Purple Tang with Eye problem

[temphermitcrab]

Hi Everyone,

I have a captive bred Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) that has a problem/injury to his left eye. "His" name is Kareem, he's a little over a year old, and this morning his eye is cloudy and looks like something is protruding from it - it looks like an injury to me. He has had some minor scratches in the past but no other issues. I don't see any other marks, or white dots, or anything fuzzy. His color appears normal but he seems more lethargic. His diet is the algae on the rocks, x-small TDO Chroma Boost pellets (meant for the small fish) in the morning, Reef Plankton or Mysis shrimp for lunch, and small TDO Chroma Boost pellets later in the day. Occasionally I feed them Algae pellets as well. I also have a White Tail Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus flavicauda) that was introduced at the same time as the Purple Tang. The two Tang's each have their own place to sleep if they want, but they always sleep together instead. The Purple Tang was smaller to start but is now larger. They don't usually fight and follow each other around, so I 'm not sure if it's a problem with the White Tail Tang. The only other interaction is when the Vanderbilt's occasionally bug the Tang's if they hang out near their home's too long but when the Tang's chase them it almost looks like playing and not necessarily stressful. There are also some vermetid snails that are sharp and could cause an issue.

The fish were all quarantined by Dr. Reef or Marine Collectors. In order of adding we have 4 x Vanderbilt Chromis, 2 x C-Quest Onyx Clownfish, Lavender-blushed Firefish (Nemateleotris lavandula) - formerly Helfrichi, African Midas Blenny, and a Captive-Bred Purple Tang and White Tail Tang that were added at the same time 1 year ago. All have their own place to sleep/hide.

Aquarium Parameters - other than the slow addition of white light (currently 20 minutes) nothing below has changed in 2 months or more.
Aquarium type: Reef
Aquarium water volume: 104 gallons
Filtration type: ReefMatt 500, Reef Octopus Regal 150INT 6” DC skimmer, Chaeto in the sump with microfauna, 3 x Vortech MP 40's set at Reef Crest 90% during daylight and Lagoon 20% at night.
Lighting: 4 x Radion XR-15 Blue and 1 x Kessil A360 - set at AB+ 45% for 12 hours + phasing in White period currently 20 minutes.
How long has the aquarium been established? 1 1/2 years with 95% dry rock and 5% live rock from prior 10 y/o tank.
Digital image of the whole aquarium under white light:

Water quality (be sure to indicate what measurement units you are using, as well as the test kit brand)
Temperature: 77.5 to 78 measured with Apex and Red Sea
pH: 8.15 to 8.40 daily measured with Apex
Salinity / specific gravity: 1.026 measured with Tropic Marin Hydrometer

Alk: 8.9 dKH tested daily using Hanna Test Kit
Ca: 460 ppm tested ~ every 3 days using Red Sea Test Kit
Mg: 1475 ppm (prefer 1400) tested every 1-3 days using Hanna Test Kit
Nitrate: 11.3 ppb (via dosing NeoNitro 17ml/day) tested every 3 days using Hanna Test Kit
Phosphate: .08 ppm tested every 3 days using Hanna Test Kit
Copper: 1.08 μg/l from ICP
SAC 254: 5.4 m-1 from ICP
Other tests that have been done (if any): ATI ICP done on 10/9/24 to establish Moonshiner Trace elements. MS ICP on 12/8/24 and 2/20/25 for no detection elements plus check Moonshiner Trace parameters.

Auto Dose: Brightwell 2-part A+B, Magnesion, Neo-Nitro - each very slowly adjusted if testing shows low/high.
Daily Moonshiner doses of Manganese, Cobalt, Chromium, Iodine, Vanadium, and Selenium. Previous correction doses of Rubidium, Iron, Nickel, Potassium, Bromide, Zinc, Boron, and Fluoride.
Daily Phytoplankton 45 ml, Microbacter 7 4 ml, Brightwell Amino 2 ml.
Weekly 10 % water changes using HW Marinemix Salt

In-depth information:
Have you lost any fish to this problem yet? No fish deaths ever.
Are any invertebrates affected? No deaths at all. I have a 12 y/o Hermit Crab.
Respiration rate of affected fish (in gill beats per minutes, count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4) - maybe 70...
Is the affected fish still feeding? No. Possibly a secondary symptom.
What remedies have you tried so far? Nothing other than watching for changes in symptoms.
Digital image of the fish with the health issue, taken under white light - please see the shared video. I took the video quickly to get this post completed but I can adjust lighting and take another if needed.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi Everyone,

