Orange shoulder tang black patchy spots

[cashmilladakilla]

Hello everyone, my orange shoulder tang over the last few weeks has gotten these black patchy spots on him, they started off subtle but over the last few days they have went nuts, he is also flashing (he has his entire time i’ve had him, 2+ years) I am setting up a quarantine tank this weekend and i’m going to take him out and get him some medicine. Does anyone know what’s wrong and what medicine or antibiotics would be best for him? (sorry the pictures kinda suck I am not at home right now and it was very hard for the person to get proper pictures of him)
The clearer picture of him is from a few weeks ago, it’s the one I took, but now as you can kinda see in the more blurry one he has more dark patches and is very pale skinned. Thanks for any help

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello everyone, my orange shoulder tang over the last few weeks has gotten these black patchy spots on him, they started off subtle but over the last few days they have went nuts, he is also flashing (he has his entire time i’ve had him, 2+ years) I am setting up a quarantine tank this weekend and i’m going to take him out and get him some medicine. Does anyone know what’s wrong and what medicine or antibiotics would be best for him? (sorry the pictures kinda suck I am not at home right now and it was very hard for the person to get proper pictures of him)
The clearer picture of him is from a few weeks ago, it’s the one I took, but now as you can kinda see in the more blurry one he has more dark patches and is very pale skinned. Thanks for any help

These looks to be bite marks an also bacterial and I recommend quarantine of this fish using seachem Neoplex. The fish is also Very thin and what foods are you offering it?
What tankmates are in with it? There is light evidence of fin nipping also

 

[get-salty]

Looks like little fella been beaten up and lunch money taken from him by a bully.

Yea take him out asap.

Good luck.

 

[Coral therapy]

I had one in a clients tank that was eating food. And started looking like that. But she wasn’t feeding any algae based foods. It looks malnourished from wrong diet. Start giving noir and seaweed pellets immediately.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I had one in a clients tank that was eating food. And started looking like that. But she wasn’t feeding any algae based foods. It looks malnourished from wrong diet. Start giving noir and seaweed pellets immediately.

This is not a complete diet for this fish. It needs meats and fats besides algae based foods. LRS herbivore frenzy is a good based food as is plankton, chopped krill and mysis shrimp as examples

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello everyone, my orange shoulder tang over the last few weeks has gotten these black patchy spots on him, they started off subtle but over the last few days they have went nuts, he is also flashing (he has his entire time i’ve had him, 2+ years) I am setting up a quarantine tank this weekend and i’m going to take him out and get him some medicine. Does anyone know what’s wrong and what medicine or antibiotics would be best for him? (sorry the pictures kinda suck I am not at home right now and it was very hard for the person to get proper pictures of him)
The clearer picture of him is from a few weeks ago, it’s the one I took, but now as you can kinda see in the more blurry one he has more dark patches and is very pale skinned. Thanks for any help

I agree, the fish looks thin. In addition, it’s kind of pale and tattered looking. Do you ever see it scratch on things in the tank?

 

[BasementBox]

This is not a complete diet for this fish. It needs meats and fats besides algae based foods. LRS herbivore frenzy is a good based food as is plankton, chopped krill and mysis shrimp as examples

Nori, mysis, even when they're on sale grab little neck clams from the store and pop em in the tank. Fresh ones that is.

 

[Coral therapy]

I had one in a clients tank that was eating food. And started looking like that. But she wasn’t feeding any algae based foods. It looks malnourished from wrong diet. Start giving noir and seaweed pellets immediately.

This is not a complete diet for this fish. It needs meats and fats besides algae based foods. LRS herbivore frenzy is a good based food as is plankton, chopped krill and mysis shrimp as examples

I agree on the variety of food and the herbivore lrs would be the best long term. I used the nori and seaweed select to get the one I had back to good health in 2 weeks by increasing the algae in the diet right away. It developed the off colored dark spots when it was malnourished and looked the same as this one does now.

 

[cashmilladakilla]

Hello everyone, my orange shoulder tang over the last few weeks has gotten these black patchy spots on him, they started off subtle but over the last few days they have went nuts, he is also flashing (he has his entire time i’ve had him, 2+ years) I am setting up a quarantine tank this weekend and i’m going to take him out and get him some medicine. Does anyone know what’s wrong and what medicine or antibiotics would be best for him? (sorry the pictures kinda suck I am not at home right now and it was very hard for the person to get proper pictures of him)
The clearer picture of him is from a few weeks ago, it’s the one I took, but now as you can kinda see in the more blurry one he has more dark patches and is very pale skinned. Thanks for any help

I agree, the fish looks thin. In addition, it’s kind of pale and tattered looking. Do you ever see it scratch on things in the tank?

