Sick hippo tang

[Ray D]

Our hippo tang in our 80 gallon tank has a new grayish growth above its eye. This is a veteran fish that has hung in there for eight years without any problems. No recent change of conditions, due for a water change but holding off until I figure out next steps. Water salinity is right in the range. Guy at local aquarium store is recommending treatment with Minn-Fin.
Suggestions? Many thanks!

 

[fishguy242]

#fishmedic

 

[vetteguy53081]

Our hippo tang in our 80 gallon tank has a new grayish growth above its eye. This is a veteran fish that has hung in there for eight years without any problems. No recent change of conditions, due for a water change but holding off until I figure out next steps. Water salinity is right in the range. Guy at local aquarium store is recommending treatment with Minn-Fin.
Suggestions? Many thanks!

Very hard pic to work with but appears to be bacterial. I recommend assuming you are in the USA,,,, Seachem Kanaplex

 

[Ray D]

Very hard pic to work with but appears to be bacterial. I recommend assuming you are in the USA,,,, Seachem Kanaplex

I’ll post a better pic thank you

 

[Ray D]

A better pic hopefully thank you

 

[Ray D]

I also noticed two large dead snails in the tank which I removed. There is a live snail as well. I am adding supplemental aeration. Will change water tomorrow.

 

[W31Olds]

How quickly did this occur? Is his behavior changed? Is this only on the one side?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I also noticed two large dead snails in the tank which I removed. There is a live snail as well. I am adding supplemental aeration. Will change water tomorrow.

Which points to water and still recommend in separate tank - Seachem Kanaplex

 

[Ray D]

How quickly did this occur? Is his behavior changed? Is this only on the one side?

Quickly, over the last day. Seems to have diminished appetite, lethargic. Just one side.

 

[W31Olds]

I would also recommend separating him in a QT Tank with new water. As Vette indicated, Kanaplex.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I would also recommend separating him in a QT Tank with new water. As Vette indicated, Kanaplex.

That was mentioned....... still recommend in separate tank - Seachem Kanaplex

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Our hippo tang in our 80 gallon tank has a new grayish growth above its eye. This is a veteran fish that has hung in there for eight years without any problems. No recent change of conditions, due for a water change but holding off until I figure out next steps. Water salinity is right in the range. Guy at local aquarium store is recommending treatment with Minn-Fin.
Suggestions? Many thanks!

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I agree, this is probably bacterial.
Skip the Minn Finn, that is a peroxide anti-protozoan treatment and is not indicated in this case for sure.

 

[Ray D]

Which points to water and still recommend in separate tank - Seachem Kanaplex

I would also recommend separating him in a QT Tank with new water. As Vette indicated, Kanaplex.

Thank you very much. We have the Kanaplex and a 20 gal hospital tank. Have not gone the hospital tank route before and am wondering if there is an existing post that will give me the basic protocols. For example, new water only, no water from old tank? How frequent water changes? Any special protocols for this type of medication?
Many thanks,
Ray

 

[Ray D]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I agree, this is probably bacterial.
Skip the Minn Finn, that is a peroxide anti-protozoan treatment and is not indicated in this case for sure.

Thanks, we went with Kanaplex on the advice of several members. I’m looking for, perhaps, an existing post that will walk me through the protocols, whether to use new water only or mix of tank/new water, how frequently to change, whether I should fresh water dip first. I did look but didn’t find one.
He is not eating and seems lethargic so I’d prefer to avoid any additional stressors if possible, beyond the necessary stress
Of capture and removal to a new tank.

Thank you!
Ray

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks, we went with Kanaplex on the advice of several members. I’m looking for, perhaps, an existing post that will walk me through the protocols, whether to use new water only or mix of tank/new water, how frequently to change, whether I should fresh water dip first. I did look but didn’t find one.
He is not eating and seems lethargic so I’d prefer to avoid any additional stressors if possible, beyond the necessary stress
Of capture and removal to a new tank.

Thank you!
Ray

Using fresh tank water (not old tank), run an air stone and apply Kanaplex per directions. Monitor ammonia levels during treatment with a reliable test kit such as Hanna or salifert Brand and change water accordingly if test shows level above .025

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks, we went with Kanaplex on the advice of several members. I’m looking for, perhaps, an existing post that will walk me through the protocols, whether to use new water only or mix of tank/new water, how frequently to change, whether I should fresh water dip first. I did look but didn’t find one.
He is not eating and seems lethargic so I’d prefer to avoid any additional stressors if possible, beyond the necessary stress
Of capture and removal to a new tank.

Thank you!
Ray

Sorry - I was offline overnight....

Don't give a FW dip, that's for external parasites and this isn't that sort of an issue.

I would set up a hospital tank with water that is has the same parameters as the display, so that you can just move the fish over with no need to acclimate. Then, the Kanaplex treatment is up to 8 days - three doses, two days apart.

 

[Ray D]

Sorry - I was offline overnight....

Don't give a FW dip, that's for external parasites and this isn't that sort of an issue.

I would set up a hospital tank with water that is has the same parameters as the display, so that you can just move the fish over with no need to acclimate. Then, the Kanaplex treatment is up to 8 days - three doses, two days apart.

Thank you. I will keep the forum posted and get a better pic of the tang once it is in the hospital tank. The lesion seems to have spread some but the tang’s behavior is the same.
One other unusual thing is a goby in the display tank, that normally keeps a very low profile to the point where you’re not sure it’s even there, is swimming around the top and center of the tank. Hungry, perhaps, but I have given it food and it is continuing to swim in the open. Is that a tell of some kind?

 

[Ray D]

Using fresh tank water (not old tank), run an air stone and apply Kanaplex per directions. Monitor ammonia levels during treatment with a reliable test kit such as Hanna or salifert Brand and change water accordingly if test shows level above .025

Thank you! It has been many years since I’ve run a hospital tank, and never for salt water fish. So I greatly appreciate your advice.
Ray

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you. I will keep the forum posted and get a better pic of the tang once it is in the hospital tank. The lesion seems to have spread some but the tang’s behavior is the same.
One other unusual thing is a goby in the display tank, that normally keeps a very low profile to the point where you’re not sure it’s even there, is swimming around the top and center of the tank. Hungry, perhaps, but I have given it food and it is continuing to swim in the open. Is that a tell of some kind?

Did the goby eat the offered food? If not, then that is a sign of stress called "piping". If it ate well, then it was probably just anticipatory behavior, like you said, waiting to be fed.

 

[Ray D]

Did the goby eat the offered food? If not, then that is a sign of stress called "piping". If it ate well, then it was probably just anticipatory behavior, like you said, waiting to be fed.

it did eat the food but is now swimming about the tank randomly after the food is gone, very uncharacteristic.
The tang is in the hospital tank which has been dosed with Kanaplex. Plenty of fight in the little guy as evidenced from the difficulty netting him in the display tank. Now we have a better view of the lesions and they are not pretty. Also some tail fin deterioration. Pix below. Hope this works!
Thank you for your sound advice!