I need help with diagnosing my purple tang

[Pdxlucas]

I picked up a purple tang a little over a week ago and he has been in quarantine for the last eight days (copper power between 2.3 and 2.5). I noticed some heavy breathing yesterday and he has had a shimmery dusty look. I think it’s possibly velvet. If any of you have any advice or opinions, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I picked up a purple tang a little over a week ago and he has been in quarantine for the last eight days (copper power between 2.3 and 2.5). I noticed some heavy breathing yesterday and he has had a shimmery dusty look. I think it’s possibly velvet. If any of you have any advice or opinions, I would greatly appreciate it.

velvet is possible. There is a lot of movement in video to clearly see but there is a dust like presence and I see fish already in quarantine. Copper power is effective but I am concerned of wide range. Best target is 2.25 and how are you testing copper level? It should be steady and for a full 30 days. Additionally, keep an eye on ammonia level.
The purple also has light HLLE which can b addressed after fish are in display and best healed with good water quality and diet. Some foods this fish should be getting for proper diet are:

LRS herbivore diet
Formula 2 flake and frozen
TDO Pellets
small plankton
Hikari Marine cuisine
Ocean nutrition veggie diet
spirulina brine shrimp
mysis shrimp
Prime reef
Nori seaweed basted with garlic extract

Add selcon vitamins to foods occasionally

 

[Pdxlucas]

I’m using the Hanna copper checker. Feeding nori, spirulina brine and mysis. Ammonia is at zero, I just did a 100% water change and made sure to match salinity, ph, temp and copper power. I’ll try to keep the copper levels more steady. Really worried about the heavy breathing.

 

[Uncle99]

I’m using the Hanna copper checker. Feeding nori, spirulina brine and mysis. Ammonia is at zero, I just did a 100% water change and made sure to match salinity, ph, temp and copper power. I’ll try to keep the copper levels more steady. Really worried about the heavy breathing.

Bet ya he’s not overly happy with the other tang.
He (they) can see reflection everywhere, going to be stressful.
Reduce light a ton, if not dark.

 

[Pdxlucas]

I had a flashlight on them to take the picture so you could see what I’m seeing better. The light is not very bright.

 

[Uncle99]

I had a flashlight on them to take the picture so you could see what I’m seeing better. The light is not very bright.

Any aggression?
Any fin damage on either?

Is there places for them to hide?

 

[Pdxlucas]

Any aggression?
Any fin damage on either?

Some on the white tail. Only in the past couple days though. I’ve only seen the purple tang chase him away a couple times.

 

[Uncle99]

No surprise.

After a disagreement, sometimes fish need a few days to settle out.

Some on the white tail. Only in the past couple days though. I’ve only seen the purple tang chase him away a couple times.

 

[Uncle99]

Is there hiding spots, maybe just not in the pic?

If so do they use them?

 

[Pdxlucas]

Is there hiding spots, maybe just not in the pic?

If so do they use them?

I need to run to home depot and get a couple pieces of pvc pipe. They like to hide behind the sponge filter and the heater.

 

[BristleWormHater]

@Jay Hemdal
#fishmedics

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I picked up a purple tang a little over a week ago and he has been in quarantine for the last eight days (copper power between 2.3 and 2.5). I noticed some heavy breathing yesterday and he has had a shimmery dusty look. I think it’s possibly velvet. If any of you have any advice or opinions, I would greatly appreciate it.

Velvet is killed off by copper power above 2.25 ppm. The tang is still eating? If so, I'd rule velvet out completely here. The tang is breathing fast, but not as fast as a fish with velvet would.

I think the issue is more environmental - the bristletooth tang has some fin damage, so there is some fighting going one - the purple tang may be the aggressor, and that takes energy and will make a fish breath a bit faster.

In terms of other environmental issues - be sure the tank has good aeration (not just circulation). You need a good air stone at the bottom of the tank. Also ensure the ammonia level is kept below 0.5 ppm

 

[Pdxlucas]

Velvet is killed off by copper power above 2.25 ppm. The tang is still eating? If so, I'd rule velvet out completely here. The tang is breathing fast, but not as fast as a fish with velvet would.

I think the issue is more environmental - the bristletooth tang has some fin damage, so there is some fighting going one - the purple tang may be the aggressor, and that takes energy and will make a fish breath a bit faster.

In terms of other environmental issues - be sure the tank has good aeration (not just circulation). You need a good air stone at the bottom of the tank. Also ensure the ammonia level is kept below 0.5 ppm

He eats like a pig. They do chase each other around a bit. I have a sponge filter in there that that puts out plenty of air and I make sure the ammonia stays within an acceptable range. The purple tangs started flashing yesterday day(the first I ever saw him do it). What would you think the dusty coat on him is then?

 

[MnFish1]

Bet ya he’s not overly happy with the other tang.
He (they) can see reflection everywhere, going to be stressful.
Reduce light a ton, if not dark.

I think the breathing may be stress related. One thing that may help is lowering the light intensity of the tank. Also - do you have any hiding places (PVC, etc) - or enough of them- that will also help. One other thing may be to double check your copper levels at a store, etc - to be sure what you're measuring is exactly the 'true' copper level

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

He eats like a pig. They do chase each other around a bit. I have a sponge filter in there that that puts out plenty of air and I make sure the ammonia stays within an acceptable range. The purple tangs started flashing yesterday day(the first I ever saw him do it). What would you think the dusty coat on him is then?

Could be flukes, could be light reflecting off the “dry” scales that tangs have.
If the flashing continues, you might consider treating for flukes.

 

[Pdxlucas]

Could be flukes, could be light reflecting off the “dry” scales that tangs have.
If the flashing continues, you might consider treating for fluke water dip today and

Could be flukes, could be light reflecting off the “dry” scales that tangs have.
If the flashing continues, you might consider treating for flukes.

I was going to give him a fresh water dip today and see if anything comes off.

 

[Pdxlucas]

I think the breathing may be stress related. One thing that may help is lowering the light intensity of the tank. Also - do you have any hiding places (PVC, etc) - or enough of them- that will also help. One other thing may be to double check your copper levels at a store, etc - to be sure what you're measuring is exactly the 'true' copper level

I got some pipes for them to hide in today. I can bring in some water to test today as well but I get pretty consistent readings when I test it.

 

[Uncle99]

I got some pipes for them to hide in today. I can bring in some water to test today as well but I get pretty consistent readings when I test it.

Great idea, that will lower stress.
If he’s still up and running now, likely not velvet, it kills rather quickly.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I was going to give him a fresh water dip today and see if anything comes off.

Trouble is, without a microscope, you’ll only be able to see one type of fluke, Neobenedenia. These will look like tiny gray ovals, almost like fish scales. The other types of flukes and turbellarians are too small to see without a microscope - and then they tend to look like little blobs of mucus.
You may see symptom relief after a FW dip (like the next day). That is sort of an indirect way to tell that the fish have flukes.

 

[Pdxlucas]

Trouble is, without a microscope, you’ll only be able to see one type of fluke, Neobenedenia. These will look like tiny gray ovals, almost like fish scales. The other types of flukes and turbellarians are too small to see without a microscope - and then they tend to look like little blobs of mucus.
You may see symptom relief after a FW dip (like the next day). That is sort of an indirect way to tell that the fish have flukes.

Good to know. After 30 days in copper I’m also going to put them through a week of prazipro. That should take care of any flukes left over.