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

 

[cashmilladakilla]

I had one in a clients tank that was eating food. And started looking like that. But she wasn’t feeding any algae based foods. It looks malnourished from wrong diet. Start giving noir and seaweed pellets immediately.

Hey, I am already feeding PE mysis, Nori, and a variety of seaweed pellets and regular pellets. This guy can never gain weight,m. Do you suggest feeding him some anti parasitic soaked foods?

 

[dank.reefer]

As others have stated nori and seaweed are not a complete diet for this fish but, he is an acanthurus tang. IME this family of tangs are more energetic that others and burn calories like crazy. If I don't keep nori in the tank constantly my acanthurus tangs start to loose weight. I also feed herbivore frenzy, rods food, reef frenzy Hikari spirulina Brine, PE mysis, blood worms, and more. What I have noticed though with the acanthurus tangs is that without a constant source of something to graze on they will get skinny and struggle.

 

[cashmilladakilla]

As others have stated nori and seaweed are not a complete diet for this fish but, he is an acanthurus tang. IME this family of tangs are more energetic that others and burn calories like crazy. If I don't keep nori in the tank constantly my acanthurus tangs start to loose weight. I also feed herbivore frenzy, rods food, reef frenzy Hikari spirulina Brine, PE mysis, blood worms, and more. What I have noticed though with the acanthurus tangs is that without a constant source of something to graze on they will get skinny and struggle.

I have other acanthurus tangs in the tank and they are not as nearly as skinny as this guy, do you think it could be something internal? Like a parasite

 

[get-salty]

I have other acanthurus tangs in the tank and they are not as nearly as skinny as this guy, do you think it could be something internal? Like a parasite

Either internal parasite or stressed.
I'd isolate asap and spot treat it.

 

[cashmilladakilla]

I have other acanthurus tangs in the tank and they are not as nearly as skinny as this guy, do you think it could be something internal? Like a parasite

Either internal parasite or stressed.
I'd isolate asap and spot treat it.

Okay, will probably do this. Do you think I should put anything in the water? Like antibiotics or something like that? Also should I feed him a certain type of food?


I am gonna go buy a tank/heater/hang-on filter today and set up a QT with current tank water + rocks and some chaeto in it. Do you think this would work or am I not thinking straight? Thanks for the help

 

[vetteguy53081]

Either internal parasite or stressed.
I'd isolate asap and spot treat it.

Internal parasite would have gotten to this fish a long time ago and the length of time owner has had this fish, it’s beyond a stress factor
A fish that is eating and this thin often points to deficiency in diet

 

[dank.reefer]

Possible, he could also be just getting bullied or have a bacterial infection of some sort, Either way he needs to be separated so he can be brought back into good health with a lower stress environment. The way he is now he will probably be picked on because he's not strong enough to fight back.

 

[cashmilladakilla]

Either internal parasite or stressed.
I'd isolate asap and spot treat it.

Internal parasite would have gotten to this fish a long time ago and the length of time owner has had this fish, it’s beyond a stress factor
A fish that is eating and this thin often points to deficiency in diet

Do you think maybe he’s just getting out compete in the tank? I have a few other acanthurus tangs that are all thick. I am going to isolate him and get him nice and thick. Only thing is why would he still be scraping on the sand all the time? He’s scraped himself on the sand for genuinely 2 years. He has been doing it more recently though.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Do you think maybe he’s just getting out compete in the tank? I have a few other acanthurus tangs that are all thick. I am going to isolate him and get him nice and thick. Only thing is why would he still be scraping on the sand all the time? He’s scraped himself on the sand for genuinely 2 years. He has been doing it more recently though.

Its possible as I have 31 tangs and they outeat other mates

 

[cashmilladakilla]

Do you think maybe he’s just getting out compete in the tank? I have a few other acanthurus tangs that are all thick. I am going to isolate him and get him nice and thick. Only thing is why would he still be scraping on the sand all the time? He’s scraped himself on the sand for genuinely 2 years. He has been doing it more recently though.

Its possible as I have 31 tangs and they outeat other mates

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

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

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/