat with Prazi for a few weeks and all should be good. I do 50% water change every two days when dosing prazi and re-dose a commensurate amount to keep the concentration up. Works like a charm.

 

[Yogre]

so just quarantine and don't treat with anything? and just let it run its course

I'm not sure I'd do nothing. If your tang continues to show signs of some sort of infestation, I'd consider dosing the tank with Prazi. The other fish may be infected as well. Flukes can definitely kill your fish.

Here's what I've done: All new fish are treated in a quarantine tank with 2 rounds of Prazi spaced 10 days apart, whether they're symptomatic or not. Flukes are just too hard to see, and are too prevalent in new fish for me to be comfortable with an observational quarantine.

I have dosed my show tank twice with Prazi, because I put anthias in the tank without quarantining (bad move). They were showing the same symptoms as your fish, and I'd had a couple die without explanation. Within hours of the first dose, one of my anthias actually looked like it was shedding its skin, the layer of flukes coming off was that bad. The fish absolutely would have died without dosing.

Hope that helps your decision process... here's a good thread about flukes, it's long but a good read:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1260067

 

[snorvich]

so just quarantine and don't treat with anything? and just let it run its course

No. You must treat with prazipro. Yogre has excellent advice.

 

[koby325]

thanks guys for the help i already picked some up and will dose later this after noon. what about the water changes? how often and how much.

 

[Yogre]

thanks guys for the help i already picked some up and will dose later this after noon. what about the water changes? how often and how much.

I'd do a water change right before the first dose of Prazi, as large as you feel your tank and critters can stand. I personally used a 20% water change in my show tank, as that's the most saltwater I can make at once. Then dose the Prazi, wait 10 days, then run carbon for 24 hours to remove any remaining Prazi or its degredation products. Remove the carbon.

Then, do another good-sized water change, and dose Prazi again. Wait another 10 days, then carbon and water change again.

The reason for 2 doses of Prazi is that some species of flukes lay eggs on your fish. The first dose will kill the flukes but not the eggs. The second dose should kill the second generation of flukes after they've hatched but before they have a chance to lay eggs of their own.

P.S. The label directions will tell you not to run your skimmer while medicating. This stuff will make your skimmer go nuts, so be prepared for that when you bring your skimmer back on line.

 

[Garrett11]

Excellent thread, I'm actually having the same issue with my tang and clowns, it's not often but I notice it maybe once a week, where can I get that prazi and about how much is it?

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Try your lfs or pet stores, otherwise most places online carry it.

 

[Yogre]

I get my Prazi from my LFS, but as Dr Colliebreath said, most online vendors of dry goods will carry it.

I haven't bought any in a while, and I'm not home to look in my medicine cabinet, but I think I paid under $20 for 6 ounces or so of the stuff. (Hikari brand).