Yellow Tang Anomaly

[Wreck-Diver]

Hi All,

I have a question regarding my Yellow Tang... Over the past few days I have noticed that he has a red blotch on one side, as well as on the dorsal fin... actually the red mark is vertical on the dorsal fin. I have included a picture of him, but please excuse the quality... it is a bit blurry because he was on the move. You should be able to see it though. I am wondering what this might be! The rest of my fish look great. Thanks in advance, as always!

Wade

 

[Anonymous]

My yellow tang had this, it would come and go, eventually it got really bad and the fish died

IMO it was from stress, I had it stuffed in a 55 with a ton of nasty fish and it was under attack most of the time

What else is in the tank, and what are the dimensions and water parameters?

Bryan

 

[Wreck-Diver]

Thanks for the reply! Good information. Here is some info on the tank and its inhabitants:

Tank:
60 gallon bow front

Water Parameters:
Salinity - 1.023
Temperature - 79
Ammonia - Right at 0
Nitrate - Right at 0
PH - 8.1 (I need to bring it back up... it has always been at 8.3)
Nitrate - 15

Fish (They are all juveniles still, for the most part... except for the Yellow Tang and Tomato Clown)
1) 1 Yellow Tang
2) 1 Tomato Clown
3) 4 very small Green Chromis
4) 1 Niger Trigger
5) 1 Orange Spotted Gobi
6) 1 Hippo Tang (very small)

Invertebrates:
1) 2 small Brittle Stars
2) 1 Cleaner Shrimp
3) 1 Feather Duster

The Yellow Tang and the Trigger were introduced at the same time.... they seem to be the best of friends, so I havent really suspected him as much. Although up till yesterday I had an Arrow Crab in there... MEAN thing to... it used to take shots at the Trigger all the time, and I believe the trigger took it out yesterday... it had enough.

It could very well be stress that the Tang is suffering. I guess I need to watch the tank closely to see if there is something going on that I didnt normally realize.

 

[Wreck-Diver]

Thanks for the reply! Good information. Here is some info on the tank and its inhabitants:

Tank:
60 gallon bow front

Water Parameters:
Salinity - 1.023
Temperature - 79
Ammonia - Right at 0
Nitrate - Right at 0
PH - 8.1 (I need to bring it back up... it has always been at 8.3)
Nitrate - 15

Fish (They are all juveniles still, for the most part... except for the Yellow Tang and Tomato Clown)
1) 1 Yellow Tang
2) 1 Tomato Clown
3) 4 very small Green Chromis
4) 1 Niger Trigger
5) 1 Orange Spotted Gobi
6) 1 Hippo Tang (very small)

Invertebrates:
1) 2 small Brittle Stars
2) 1 Cleaner Shrimp
3) 1 Feather Duster

The Yellow Tang and the Trigger were introduced at the same time.... they seem to be the best of friends, so I havent really suspected him as much. Although up till yesterday I had an Arrow Crab in there... MEAN thing to... it used to take shots at the Trigger all the time, and I believe the trigger took it out yesterday... it had enough.

It could very well be stress that the Tang is suffering. I guess I need to watch the tank closely to see if there is something going on that I didnt normally realize.

 

[esmithiii]

Couple of points- first, your salinity is a bit low. NSW has a specific gravity of 1.0265. This is not causing your problem, IMO.

First, your tank is too small for those fish. The tangs will likely suffer and die in that tank. You have way too many, also. You have as many fish in your 60g than I have in my 180g. You will likely have fighting, issues with water quality and a tough time keeping your fish healthy.

What do you feed your tang? IME they need a daily supply of nori or they will waste away and die. Your tang should look fat in the stomach area. Mine looks to be about as big as yours and mine is a good inch in width in the stomach area. He is a pig!

Hope this helps.

Ernie

 

[Anonymous]

I don't know about the trigger you have as I have never had a niger, but the one who terrorized my tang was a huma huma trigger. It is a shame that lfs's sell so many yelow tangs, because in my opinion they are not the easiest fish to keep healthy.

Bryan

 

[EmilyB]

Could be a bacterial infection but I am no disease expert.

I approach any fish problem with good nutrition and pristine water quality.

Get some OSI spirulina flake and feed as much as your tang will consume. Soak it in fish vitamins if possible, also as stated, make sure nori is available all day, and remove uneaten portions at nite.

 

[hillbilly]

IMO, ya got 2 many in it!! Also, yellow tangs like lots of room to
swim. Nutrition could also be a factor. They are herborvores.
They sometimes don't get enough green!!!

 

[esmithiii]

Good point about the spirulina flake- I believe it should be an essential part of a captive yellow tang's diet. Plus, they love[/i] the stuff

 

[Hal1]

double post

 

[Hal1]

That looks like a bacterial infection. Red splotches on tangs are running rampant right now, mine included. It can be brought on by poor water quality, although your stats look fine. Water change, and antibiotics are the recommended treatment (maracyn 2, nitrofuran, or kanacyn). Check out the link for more discussion.

See: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... did=138705

 

[Kevin1000]

Common problem with yellow tangs - minor bacterial infection. Common solution is to improve water quality with water change and try and improve diet. If no improvement in a few days antibiotics will clear it up.