Zebrasoma desjardini spots?

[TheRealRuk]

I've had this guy for about 6 months.. He has developed two spots in the exact same place above his eyes.

Other than the two spots, I see no marks on him at all.

The good picture was taken in January of this year, which he clearly didn't have them..

He started changing from his juvenile coloring a few months ago.

He's started acting a little skittish about the same time, and will often darken (very dark) his coloring or lighten it up to almost completely white.

He's the only tang or like fish in my 150G (it is a cube).

From what I looked at about HLLE, I wasn't convinced because it's only above his eyes in the same exact location.

Genetic?

Pointing me in any direction would be most appreciated...

Matt

 

[LukFox]

It's the beginning of HLLE, it usually starts around that area. What are you feeding and how often, and do you use carbon?

 

[TheRealRuk]

It's the beginning of HLLE, it usually starts around that area. What are you feeding and how often, and do you use carbon?

I do use carbon. I just read the article going around from Coral mag about HLLE and carbon. I could have been rinsing my carbon better in the past.

I feed New Life Spectrum Marine Fish Formula 2 or 3 times a day, small amounts...

Then a one time mix of, Rod's Food Original, Piscinc Mysis, and some "Ocean Plankton" not sure of the brand, at night.

I have some Nori, but haven't gotten him to take it.

Noting that HLLE commonly starts above the eye socket, would it start above both eye sockets at the same time? Coincidence?

Thx!
Matt

 

[TheRealRuk]

I think you are correct!

I walked down stairs to set up my summer fan and a whole sequence of events was triggered when I looked at my skimmer cup"¦ My skimmer cup was black"¦ It's been black off an on for a couple months now. I thought it was because of a huge turbo snail that died, and then I thought it was because one of my wrass' went missing and died. Then I thought about when the wrass started having problems, with when the sailfin started having problems, to when I switched my carbon, until then I was getting my carbon from the LFS. I bought a bunch of carbon last group buy we did and changed it up around February-March! Until I read (skimmed) the Coral mag article on HLLE & Carbon, I had no idea, and certainly wasn't rinsing my carbon as much as I could have been.

I pulled out my carbon last night, and will go from there"¦ Thoughts on not running carbon for a while (how long)? Switching to something different (whats everyone using)? Does anyone not run carbon?

Matt

 

[eisaiasjr]

This is the carbon I use, HIGHLY recommend it.

I wash it every time but I have NEVER seen any black stuff come out of it when I wash it. I could probably just put it in my tank without washing it (but I dont)

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...o/bulk-carbon/rox-0-8-high-performance-carbon

Its expensive but its really good stuff. HIGHLY recommended!

Best Regards,

Estefano

 

[LukFox]

Sounds like the feeding is okay, so try the different carbon first. Hopefully that does the trick! Still if only for the benefit of the tang, try trickier methods to convince it to eat nori like wedging some between a rock to look more natural. Tangs really seem to benefit from nori feedings and it is a good filler food.

 

[Definitive_Aqua]

Run lots of tanks without carbon, its not absolutely necessary. It should start to go away on its own with good water quality and good food.

PS PE < Aqua Treasures just no blister packs yet lol but they freeze it on the boat = no break down like PE and its way cleaner food