I have a captive bred Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) that has a problem/injury to his left eye. "His" name is Kareem, he's a little over a year old, and this morning his eye is cloudy and looks like something is protruding from it - it looks like an injury to me. He has had some minor scratches in the past but no other issues. I don't see any other marks, or white dots, or anything fuzzy. His color appears normal but he seems more lethargic. His diet is the algae on the rocks, x-small TDO Chroma Boost pellets (meant for the small fish) in the morning, Reef Plankton or Mysis shrimp for lunch, and small TDO Chroma Boost pellets later in the day. Occasionally I feed them Algae pellets as well. I also have a White Tail Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus flavicauda) that was introduced at the same time as the Purple Tang. The two Tang's each have their own place to sleep if they want, but they always sleep together instead. The Purple Tang was smaller to start but is now larger. They don't usually fight and follow each other around, so I 'm not sure if it's a problem with the White Tail Tang. The only other interaction is when the Vanderbilt's occasionally bug the Tang's if they hang out near their home's too long but when the Tang's chase them it almost looks like playing and not necessarily stressful. There are also some vermetid snails that are sharp and could cause an issue.

The fish were all quarantined by Dr. Reef or Marine Collectors. In order of adding we have 4 x Vanderbilt Chromis, 2 x C-Quest Onyx Clownfish, Lavender-blushed Firefish (Nemateleotris lavandula) - formerly Helfrichi, African Midas Blenny, and a Captive-Bred Purple Tang and White Tail Tang that were added at the same time 1 year ago. All have their own place to sleep/hide.

Aquarium Parameters - other than the slow addition of white light (currently 20 minutes) nothing below has changed in 2 months or more.
Aquarium type: Reef
Aquarium water volume: 104 gallons
Filtration type: ReefMatt 500, Reef Octopus Regal 150INT 6” DC skimmer, Chaeto in the sump with microfauna, 3 x Vortech MP 40's set at Reef Crest 90% during daylight and Lagoon 20% at night.
Lighting: 4 x Radion XR-15 Blue and 1 x Kessil A360 - set at AB+ 45% for 12 hours + phasing in White period currently 20 minutes.
How long has the aquarium been established? 1 1/2 years with 95% dry rock and 5% live rock from prior 10 y/o tank.
Digital image of the whole aquarium under white light:

Water quality (be sure to indicate what measurement units you are using, as well as the test kit brand)
Temperature: 77.5 to 78 measured with Apex and Red Sea
pH: 8.15 to 8.40 daily measured with Apex
Salinity / specific gravity: 1.026 measured with Tropic Marin Hydrometer

Alk: 8.9 dKH tested daily using Hanna Test Kit
Ca: 460 ppm tested ~ every 3 days using Red Sea Test Kit
Mg: 1475 ppm (prefer 1400) tested every 1-3 days using Hanna Test Kit
Nitrate: 11.3 ppb (via dosing NeoNitro 17ml/day) tested every 3 days using Hanna Test Kit
Phosphate: .08 ppm tested every 3 days using Hanna Test Kit
Copper: 1.08 μg/l from ICP
SAC 254: 5.4 m-1 from ICP
Other tests that have been done (if any): ATI ICP done on 10/9/24 to establish Moonshiner Trace elements. MS ICP on 12/8/24 and 2/20/25 for no detection elements plus check Moonshiner Trace parameters.

Auto Dose: Brightwell 2-part A+B, Magnesion, Neo-Nitro - each very slowly adjusted if testing shows low/high.
Daily Moonshiner doses of Manganese, Cobalt, Chromium, Iodine, Vanadium, and Selenium. Previous correction doses of Rubidium, Iron, Nickel, Potassium, Bromide, Zinc, Boron, and Fluoride.
Daily Phytoplankton 45 ml, Microbacter 7 4 ml, Brightwell Amino 2 ml.
Weekly 10 % water changes using HW Marinemix Salt

In-depth information:
Have you lost any fish to this problem yet? No fish deaths ever.
Are any invertebrates affected? No deaths at all. I have a 12 y/o Hermit Crab.
Respiration rate of affected fish (in gill beats per minutes, count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4) - maybe 70...
Is the affected fish still feeding? No. Possibly a secondary symptom.
What remedies have you tried so far? Nothing other than watching for changes in symptoms.
Digital image of the fish with the health issue, taken under white light - please see the shared video. I took the video quickly to get this post completed but I can adjust lighting and take another if needed.

