Injured Yellow Tang

HumuhumuFan · Jun 2, 2019

I’ll link my previous thread about my poor yellow tang. Suffice to say she’s had a rough couple months.

Yesterday I noticed two baseball sized pieces of live rock that were not in their normal place.

Today I noticed a ton of sand had just been stirred up and my yellow tang has an injured eye and it looks like an injured tail spine on the same sign.

The tank is a 75 gallon, last week I added some GSP. Previously it had been FOWLR.

Tankmates are a 2.5” rectangle triggerfish and a 2” red-lined Wrasse and a cleaner shrimp.

I have never seen the trigger exhibit aggression towards anyone else in the tank.

I’m so disappointed. I finally got her eating everything again and the color was starting to return to her.

Since I’ve been watching the tank twice she has just zoomed across the tank run into the glass, rocks and sand before calming down again.

HumuhumuFan · Jun 2, 2019

Here is the previous thread about her for reference.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/yellow-tang-recovery.574744/

I'm in the process of setting up my QT but still observing for now. Do you think it warrants the added stress of QT or just continue to observe?

Kudos · Jun 2, 2019

I'm no expert but I would add her to a QT. No rocks though. Get some nice size PVS unions at the hardware store and put those in there for her to hide. It will also allow her to scratch herself a little without hurting herself as there are no rought edges on unions. And then maybe add a low dosage of ruby reef just to help with any infections. She is already stressed out so let's not stress her out with alot of chemicals. Also if the tank is in a common area/decent lit area dont even worry about light as harsh light only add to the stress. I never use lights on my fish QT.

HumuhumuFan · Jun 2, 2019

Thanks for the feedback. Here is another picture.

vetteguy53081 · Jun 2, 2019

Tangs heal well and quickly. I would watch to assure not aggression.

ngoodermuth · Jun 3, 2019

Was the redness there right after the incident or has it become red like that since? I just would want to be sure it is only an injury and not infection.

HumuhumuFan · Jun 3, 2019

ngoodermuth said:
Was the redness there right after the incident or has it become red like that since? I just would want to be sure it is only an injury and not infection.

I’m assuming an incident because the day before she looked fine.

ngoodermuth · Jun 3, 2019

I’m on the fence, because it’s an eye. I can’t say for sure whether I’d pull it or not.

My Regal broke the water Friday, and it was loud and splashed the entire way across the room. Of course, all of the fish spooked and dove into the rocks, and my yellow wrasse came out with a huge scrape on it’s face. I didn’t treat it, and it’s healing just fine so far. So, I don’t always jump to medication for injuries like this.

You could observe closely and feed well, and keep QT and ABX at the ready. Or, can pull and treat with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. It’s a gray area IMO, because there is an eye involved.

HumuhumuFan · Jun 3, 2019

That’s the other concern, she only ate a bit of brine shrimp yesterday, she ignored everything else.

HumuhumuFan · Jun 3, 2019

ngoodermuth said:
I’m on the fence, because it’s an eye. I can’t say for sure whether I’d pull it or not.

My Regal broke the water Friday, and it was loud and splashed the entire way across the room. Of course, all of the fish spooked and dove into the rocks, and my yellow wrasse came out with a huge scrape on it’s face. I didn’t treat it, and it’s healing just fine so far. So, I don’t always jump to medication for injuries like this.

You could observe closely and feed well, and keep QT and ABX at the ready. Or, can pull and treat with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. It’s a gray area IMO, because there is an eye involved.

Eye seems to look redder and there is now a strange patch on what had previously been the good side, unless I just didn’t notice. Fish looks calm and relaxed but is mostly hovering in one spot. I haven’t seen any panicked dashes since I’ve been home.

Flippers4pups · Jun 3, 2019

It's use is purely anecdotal, but many reefers have used Epsom salt for treatment of eye injuries with success.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/popeye.305090/

Kudos · Jun 3, 2019

Why is the fish not in the QT yet? That needs to happen soon. Why risk the fishes health? Get her in a place that is safer for her overall healt.

Flippers4pups · Jun 3, 2019

@HumuhumuFan, Epsom salt can be added to a reef. It's safe to use. Feed good quality frozen foods and provide some Nori. If the tang was I good health prior to injury, it should heal quickly.

If not, QT and use of antibiotics is warranted.

Flippers4pups · Jun 3, 2019

I agree with the others, need to watch for aggressive behavior from the trigger.

HumuhumuFan · Jun 3, 2019

Kudos said:
Why is the fish not in the QT yet? That needs to happen soon. Why risk the fishes health? Get her in a place that is safer for her overall healt.

I wanted to avoid QT if not necessary since it would add even more stress to an already stressed fish. I generally don’t like to QT unless I’m treating for something specific.

ngoodermuth · Jun 3, 2019

I think I would QT and treat with antibiotics, based on the new photos.

Do you have any on hand?

HumuhumuFan · Jun 3, 2019

ngoodermuth said:
I think I would QT and treat with antibiotics, based on the new photos.

Do you have any on hand?

Yes, I learned my lesson the last time.

What do you recommend?

ngoodermuth · Jun 3, 2019

I’d do a bath in fungus cure (90-minutes) and then Furan-2 for 10-14 days in QT.

MnFish1 · Jun 3, 2019

Flippers4pups said:
@HumuhumuFan, Epsom salt can be added to a reef. It's safe to use. Feed good quality frozen foods and provide some Nori. If the tang was I good health prior to injury, it should heal quickly.

If not, QT and use of antibiotics is warranted.

Epsom salts are just MgSo4 - within reason should not hurt anything - and I've also hear they help.

Im not sure why one would 'QT' the fish unless one wanted to treat with a medication - or the fish was really being bullied. I hope he/she pulls through