Sailfin Tang Disease?

[Kims' Reef]

Hello All!

A few days ago I noticed my Sailfin Tang has a rather large blotch, almost bleached like, on his side. I attached 2 images to this post. The skin/scales around his eye looks a bit bleached as well as his dorsal fin. It doesn't seem to protrude at all. I have had this fish for a little over a year, he has been eating and swimming the way he normally does. I have a bit of an aiptasia problem right now but this doesn't look like a sting to me. I also have a dwarf lionfish so it is a possibility he got pricked but this doesn't explain the discoloration, unless the wound got infected. Also, my tank is about 4 years old. I was wondering if anyone has any idea of what this could be, any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Big G]

Sometimes tangs and similar shaped fish will wedge themselves into rocks and night to sleep and the current will push them around a bit causing marks like these. Watch for signs of infection: redness, open sores, necrosis.

 

[Zionas]

I’d say observe.

Beautiful Tang btw!

 

[CCauthers]

The pale area around the eye could be a result of poor nutrition. How much and how often and what do you feed?

 

[Kims' Reef]

If that is the case I would be surprised because he eats every day. We give them either PE mysis, live portions of brine shrimp from LFS, cyclops, dried algae or flakes/pellets. He will also pick at algae although we don't have much.

 

[Kims' Reef]

I’d say observe.

Beautiful Tang btw!

Thanks!

 

[Zionas]

You’re welcome! My tank is far too small to house one of these, the best I can do would be a Bristletooth or maybe one of the smaller Zebrasomas like a yellow.

From what I know Sailfins are quite sturdy for tangs, hope everything’s gonna be okay!

 

[Kims' Reef]

Sometimes tangs and similar shaped fish will wedge themselves into rocks and night to sleep and the current will push them around a bit causing marks like these. Watch for signs of infection: redness, open sores, necrosis.

He definitely does this at night, it could be the problem. I appreciate the help!

 

[Kims' Reef]

You’re welcome! My tank is far too small to house one of these, the best I can do would be a Bristletooth or maybe one of the smaller Zebrasomas like a yellow.

From what I know Sailfins are quite sturdy for tangs, hope everything’s gonna be okay!

Yeah I hope so too he is my favorite fish. He is so inquisitive, always checking out what we are doing around the tank.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Bump up diet and as far as skin, melafix should help this heal up real nice.
Add vitamin such as Selcon to food and Garlic to foods. Feed at minimum:

Nori seaweed basted with garlic
Formula 2 flake and frozen
Mysis shrimp
Plankton
LRS herbivore diet
Spirulina brine shrimp

 

[Kims' Reef]

Bump up diet and as far as skin, melafix should help this heal up real nice.
Add vitamin such as Selcon to food and Garlic to foods. Feed at minimum:

Nori seaweed basted with garlic
Formula 2 flake and frozen
Mysis shrimp
Plankton
LRS herbivore diet
Spirulina brine shrimp

I will definitely do that. My brother has a freshwater tank and advised me to add melafix as well. Thanks for the help!

 

[Kims' Reef]

Well guys...all I have to say is never use API Pimafix or Melafix. Shortly after this post I added both into my tank, I used a little less than the dosage required for my tank... woke up the next morning to find ALL of my fish dead except for my 2 clownfish. My corals survived as did some of my snails/hermit crabs, but 6 of my otherwise healthy fish were killed within one dose in one night. I followed the directions and turned off my protein skimmer to prevent excessive bubbling. I used these products once a few years ago and did not have this problem. I looked into it and apparantly this is a common problem with API Melafix and Pimafix. Just thought I would give you guys a heads up. ☹