Both eyes are affected and likely from poor water quality such as high ammonia but not ruling out mechanical injury from glass or rocks. Move fish to a separate sterile tank with fresh seawater and add air stone and treat with maracyn as pictured below. Add air stone during treatment and monitor ammonia with a reliable test kit

 

[temphermitcrab]

@vetteguy53081 thank you for the quick reply.

I just checked the Ammonia with an API test kit and it shows zero. I never check Ammonia so I hope it's not that. I did have a 24 hour power outage 1 1/2 months ago and nothing large died but it's possible bacteria and micro fauna did die because my other parameters were not as stable as they usually are for a couple weeks. I thought if my water was clean enough for healthy Acros that the fish were good, but maybe that doesn't mean anything.

I have a couple of questions if that's ok.

I called a local lfs and they said they have Maracyn (Active ingredient: Erythromycin) and Maracyn Two (Active ingredient: Minocycline). Should I use the regular Maracyn?

I haven't had to move the Tang since he was added to the tank and I don't want to hurt him. At that time I was able to use gloves (to hopefully not get stabbed) to pick him up by hand since he was easy to grab in the small bag. I doubt he will let me do that in the DT. Should I use a net?

For the hospital tank should I rely 100% on water changes to keep the water clean or should I purchase either a HOB filter and/or filter sponge. Would adding cycle bacteria help at all?

 

[vetteguy53081]

@vetteguy53081 thank you for the quick reply.

I just checked the Ammonia with an API test kit and it shows zero. I never check Ammonia so I hope it's not that. I did have a 24 hour power outage 1 1/2 months ago and nothing large died but it's possible bacteria and micro fauna did die because my other parameters were not as stable as they usually are for a couple weeks. I thought if my water was clean enough for healthy Acros that the fish were good, but maybe that doesn't mean anything.

I have a couple of questions if that's ok.

I called a local lfs and they said they have Maracyn (Active ingredient: Erythromycin) and Maracyn Two (Active ingredient: Minocycline). Should I use the regular Maracyn?

I haven't had to move the Tang since he was added to the tank and I don't want to hurt him. At that time I was able to use gloves (to hopefully not get stabbed) to pick him up by hand since he was easy to grab in the small bag. I doubt he will let me do that in the DT. Should I use a net?

For the hospital tank should I rely 100% on water changes to keep the water clean or should I purchase either a HOB filter and/or filter sponge. Would adding cycle bacteria help at all?

No maracyn two and api almost always shows Zero. Please invest in hanna or salifert tests. Take a water sample to an LFS that does not test with Api or spintest and see what readings they come up with.
A fine net is best but you can use a larger cup to entrap it also

 

[temphermitcrab]

Understood about API test. API was from emergency stash and will get a better test kit.
Will buy Maracyn Two.
I trust the diagnosis but I'm nervous as the implementer.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi Everyone,

I have a captive bred Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) that has a problem/injury to his left eye. "His" name is Kareem, he's a little over a year old, and this morning his eye is cloudy and looks like something is protruding from it - it looks like an injury to me. He has had some minor scratches in the past but no other issues. I don't see any other marks, or white dots, or anything fuzzy. His color appears normal but he seems more lethargic. His diet is the algae on the rocks, x-small TDO Chroma Boost pellets (meant for the small fish) in the morning, Reef Plankton or Mysis shrimp for lunch, and small TDO Chroma Boost pellets later in the day. Occasionally I feed them Algae pellets as well. I also have a White Tail Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus flavicauda) that was introduced at the same time as the Purple Tang. The two Tang's each have their own place to sleep if they want, but they always sleep together instead. The Purple Tang was smaller to start but is now larger. They don't usually fight and follow each other around, so I 'm not sure if it's a problem with the White Tail Tang. The only other interaction is when the Vanderbilt's occasionally bug the Tang's if they hang out near their home's too long but when the Tang's chase them it almost looks like playing and not necessarily stressful. There are also some vermetid snails that are sharp and could cause an issue.

