Orange shoulder tang black patchy spots

[cashmilladakilla]

Yes, I’ve had this guy for almost 2 years and he has always been noticeably thin, no matter how much we feed/target feed him all the other fish in the tank are thick. Also he has been “flashing” since we got him pretty much (2+ years) always runs against the sand

I'd suspect a chronic fluke infection. You might consider a praziquantel treatment to see if the symptoms improve. It is mostly reef safe, as long as your corals and invertebrates are doing well to start with.

Here is a post I made that has instructions on using prazi:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dosing-praziquantel-pzq.1105700/

Okay i’ll check that out. I think I am gonna put him in a QT either way so if I do Prazi i’ll just do it in there. Thanks a ton

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am going to take the orange shoulder out and put him in his own little 29 gallon QT tank for awhile til he gets better. Should I try feeding him certain foods? And should I medicate him at all in your opinion? I could do something like API Melafix

yES, USE EITHER pRAZI pRO OR Seachem Neoplex and add to diet- mysis shrimp, chopped krill and LRS herbivore diet

 

[cashmilladakilla]

Yes, I’ve had this guy for almost 2 years and he has always been noticeably thin, no matter how much we feed/target feed him all the other fish in the tank are thick. Also he has been “flashing” since we got him pretty much (2+ years) always runs against the sand

I'd suspect a chronic fluke infection. You might consider a praziquantel treatment to see if the symptoms improve. It is mostly reef safe, as long as your corals and invertebrates are doing well to start with.

Here is a post I made that has instructions on using prazi:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dosing-praziquantel-pzq.1105700/

Hey Jay been thinking more about this, I have a 500 gallon reef tank, if it is flukes should I just does the entire tank?

 

[cashmilladakilla]

I am going to take the orange shoulder out and put him in his own little 29 gallon QT tank for awhile til he gets better. Should I try feeding him certain foods? And should I medicate him at all in your opinion? I could do something like API Melafix

yES, USE EITHER pRAZI pRO OR Seachem Neoplex and add to diet- mysis shrimp, chopped krill and LRS herbivore diet

Hey, I have prazipro currently, don’t you think if he has flukes the other fish would have flukes too? Should I skip the QT tank and just dose the entire display?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey, I have prazipro currently, don’t you think if he has flukes the other fish would have flukes too? Should I skip the QT tank and just dose the entire display?

nOT NECESSARILY AND REASON TO TREAT THE ENTIRE TANK TO ASSURE THAT

 

[cashmilladakilla]

Hey, I have prazipro currently, don’t you think if he has flukes the other fish would have flukes too? Should I skip the QT tank and just dose the entire display?

nOT NECESSARILY AND REASON TO TREAT THE ENTIRE TANK TO ASSURE THAT

Okay i’m just going to do the QT and if I have to later on i’ll dose the main tank Thanks for the help

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Okay i’ll check that out. I think I am gonna put him in a QT either way so if I do Prazi i’ll just do it in there. Thanks a ton

If the fish responds to prazi in the QT, that would help confirm flukes, but would also require you to treat the main tank as well, since that where the flukes came from.

 

[cashmilladakilla]

Okay i’ll check that out. I think I am gonna put him in a QT either way so if I do Prazi i’ll just do it in there. Thanks a ton

If the fish responds to prazi in the QT, that would help confirm flukes, but would also require you to treat the main tank as well, since that where the flukes came from.

Hey Jay, I just got home today and have been trying to deal with this fish. From my view and better look at this fish, he is now incredibly skinny and has been severely picked on, he has 1-2 decent cuts from other tangs and lots of nipped fins, Do you think it would be bad to still do prazi? Or should I try a different medication that can help him just get stabilized and start eating again. I have been trying to catch him but it’s so hard, i’ll eventually get him. Anyways any help is appreciated sorry for messaging so late.

 

[winxp_man]

Hey Jay, I just got home today and have been trying to deal with this fish. From my view and better look at this fish, he is now incredibly skinny and has been severely picked on, he has 1-2 decent cuts from other tangs and lots of nipped fins, Do you think it would be bad to still do prazi? Or should I try a different medication that can help him just get stabilized and start eating again. I have been trying to catch him but it’s so hard, i’ll eventually get him. Anyways any help is appreciated sorry for messaging so late.

Had this happen to a scopas.
I would take this fish out, neoplex to help heal it, and get it some good food that Vette mentioned. Then if needed and to see possible fluke issues use prazi.

The agression that is going on is keeping this fish from eating as it’s supposed to.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hey Jay, I just got home today and have been trying to deal with this fish. From my view and better look at this fish, he is now incredibly skinny and has been severely picked on, he has 1-2 decent cuts from other tangs and lots of nipped fins, Do you think it would be bad to still do prazi? Or should I try a different medication that can help him just get stabilized and start eating again. I have been trying to catch him but it’s so hard, i’ll eventually get him. Anyways any help is appreciated sorry for messaging so late.

No, I DO think you need to pull this fish, I just meant that when you do, treat it with prazi. If it responds well, that means flukes and you’ll also need to treat your main tank.

Catching a tang can be tough. You can try using 2 nets, set one upright next to a rock and then chase the fish into that with the other net. That how I catch them in the ocean. You can also try at night when they are sleeping, but that tough to see in the dark.