Help with Purple Tang

[Fly n Reef]

Hi Everyone,
I just picked up this Purple Tang and he a a semi-rescue mission for me. He is currently in QT. I am not dosing anything in the tank except garlic supplement in his food. I do not want to use copper in this tank.
It is hard to get a picture of his mouth but he appears to have a cotton-like appreance to the mouth opening and seems to keep it open-like most of the time. His body has tiny white dots on it but not very many. Also his eyes are a bit cloudy. I am thinking ICH or maybe velvet? Any ideas or suggestions besides copper. (This QT tank has many pods and one cluster of star polyps in it).
Thanks,
Karen

 

[Alice]

How's he doing, Karen?

 

[Fly n Reef]

Hi Alice,
He is doing pretty good today. His mouth is looking much better and the spots on his sides are almost gone. I think his eyes are still cloudy but I am seeing improvement. I want him to start eating better soon so he can move into the 180.
Thanks for your concern.
Karen

 

[MtnDewMan]

I bet he will recover nicely. If it is eating it will do well. Tangs are very susceptible to ick, but with a good diet, they recover quickly.

Veggies and mysis shrimp keeps my purple tang very healthy. How do you like yours? I bet you can't wait to put it in the BIG tank

 

[Fly n Reef]

Hey Chuck long time no hear. What do ya think about the tang? He is big for my 25 and would like to get it into the 180 ASAP.
He was a rescue from Petco and I bought him from Reeffrontiers "Beto" in Kirkland because his other FO inhabitants were beating up on him. I couldn't feel good about myself without taking him home knowing that I had a QT waiting for him.
I am hoping that he gets over his shyness and comes into his own. Time will tell. He is a beautiful fish I hope he does well.
Your Purple Tang made me want one too.
Thanks for the feeding advice. Will try anything.
Karen

 

[Alice]

It sounds like the poor guy is getting just what he needed: some peace and quiet and a chance to feed w/out other fish picking on him.

Good for you, Karen

 

[fishermann]

I would not rush him into the 180, give him a chance to catch his breath in the 25. It sounds like he is healing on his own with a good diet and peace. A 2x2 piece of nori doubled in a clip, slit into about 1/8" strips so they can just rip and inhale is great food for him and you won't get uneaten pieces floating in your tank this way. You can put a drop or two of garlic on the nori first. Good luck.

 

[Fly n Reef]

John,
That is a good idea about the nori.
Thanks,
Karen

 

[wrightme43]

an alternate method for feeding nori that works well for me. I pick three small limestone rocks or you can use shells and fold the nori up into squares so it is thick and rubber band it to a rock. I drop one rock with nori in per day for three days and at the end I skip a day then I remove the rocks and start over. I skip a day so the tang will eat algae in the tank. I have recomended this method to many people with sick tangs and have had a good recovery rate. I believe the fish is designed to graze and not to gorge like other fish. Thier gut seems to do better with a constant supply of algae in the tank. I believe it lowers the stress level and allows the fish to heal on its own. good luck Steve

 

[NaH2O]

How's he doing Karen?

 

[Fly n Reef]

Wrightme43...this tang doesn't seem interested in the Seaweed Selects that I had in his tank maybe I will try the actual Nori. I agree with you on the gorging I try smaller amounts on a lettuce clip served more frequently too.

Nikki- He is much better thanks to his R & R in the QT. He is finally chasing down his food. He is doing laps instead of hiding. All of the discoloration is gone from his body and eyes. His mouth is still needing some healing but I think it won't be but another week or so and he will be looking good. I still think he is under weight and I feed him alot. He is starting to recognize me now and comes to the front to see if I have food. That is a good sign.

Thanks for the help and concern. I will post a new picture of him when his fattened up more.

 

[Curtswearing]

great news!!!