sick fish?

[fripclaksid]

Hello,

I have a 155 bow front tank that have 1 blue hippo tang (6 inches) 1 angel (dont know what kind) (4inches) 1 foxface (5 inches) and a bodivian batfish diameter probably around 14 inches. My problem is the tang and the angel is losing their colors tremendously almost like being burned off. Their colors are really dull but the burned off pieces are completely gone colorless where you can see its skin. The tangs diet has changed. He used to eat a lot now he only barely gets 1-2 small pellets a day. The angel has a healthy appetite and is very active during feeding time. Angel and Tang both hide under rocks 24/7... They also seem to be more skittish. The foxface used to be hiding all the time but now it seems they're swapped attitudes? i dont see anyone picking on anyone else

 

[mckostya]

use some garlic and vitamins when feeding, get them to eat more.
Hows your water conditions??
im yet to see tang that wont eat well...

 

[fripclaksid]

I will admit the nitrates are a tad bit on the high end they are about 40 ppm.. Amm 0 nitrite 0 its a fowlr tank.. I know 40 nitrate woulnt cause that... What can it be? I'll try the garlic I've tried putting in mela fix but they seem to hate that..

 

[reefman]

bad water conditions , over populated conditions , poor diet and among other things can certainly cause this. what r your water par n what r u feeding the fishes?

 

[KathyC]

As already asked, what specifically are the parameters?

Also a good idea to check for stray voltage. What equipment is on the tank (heaters, power heads..etc) ?
If you have a heater in there - I'd check there first.

 

[cthoughts1]

use some garlic and vitamins when feeding, get them to eat more.
Hows your water conditions??
im yet to see tang that wont eat well...

I use some garlic as well.. What vitamins do you include in your food?

Anyone else suppliment their fish food and if so with what? (sorry if this is a bit off topic)

 

[reefman]

i soak selcon in food for 5 min then freeze.

 

[fripclaksid]

amm. 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 40

 

[fripclaksid]

i use formula 1 and 2 pellets with krill silversides algae flakes im sure theres 1 or 2 im missing

 

[lazibonez]

what about PH and salinity?

 

[fripclaksid]

8.0 and .024

 

[ESSELO]

Color fade

My first thought is water quality. If all that checks out maybe it's bullying. Have you observed the tank after the lights go out. Perhaps there is bullying going on. I say this because of the role reversal you mentioned. The fighting is stressful and makes them susceptible to disease as well as the loss of appetite. You can try floating a plastic strainer to seperate the fish or make a division with egg crate. You would be able to see if there are any changes in their behavior. If you end up seperating the bully, the victims will relax a little. I also supplement my frozen food with selcon, vitachem and garlic.

 

[cowfish]

Skin coming off and leaving white patches can be a sign of a bacterial infection. If things don't improve quickly you may want to remove the affected fish to quarantine and treat them with a broad spectrum antibiotic like Maracyn 1 and 2 or Furan 2.