Skinny fish...

[Waterboy]

My fish all seem to be eating alot, but still getting so skinny. I think it is some kind of internal parasite. Just not sure what, or how to fix it. I have a Yellow Tang, Black and White Clown, Lawnmower Blenny and a Goby. The Goby is the only one that does not seem to be effected. They are rubbing up against rock and the sides of the tank. Although I see no signs of Ich. The Tang is getting so skinny that you can see his ribs. This all started when I put the clown into the tank. No QT This is a 80 gallon tank, if that matters. The water all checks out to be in good quality.
Need some advice to get them back to health. Thanks for any advice.

 

[mmkeeper]

POst this in the general area and you might get it seen faster

 

[Jiddy]

What temp do you keep your tank at, and what are you feeding your fish

 

[Waterboy]

81 and mostly Brine shrimp with some Formula Two.

 

[DonW]

81 and mostly Brine shrimp with some Formula Two.

Brine has almost no food value.

Don

 

[Jiddy]

Yea, pretty sure thats your problem

 

[steve-s]

I would agree on the brine. How often do you feed the fish and what portion amount? Does the tang get daily grazing vegetable based foods?

Start adding garlic to the foods you feed at each feeding. Watch carefully when possible for the color and texture of the feces. It will give some indication if a worm is present. Look especially for long stringy bits.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Waterboy]

I feed the algae based food about every other day. Brine, some everyday. The Tang does graze off of the rocks also.
When I first got the Clown he had stringy tannish feces. Not anymore though. I have had the clown for about month and a half. Everything was fine until then. None of them where brushing up against anything until then. I seen a trace of ich on the Tang. Did a water change and dropped the salinity. Have not seen it since.
About the garlic... just regular garlic chopped into very small pieces?

 

[steve-s]

Trade out the brine for something else. If the formula is a flake style switch to their frozen preparations preferably. I would also suggest one additional food type like prime reef. Mysis occassionally would be fine as well. Make sure the tang has something to graze from for most of the day. Either nori sheets, frozen broccoli, spinach or other dark green vegetable. Just be sure if a raw veg, it's frozen for about a week (except leafy greens) or blanched first. The fibers need to be broken down for proper digestion.

As for the garlic, yes you can use finely minced garlic but not the prepared stuff from the store. Fresh cloves only and you really need to mash them up to get the oil out. Soak the food in it but separate the garlic chucks before feeding unless you make a food mush in the blender. You can go to the health food store and get some lquid garlic extract. The LFS will also sell it. Just be mindful with the liquids you only use a few drops each feeding. It's pretty strong stuff.

If it clears it up your all good. If not, you will need to move onto something else. Check and see if your LFS sells any foods that contain Praziquantel.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Waterboy]

I just noticed that the Clown has some stringy feces. Color is a orangish brown. Does this mean anything?

 

[steve-s]

Does this mean anything?

Depends on what they have been fed recently. The color and texture of the feces should come relatively close to the food they where fed. If the feces is much paler or the consistancey quite loose, it can be an indication of something amiss internally.

Cheers
Steve