Purple tang stopped eating

[begottenangel90]

Hello! My husband and I have owned this purple tang for a little over a year. Recently, he has stopped eating, his fins look frayed and he appears to be breathing heavily too. He has been hiding more and barely comes out. Today, we decided to isolate him in an acclimation box. He didn’t put up a fight when we went to catch him. We tried feeding him nori soaked in garlic, mysis, reef jerky, and our own home blend soaked in Selcon. Doesn’t appear interested in any of it. We don’t want to lose him and are now trying to seek some advice. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[exnisstech]

What other fish are in the tank? Its tail looks like it may be damaged from aggression. #fishmedics

 

[Sharkbait19]

I agree - the behavior and damage is consistent with aggression.

 

[Duane family]

The pics are a bit dark so nothing other than the damaged fins can be seen from these pics.

I agree that this could be from aggression but it is very concerning that you were able to catch him fairly easy. This is not a good sign at all. Is it possible for you to post a short video so that we can see the rate of breathing. It could also all be fluke related.
Are there any other tangs, rabbit fish or similar in the tank who might also be breathing rapidly?

This definitely needs further investigation and a plan B incase of it being a parasite issue.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello! My husband and I have owned this purple tang for a little over a year. Recently, he has stopped eating, his fins look frayed and he appears to be breathing heavily too. He has been hiding more and barely comes out. Today, we decided to isolate him in an acclimation box. He didn’t put up a fight when we went to catch him. We tried feeding him nori soaked in garlic, mysis, reef jerky, and our own home blend soaked in Selcon. Doesn’t appear interested in any of it. We don’t want to lose him and are now trying to seek some advice. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Fish has ich and will need treatment using coppersafe in separate tank at 2.25 for full 30 days monitored with Hanna brand copper test kit and monitor ammonia level with reliable ammonia test kit
Other fish exposed too should be treated
Is fish breathing normal or labored?

 

[begottenangel90]

What other fish are in the tank? Its tail looks like it may be damaged from aggression. #fishmedics

There is a gem tang, tomini tang, sailfin tang, Cortez stingray, coral cat shark, zebra eel, and 2 bullet gobies. The gem tang and the tomini have been tank mates the entire time. The gem tang and purple have existed in 2 tanks with each other with the only aggression being around minor territorial tail wacking (expected and has happened for over a year with no real damage or issues). Nothing has really changed in terms of layout in months and no new introductions in recent time.

 

[begottenangel90]

Fish has ich and will need treatment using coppersafe in separate tank at 2.25 for full 30 days monitored with Hanna brand copper test kit and monitor ammonia level with reliable ammonia test kit
Other fish exposed too should be treated
Is fish breathing normal or labored?

Fish has ich and will need treatment using coppersafe in separate tank at 2.25 for full 30 days monitored with Hanna brand copper test kit and monitor ammonia level with reliable ammonia test kit
Other fish exposed too should be treated
Is fish breathing normal or labored?

There are no visible white spots as far as we can tell. His breathing is quicker than normal. I tired posting a video but it wouldn’t allow playback so apologies for that.

 

[Uncle99]

There are no visible white spots as far as we can tell. His breathing is quicker than normal. I tired posting a video but it wouldn’t allow playback so apologies for that.

Get in a fight with someone?
Can happen at first, or way down the road sometimes.
I can’t tell if the spots are on the fish, or on the glass.

 

[vetteguy53081]

There are no visible white spots as far as we can tell. His breathing is quicker than normal. I tired posting a video but it wouldn’t allow playback so apologies for that.

Please repost pic under bright white light intensity- no blue
If there are spots on the glass, with blue Will appear to be on the fish

 

[MnFish1]

There is a gem tang, tomini tang, sailfin tang, Cortez stingray, coral cat shark, zebra eel, and 2 bullet gobies. The gem tang and the tomini have been tank mates the entire time. The gem tang and purple have existed in 2 tanks with each other with the only aggression being around minor territorial tail wacking (expected and has happened for over a year with no real damage or issues). Nothing has really changed in terms of layout in months and no new introductions in recent time.

Were there any other stressors in the tank that may have weakened the fish? That could have led to ich? I personally do not see spots- but the photos are suboptimal. Bottom line - IMHO treat for bacteria and Ci - Realize that fish under stress can show multiple color patterns - though I don't think this is related

 

[vetteguy53081]

There are no visible white spots as far as we can tell. His breathing is quicker than normal. I tired posting a video but it wouldn’t allow playback so apologies for that.

Try a you tube version which is cooperative and clear. If other fish are doing well, I rule out bacterial but purple also susceptible to flukes but too many guesses without clear video for assessment

 

[begottenangel90]

Please repost pic under bright white light intensity- no blue
If there are spots on the glass, with blue Will appear to be on the fish

Lights are as white as we can get them. The bottom of the acclimation tank is blue, which may be messing with the photos. There are some bubbles on the container he’s in, not on his body.

 

[begottenangel90]

https://share.icloud.com/photos/089IoFKWg2vp6W5oIB8htr6nQ

 

[LPS Bum]

If it’s just aggression that caused the fin damage then it’s good that you were able to isolate him in the box, to stop the attack. Hard to tell if it’s ich in the second set of pics.

If possible I’d definitely get him into a hospital tank. There he can settle down without any competition for food and without any aggression from tank mates. You can then treat with copper (if it’s Crypt), Prazi or freshwater dips (for flukes, which can cause fin damage) and antibiotics (post treatment for ich and flukes) if necessary.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello! My husband and I have owned this purple tang for a little over a year. Recently, he has stopped eating, his fins look frayed and he appears to be breathing heavily too. He has been hiding more and barely comes out. Today, we decided to isolate him in an acclimation box. He didn’t put up a fight when we went to catch him. We tried feeding him nori soaked in garlic, mysis, reef jerky, and our own home blend soaked in Selcon. Doesn’t appear interested in any of it. We don’t want to lose him and are now trying to seek some advice. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I can't tell if the white spots are on the fish or on the surfaces of the box, if the latter, then it isn't ich. Also, the not eating isn't a sign of ich, not in these early stages.

The fin damage can be a result of tankmate aggression, but you would probably see that, and then, that wouldn't cause rapid breathing and not eating, unless there is a secondary bacterial infection as a result of those injuries.

Can you post a video? That would help me judge the respiration rate. Also, if you can get some video of the other fish, I might be able to see if they are starting to breath fast as well (a sign of tank-wide disease).

This might be gill flukes - that's really the only disease that is going to show up on a fish after this length of time.

I doubt that the fish will recover on its own in this box - that is just going to add to stress (but it will isolate the fish if it has been attacked by other fish).

 

[begottenangel90]

Update: We ended up moving him to another tank and he started eating again after a day or so! He’s also back to his usual intimidating self, making sure his tank mates know he’s the boss. His fins seem to be healing too. Thank you all for your advice and support!

 

[Uncle99]

Update: We ended up moving him to another tank and he started eating again after a day or so! He’s also back to his usual intimidating self, making sure his tank mates know he’s the boss. His fins seem to be healing too. Thank you all for your advice and support!

Now that’s a great ending!
Enjoy!