Yellow Tang with pinched stomach

[glennhornibrook]

Hi all,
I purchased a yellow Tang 3 days ago. I had to get it shipped to me as the nearest marine supplier to me is 4 hours drive away. Not ideal buying conditions I know. When the Tang arrived I instantly noticed its stomach was realy sunken in. It's colour is good and it's upper body is rounded. It ate a little sea weed on the first night but I haven't seen it eat since. Does anyone have any advice on what I can do to help this poor guy. It hides behind the rocks most of the time but does move around from time to time so its cards are not marked yet. Any opinions would be appreciated but bringing it back to the shop is not a realistic option. My water perameters are
Temp - 23.5 degrees c
PH - 8.2
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 20ppm
Alkalinity - 8
The tank is set up about 1 1/2 years and perameters are pretty stable
Please help

 

[JHemdal]

Here is one thought: you mentioned that the tang's belly was really sunken. Was it like that when you bought it? If so, then I would probably have taken a pass on that fish. If not, there is one idea you might consider: I don't see a specific gravity/salinity reading in your post. Many dealers hold their fish at a low specific gravity, 1.018 or so. If your tank is running at full specific gravity, say 1.025, the simple process of acclimating the fish to the higer S.G. will cause dehydration, which will result in the "instant" pinched belly you mentioned.

Jay

 

[glennhornibrook]

Hi Jay,
I think you might have hit the nail on the head. The specific gravity of the shop water was a little less than 1.018 and I keep mine at 1.026. I did climatise him very slowley ,gradually bringing the water he was in to the same perameters. I haven't heard of a fish getting dehidrated like that before . Have you experienced this before and is the fish likley to recover. Should i do anything to help.
Thanks for reply
Glenn

 

[glennhornibrook]

I did not notice it's stomach being that pinched the first night I got it. Thats not saying it was or it wasn't as I got 3 sps corals and 2 other fish at the same time so I might have overlooked it.

 

[JHemdal]

Changing S.G. from high to low can be done quickly, but going from low to high causes the fish to struggle to balance things out osmotically. Fish can actually die from this, but in the range that you noted, it is usually just temporary. I just re-read your message - I missed the point that the fish ate a bit the first day, but has not since then - that sounds like a problem posssibly not related to dehydration. What foods have your tried? How about nori attached to a rock and frozen mysids?

Jay

 

[glennhornibrook]

I have tried green seaweed (porphyra yezoensis) attached to a rock and a clip,this is what it ate the first day.I also tried frozen mysids and spirulina flakes to no avail. I am going to try using a mussel today while also putting nori in to pick at. After my last post I saw it picking at the rocks a little but nothing to get excited about. The longer this goes on the less chance of it surviving. I appreciate the help. Sorry I cant respond quicker but I am in a different time zone. I am about 6 hours ahead and I don't always have access to a computer.

Glenn

 

[rc02116]

Try Seaweed flakes soakes in Selcon, cyclopeze and few drops of garlic...Hopefully that will entice hime to eat. Once his appetite returns, think of making your own food for your fish. G'd luck.

 

[glennhornibrook]

I will give it a try.It will take some time to get the stuff though. He is nipping at the rocks a little today so I'm hopefull that he is coming around.
Thanks

 

[glennhornibrook]

He is much more active today and devoured some marine flakes earlier. He still hasn't eaten the seaweed but it seems as if he just doesn't see it. His stomach is still pinched but he is acting more like a healthy fish.