The fish were all quarantined by Dr. Reef or Marine Collectors. In order of adding we have 4 x Vanderbilt Chromis, 2 x C-Quest Onyx Clownfish, Lavender-blushed Firefish (Nemateleotris lavandula) - formerly Helfrichi, African Midas Blenny, and a Captive-Bred Purple Tang and White Tail Tang that were added at the same time 1 year ago. All have their own place to sleep/hide.

Aquarium Parameters - other than the slow addition of white light (currently 20 minutes) nothing below has changed in 2 months or more.
Aquarium type: Reef
Aquarium water volume: 104 gallons
Filtration type: ReefMatt 500, Reef Octopus Regal 150INT 6” DC skimmer, Chaeto in the sump with microfauna, 3 x Vortech MP 40's set at Reef Crest 90% during daylight and Lagoon 20% at night.
Lighting: 4 x Radion XR-15 Blue and 1 x Kessil A360 - set at AB+ 45% for 12 hours + phasing in White period currently 20 minutes.
How long has the aquarium been established? 1 1/2 years with 95% dry rock and 5% live rock from prior 10 y/o tank.
Digital image of the whole aquarium under white light:

Water quality (be sure to indicate what measurement units you are using, as well as the test kit brand)
Temperature: 77.5 to 78 measured with Apex and Red Sea
pH: 8.15 to 8.40 daily measured with Apex
Salinity / specific gravity: 1.026 measured with Tropic Marin Hydrometer

Alk: 8.9 dKH tested daily using Hanna Test Kit
Ca: 460 ppm tested ~ every 3 days using Red Sea Test Kit
Mg: 1475 ppm (prefer 1400) tested every 1-3 days using Hanna Test Kit
Nitrate: 11.3 ppb (via dosing NeoNitro 17ml/day) tested every 3 days using Hanna Test Kit
Phosphate: .08 ppm tested every 3 days using Hanna Test Kit
Copper: 1.08 μg/l from ICP
SAC 254: 5.4 m-1 from ICP
Other tests that have been done (if any): ATI ICP done on 10/9/24 to establish Moonshiner Trace elements. MS ICP on 12/8/24 and 2/20/25 for no detection elements plus check Moonshiner Trace parameters.

Auto Dose: Brightwell 2-part A+B, Magnesion, Neo-Nitro - each very slowly adjusted if testing shows low/high.
Daily Moonshiner doses of Manganese, Cobalt, Chromium, Iodine, Vanadium, and Selenium. Previous correction doses of Rubidium, Iron, Nickel, Potassium, Bromide, Zinc, Boron, and Fluoride.
Daily Phytoplankton 45 ml, Microbacter 7 4 ml, Brightwell Amino 2 ml.
Weekly 10 % water changes using HW Marinemix Salt

In-depth information:
Have you lost any fish to this problem yet? No fish deaths ever.
Are any invertebrates affected? No deaths at all. I have a 12 y/o Hermit Crab.
Respiration rate of affected fish (in gill beats per minutes, count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4) - maybe 70...
Is the affected fish still feeding? No. Possibly a secondary symptom.
What remedies have you tried so far? Nothing other than watching for changes in symptoms.
Digital image of the fish with the health issue, taken under white light - please see the shared video. I took the video quickly to get this post completed but I can adjust lighting and take another if needed.

Thanks for the in-depth reports, but the video is too blue and too short to really diagnose much.

I couldn't tell, are both eyes cloudy, or is one totally fine?

The fish not feeding is odd, if this were just an injury, it should still be trying to feed.

 

[temphermitcrab]

@Jay Hemdal
Hi. I uploaded another video with hopefully better lighting - it's hard to get a clear closeup of both eyes. I don't see cloudiness in the right eye. Correction about eating: I just fed them small pellets and he ate, he's just not really grazing on the rocks.


Thanks!

 

[Jay Hemdal]

@Jay Hemdal
Hi. I uploaded another video with hopefully better lighting - it's hard to get a clear closeup of both eyes. I don't see cloudiness in the right eye. Correction about eating: I just fed them small pellets and he ate, he's just not really grazing on the rocks.


Thanks!

Good, I just wanted to rule eye flukes that would cause both eyes to be cloudy. This is most likely just a strike injury. They can take a long time to heal though (30 days or so in some cases).

