please help

[nananurse]

yellow tang is sratching now for a week but no signs of white spots or black spots. His color is good and he is eating fine. What could be wrong or will the spots show up later

 

[fishermann]

Don't do anything right now except just observe. It is not unusual for tangs to get ich when you get them, that is one reason to have a QT tank. If he is eating good and you don't see a bunch of spots, and your tank water is in good shape, just let him be. Dosing your tank is not good for it and most healthy eating fish well kick any little investation of ich very easily on their own.

 

[MCSInc]

Don't forget to feed him greens. Dried sheets of seaweed salad or some such will make him very happy/healthy.

 

[Terry B]

Is the fish in quaratine or did you add it directly into your display tank? Is this a reef tank or a fish only system without inverts or live rock? It may very well be ich. Sometimes it takes a week or more to become visible. How good is your eyeysight?

HTH,
Terry B

 

[nananurse]

tang

I have had this fish since October it is not a new fish. I have those over 40 year old eyes so I don't see so good up close, but I did put my glasses on and I asked my daughters. I feed my Tang Nori, prime reef, shrimp, formula 1, spirulina and garlic.

 

[snobanker]

I would just observe as suggested...I have seen my yellow tang rub the rocks before too. I've had him for almost two years and never any ich. I really don't know what caused him to swipe at my rocks, but he always stops.

 

[Terry B]

It is not really normal for tangs to itch, but it is not always ich. Something in the water may be causing it or it could be gill flukes. Gill flukes are best treated with a series of formalin dips. For now, I would just keep an eye on it and make large water changes using well aged and aerated saltwater.
Check out this article in my library:
http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/formaldehyde_friend_or_foe.html

Cheers,
Terry B

 

[wrightme43]

Is he in the same tank as the puffer?

 

[nananurse]

No he is in a 80 gallon reef tank, do you think I should put my puffer in with him. I have a foxface 2 clowns 3 pajama cardinals 1 tang 2 royal grammas
corals. snails, crabs 1 mandarin goby. red serpent star and 3 sand sifting stars
one clam

 

[wrightme43]

I dont know that it would be the best idea to put the puffer in a reef tank. If you are willing to risk a as far as I know unquarinteened fish that can and sometimes does eat coral in your reef tank, it may be worth a try. It is a risk to a stable system though. Is the tang just rubbing a little or a lot? Have you made any new additions? Do you use the same equiptment from the new tank and the reef tank? Its really hard to tell you the best course of action with any certainty with out knowing more. If it is just a little and you cant see any on the skin, try watching with a flashlight and looking under the gill covers if you can. Sometimes I can catch a glimpse of the inside if I watch long enough. It is my understanding that ick usually starts there. I hope this is of some help to you. I understand it is frustrating trying to figure out what to do, quite often for me unless I know exactly what it is, I find it is better to wait. (I hate it but it does work) LOL Steve

 

[nananurse]

the tang is flipping himself on his side in the sand. he is not actually scratching on the rocks. I thought the puffer might get better in a more stable aquarium, but if my tang harrasses him it could make things worse. I just want my puffer to feel better. I mixed up some more salt water tonight for tomorrow. Will the water change keep it from cycling? I added a extra power head to the puffers tank, do I need to keep the venturi tube on the power head or can I remove it?

 

[wrightme43]

Good question, if you dont have a skimmer I would if it were my tank keep the venturi on. I would accept the inevetable salt creep, as just part of it, should help the puffer to stay alive. Terrys advice about polyfileter by poly bio marine is very good. If you have a movable skimmer maybe you could swap between the two tanks for half a day each. It might help if the tank with the puffer doesnt have one. If it has a skimmer the power head is not neccesary. If you are swaping back and forth untill you get another skimmer I would keep the power head going. HTH Steve

 

[nananurse]

i have a cpr bak pak skimmer on the puffers tank and a sea clone on the other tank. I am getting a aquac remora pro tomorrow for my 80 gallon tank. I thought I would add the sea clone to the puffers tank with the cpr or do you think this would skim to much? I also have a penguin 330 power filter with carbon and poly fiber for phosphates

 

[wrightme43]

Looks like from what you just said you are doing everything you can. When you get the new skimmer it wouldnt hurt to put the old one in addition on the puffer tank. I was thinking you didnt have a skimmer. Since you do, Water changes and the polyfilter you are already using are the only real answer. I apoligize for assuming you didnt. If you have a skimmer dissolved oxy should be high, the poly filter is absorbing as much ammonia as you can. Maybe if you have a good sized live rock from you reef you could put it in the puffer tank and it would help to use up some of the ammonia. I mean if its been up for two years the rock should be jam packed and ready to go to town on ammonia and nitrites. Hth Steve

 

[nananurse]

Thank you so much for your help atleast i know i am on the right track now. I hand fed him shrimp a few minutes ago he took two bites. I won't leave it in the aquarium for fear of more ammonia problems. thanks again!