Possible issue with Naso

[DLHDesign]

About 3 weeks ago, I received a Blonde Naso Tang from a vendor I trust. I worked the fish through the whole TTM process (transferring tanks every <3days, etc.) along with a Blue Tang (also from a trusted vendor). Neither showed any signs of issues - both would eat soon after each transfer, no abnormal looking behavior, no excessive heavy breathing, no spots nor other signs of disease. Both were pale when I opened their packages, but soon regained their coloring.
After the final tank transfer, something went wrong in the tank. I pulled the water from my DT as usual. As is also normal, I added a HOB filter with two sponges that had been soaking in my sump for about a month. I also had a bag of carbon that I'd last used about two months ago and dried out in the garage that I added in.

By morning, the tank (a 10gal) was so cloudy that I couldn't see through it. Both fish were breathing hard and were clearly struggling.
My other TTM tank was soaking in vinegar (I wasn't in any hurry to clean it), so I didn't have the option to set up that tank. If I had thought about it, I would have pulled out 5gal of water into a bucket and moved them into that for a bit while I reset the new tank. But I didn't think or that, unfortunately.
Instead, I decided to go ahead and move the two fish into the DT. I'm hoping that I don't regret that...

That was two days ago. The Blue is doing well in the DT - eating well, swimming about, getting along, good color, etc. No concerns there.
The Naso, however, did not seem to transfer well. It's color has faded a bit - from a charcoal to a pale grey - and it's not been eating. I'd describe it as skittish; swimming slowly and drifting to isolated parts of the tank. No rapid breathing and still no signs of any hanger-ons. When the light hits it a certain way, it seems more gaunt. It drifted past my coral banded shrimp at one point, and the two looked to tussle a bit before the Naso swam away, but showed no signs after (I only mention this as it makes me think that the fish may be lethargic and/or in a weakened state).

The positive side of me thinks that the Naso is just slow to adjust to it's new environment. The Blue is tank-raised, so this makes sense to me.
The negative side of me is worried about velvet (light sensitivity, skittishness, color loss). There are no visible signs beyond the color loss and it's been problem-free for the entire time.

So; thoughts?

 

[Maritimer]

I don't see anything obviously wrong with the fish in the photos, but your description of his behavior is a bit worrisome . . .

There are folks here who can glean far more understanding from your tale than I - #reefsquad - but the one thing that stands out to me is the used carbon from the garage; was it sealed up, or is there a possibility it was absorbing toxins from the air?

Hope this fellow makes it through - he's a beautiful fish!

~Bruce

 

[DLHDesign]

Thanks for the reply Bruce - appreciate it!

the one thing that stands out to me is the used carbon from the garage; was it sealed up, or is there a possibility it was absorbing toxins from the air?

I'm pretty sure this was the problem; no - it was not sealed up. I had it sitting out to dry, basically. Looking back on it, it's one of those things that cause me to ask myself, "what was I thinking of?!?" I've since thrown it away and will not reuse such consumables again.

 

[DLHDesign]

 

[Maritimer]

The video shows it well ... he seems lethargic, almost dazed.

I suspect a toxin, in which case a clean and (relatively) peaceful environment is likely to be the biggest and best first step toward health.

But that's just me - and I'd keep a sharp watch on the fellow for any other symptom that might offer clues to other issues.

~Bruce, fingers crossed that he doesn't start scratching or swimming into the flow of a powerhead . . .

 

[Brew12]

I can't watch videos at work. Maybe @4FordFamily can help us out with this. I think he has had a Naso Tang before. ;)

 

[4FordFamily]

Well that fish doesn't look good I agree, but my most pressing observation is how thin that fish is. It looks like it hasn't eaten for at least 1.5 weeks or so, at least not enough to sustain the fish.

I'm sure the mishap in TTM just fueled the problem.

I would say your most pressing issue I can identify right now is the feeding-- go grab some live blackworms, live brine, and red nori rubber handed to a rock. If those three don't work after a couple days there's no hope.

The fact that it's not breathing heavily or fast makes me worry less about velvet.

Also, there is no vendor you should trust. Not that they're a bad vendor, but because it's cost prohibitive and logistically impossible for current vendors to be deserving of this trust. ALWAYS qt yourself. I know you did TTM which is a step in the right direction this isn't really directed toward you, but for the casual reader.

Good luck, keep us posted!

 

[melypr1985]

He's definitely thin. First step is to get him eating again. I think you've gotten great advice so far. Looking at the video, there are good things there as well.... he's looking around and aware, he's capable of keeping himself up right and to correct his position in the water, and he doesn't appear to be laboring for breath.