 

[temphermitcrab]

Hi All,

I put my tang in the hospital tank today with 2 packets of the Maracyn Two per 10 gal. Hopefully this will help.

The directions don’t assume any water changes and say on day two through five to add another packet and then a water change on day six. If I change the water 100% daily should I dose the fresh salt water with 2 packets per 10 gal.?

Thanks!

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi All,

I put my tang in the hospital tank today with 2 packets of the Maracyn Two per 10 gal. Hopefully this will help.

The directions don’t assume any water changes and say on day two through five to add another packet and then a water change on day six. If I change the water 100% daily should I dose the fresh salt water with 2 packets per 10 gal.?

Thanks!

Maracyn 2 is a minocycline antibiotic. Those do not work well in marine systems (the calcium limits their benefit). In most cases, Maracyn 1 (Erythromycin) is used for eye issues.

 

[temphermitcrab]

I may have misunderstood the recommendation above. I thought I confirmed I was buying Maracyn Two before I made the trip and spent the money. I can buy regular Maracyn tomorrow. My local LFS with Maracyn is fairly far so that’s the soonest. I hope the delay or Maracyn Two will not negatively affect the outcome.

As far as the dose question I had. How do you recommend that I dose when I do daily 100% water changes?

Thanks!

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I may have misunderstood the recommendation above. I thought I confirmed I was buying Maracyn Two before I made the trip and spent the money. I can buy regular Maracyn tomorrow. My local LFS with Maracyn is fairly far so that’s the soonest. I hope the delay or Maracyn Two will not negatively affect the outcome.

As far as the dose question I had. How do you recommend that I dose when I do daily 100% water changes?

Thanks!

The pictures of the products in the earlier post is the product you want: "Maracyn". We call it Maracyn 1 just to tell it from Maracyn 2.

 

[temphermitcrab]

Hi All,

The Tang has now been in the Hospital Tank for 8 days. After one day of Maracyn 2 I've treated our Tang with one full treatment of Maracyn 1 (5 days) and one day of no treatment. The directions state that I can treat him again with another round of Maracyn 1 if needed. I've shared videos below of the eye 2 days ago, yesterday, and today. It's hard to tell in the videos but I would describe the eye as no longer cloudy, it no longer appears to have something sticking out from it, it did have what looked like blood in it two days ago but I'm not seeing that now, and the pop-eye looks to have turned into a "bubble" near the back of the eye. He's eating and swimming ok but mostly sticking to one side of the tank. Could one of you please let me know if you think I should continue to leave him in the hospital tank and if I should continue with the medication.

Latest videos - still hard to get great quality.
Day 5


Day 6


Day 7 (today)


Thanks!

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi All,

The Tang has now been in the Hospital Tank for 8 days. After one day of Maracyn 2 I've treated our Tang with one full treatment of Maracyn 1 (5 days) and one day of no treatment. The directions state that I can treat him again with another round of Maracyn 1 if needed. I've shared videos below of the eye 2 days ago, yesterday, and today. It's hard to tell in the videos but I would describe the eye as no longer cloudy, it no longer appears to have something sticking out from it, it did have what looked like blood in it two days ago but I'm not seeing that now, and the pop-eye looks to have turned into a "bubble" near the back of the eye. He's eating and swimming ok but mostly sticking to one side of the tank. Could one of you please let me know if you think I should continue to leave him in the hospital tank and if I should continue with the medication.

Latest videos - still hard to get great quality.
Day 5


Day 6


Day 7 (today)


Thanks!

It looks much better. Gas bubbles in the eye can persist for a long time, and won't typically respond to antibiotic treatment - the fish needs to (hopefully) reabsorb the gas. Sometimes, it just doesn't do that, and can actually get worse. That seems to be a physical trauma issue.

 

[temphermitcrab]

@Jay Hemdal
Thanks for the reply. Would you suggest that he remain in the hospital tank without antibiotics or would he be happier back in the DT?

Thanks

 

[Jay Hemdal]

@Jay Hemdal
Thanks for the reply. Would you suggest that he remain in the hospital tank without antibiotics or would he be happier back in the DT?

Thanks

Unless there is a water quality issue in the hospital tank, or some other reason to hurry things, I would hold the tang out of the DT for another 14 days, just to be sure things are getting better. Also, netting and moving a fish is one common cause of eye damage, so you don't want to make it worse just when it is looking better.