 

[Humblefish]

IME; Nasos can be skittish and can take awhile to fully adapt into a new environment. That being said, how skinny he is and the labored breathing are a bit concerning. I would hope for the best, but fire the QT back up just in case. :confused:

 

[4FordFamily]

He's definitely thin. First step is to get him eating again. I think you've gotten great advice so far. Looking at the video, there are good things there as well.... he's looking around and aware, he's capable of keeping himself up right and to correct his position in the water, and he does appear to be laboring for breath.

Did you mean does not appear to be, I assume?

Edit, just saw Humble's response - I don't see the labored breathing, I am on my phone, however.

 

[melypr1985]

Did you mean does not appear to be, I assume?

Edit, just saw Humble's response - I don't see the labored breathing, I am on my phone, however.

I actually did mean that! I didn't see labored breathing, but it can be subtle. I typoed :) I'll go fix it.

I would trust Humble's eye on this one. I watched it again and am still not sure about it.

 

[Humblefish]

I just watched the video again, and the breathing does appear to be slightly labored - but that could just be because he hasn't settled yet into his new environment.

 

[DLHDesign]

Thanks all for the advice!

The fish is still not eating. He'll swim through a cloud of food and ignore it. Even more emaciated, as you would expect. I broadcast feed a mix of various frozen food (pretty much everything Hikari makes) mixed with some VitaChem and tank water. Every other fish - including the blue - gobbles it up. This one did as well in the QT...
I also have two feeders loaded with purple seaweed - one on each side of the tank. Again; everyone else picks at them, but he ignores them both.

go grab some live blackworms, live brine, and red nori rubber handed to a rock

I'll fire up the brine hatchery tonight. Closest LFS has closed "temporarily", so I'll have to check the local big-box stores for live blackworms; they only carry freshwater fish now, but perhaps they'll have those. Same with red seaweed, though I hold out less hope that they'll have that...

...but fire the QT back up just in case. :confused:

Both are still a few days out from being dry from their vinegar soak... Given that I'm not worried about disease at this point, would filling tanks that still have some residual vinegar in them be an issue?

 

[4FordFamily]

Red nori is more readily available at LFS than you might think - nori in general is often a high margin item there.

Good luck tomorrow!

 

[DLHDesign]

Video update:

(Background noise is Mickey's Clubhouse - which we watch A LOT - and my daughter being potty-trained. Never a dull moment around here!)

 

[melypr1985]

Video update:

(Background noise is Mickey's Clubhouse - which we watch A LOT - and my daughter being potty-trained. Never a dull moment around here!)

Sounds like my house. I'm literally watching Mickey and the roadster racers right now with my son. We have yet to master #2 but #1 has been in the bag for a year now. :mad:

the video is pretty dark so it's hard to tell much. His breathing might be a little faster than normal. I'm not seeing his spine yet, so that's something. Have you seen him picking at the rocks or glass at all?

 

[4FordFamily]

Video update:

(Background noise is Mickey's Clubhouse - which we watch A LOT - and my daughter being potty-trained. Never a dull moment around here!)

He actually looks a bit healthier (fatter) in this video than the last, IMO.

Breathing looks mostly normal to me, still.

In addition, "hot dog hot dog hot doggity dog"

"H-Hi everybody, it's me, Mickey Mouse! Say, do you want to come inside my clubhouse? Well allllllright. Let's go! Ooh ooh, I almost forgot. To make the clubhouse appear, we get to say the magic words. Meeskaa mooska mickeyyyy Mouse! Say it with me. Meeska, mooska, mickeyyy Mouse!"

(I could type the entire theme song but it would lose its comedic value quickly and turn to immense sadness and idiocy)

Can you guess that I have two kids under 3? :D

 

[Humblefish]

You can sometimes find green, red, brown nori at an Asian grocery store. Just be sure no spices were added. ;)

 

[Maritimer]

My local big-box stores carry precisely zero "live food", but the Petco around the corner has Omega One seaweed sheets in all three colors.

I will say that I've seen thinner tangs offered for sale in the past - and even turned one around in my own tank.

~Bruce, hoping this fellow (gal?) turns it around . . .

 

[DLHDesign]

Breathing is normal looking to me. Or, if anything, just slightly elevated. As I would expect a nervous fish to be, really. Though I may be projecting based on what's being discussed...

That video wasn't that good, sorry. Here's a pic that better shows the state:

Yes; some spine is visible when it's turning or the light hits it from the right angle.

Managed to find some red nori at PetCo. Dropped some in around the fish, but no interest yet.

No; no pecking at anything. Occasionally "nudges" the glass, but it looks more like confusion than feeding.

I find it great that a number of us have kids of the same age. Just another thing that we have in common. :-)