What could be going on with my tang

[solo501]

I found my brown powder tang laying sideways this morning from what I googled he could have been sleeping. He is still on his side he is breathing I have done a freshwater dip for any parasites attacking the gills but nothing is helping I don’t know what to do. All water parameters have stayed the same

 

[Blennioidei]

#fishmedic

 

[BryanM]

Generally the folks that help would like 15-30 seconds of video under white lights, posted to youtube and linked back here so they can see the fishes behavior.

Also listing current tank parameters is helpful.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I found my brown powder tang laying sideways this morning from what I googled he could have been sleeping. He is still on his side he is breathing I have done a freshwater dip for any parasites attacking the gills but nothing is helping I don’t know what to do. All water parameters have stayed the same

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Google didn’t work too well here, fish don’t sleep like that during the day.

Sorry, but your fish is moribund, actively dying. Or is breathing really fast and doesn’t have the strength to swim upright.

I don’t think there is much you will be able to do for it, but damage control would be to try and save any other fish that might be in the same tank.

What other fish are in the tank?
What are the basic water quality values?
How long did you have this fish?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I found my brown powder tang laying sideways this morning from what I googled he could have been sleeping. He is still on his side he is breathing I have done a freshwater dip for any parasites attacking the gills but nothing is helping I don’t know what to do. All water parameters have stayed the same

Unfortunately, fish wont eat or swim moving forward

 

[solo501]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Google didn’t work too well here, fish don’t sleep like that during the day.

Sorry, but your fish is moribund, actively dying. Or is breathing really fast and doesn’t have the strength to swim upright.

I don’t think there is much you will be able to do for it, but damage control would be to try and save any other fish that might be in the same tank.

What other fish are in the tank?
What are the basic water quality values?
How long did you have this fish?

Do you think the issue lies with the fish or my tank? Do you think it’s okay for me to get more tangs or no?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Do you think the issue lies with the fish or my tank? Do you think it’s okay for me to get more tangs or no?

Please take a look at the questions at the end of my post - I need to know more about the situation.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Do you think the issue lies with the fish or my tank? Do you think it’s okay for me to get more tangs or no?

I'd hold off until you identify the cause and symptoms such as loss of appetite, breathing rate, itching/scratching as examples

 

[solo501]

Please take a look at the questions at the end of my post - I need to know more about the situation.

I have had it for 11 days he was in a tank alone at the store I have a clown pair of Perculas I have a yellow watchman and pistol shrimp. Ammonia and nitrite are 0 nitrate is 5-7 phosphate.5 and ph 8

 

[solo501]

Please take a look at the questions at the end of my post - I need to know more about the situation. He is now swimming around I have to have the tank in low flow for him to not have to fight the current. He’s making slow laps around the tank

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Did it survive the night?

It sounds like the issue is restricted to just this fish. Given the short time that you had it, I suspect there was some health issue when you got it. A surprising number of fish don't survive the first 40 days in captivity - for this species, it could be around 25% or so.

 

[solo501]

Did it survive the night?

It sounds like the issue is restricted to just this fish. Given the short time that you had it, I suspect there was some health issue when you got it. A surprising number of fish don't survive the first 40 days in captivity - for this species, it could be around 25% or so.

It did survive the night. It is now sideways again though. He was swimming fine til about 11 am

 

[solo501]

Did it survive the night?

It sounds like the issue is restricted to just this fish. Given the short time that you had it, I suspect there was some health issue when you got it. A surprising number of fish don't survive the first 40 days in captivity - for this species, it could be around 25% or so.

Do you think it could be swim bladder?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Do you think it could be swim bladder?

No - it’s not a swim bladder issue, that doesn’t cause rapid breathing and not eating.

Do you have a treatment tank available?

 

[solo501]

No - it’s not a swim bladder issue, that doesn’t cause rapid breathing and not eating.

Do you have a treatment tank available?

I have a 2.5 gallon I treat and quarantine corals in

 

[winxp_man]

I have a 2.5 gallon I treat and quarantine corals in

I would recommend you get a system to properly QT fish from here on out.

Petco has great deals if you’re state side. They have 20 long tanks on sale all the time. If you order online and pickup in store you can get an extra 10% off. With that said a 20long is the perfect tank if you have room to set it up.

For HOB (hang on back) Filter I use the Fluval AC50. It comes with a few things to it. I only use the bio sponge that comes with it. The rest is media and other filtration stuff that is not needed for a QT tank.

For more clear water and to help reduce algae bloom or bacterial blooms once the tank is set up. I use Aqua Top Intank UV. 7watt version works for the 20 long tank. The super nice extra benefit is it create great surface agitation for gas exchange to take place and get plenty of o2 in the tank water.

For heaters I have been using Ti heater for about 1.5 years now. Prior I have done the glass versions. But no longer. The most accurate heater I have to date is a IM Hilos controller and Finnex Ti heater. But there way cheaper system that can work. The Finnex with the built in controller is a bit cheaper and has a build in fail said for over heating from what I recall.

Light, as long as you can get something with bright white lights you’re good to go. And intend ti limit lights to 6 hours for fish.

Bacteria I like to use turbo start 900. Give is a few days before turning on the UV. Like the Aqua Top in tank UV because it has a UV light turnoff separate from the filter pump. So it can be used to again creat surface agitation. Since you’re at an emergency stage…. I would do water changes ever day after the first two three days. This will keep ammonia down while beneficial bacteria catches on to the HOB sponge and other surfaces it can. I actually started to do Genesis rock in my QT systems for. It does not absorb any copper.

Get copper power or copper safe.

For the fish some large 2-3” PVC fittings. Gives them hiding spots and less stress on the fish.

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Great info provided here Winxp!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have a 2.5 gallon I treat and quarantine corals in

Sorry, that’s really too small to treat that fish in. Take a look at winxp’s post…..

 

[solo501]

I would recommend you get a system to properly QT fish from here on out.

Petco has great deals if you’re state side. They have 20 long tanks on sale all the time. If you order online and pickup in store you can get an extra 10% off. With that said a 20long is the perfect tank if you have room to set it up.

For HOB (hang on back) Filter I use the Fluval AC50. It comes with a few things to it. I only use the bio sponge that comes with it. The rest is media and other filtration stuff that is not needed for a QT tank.

For more clear water and to help reduce algae bloom or bacterial blooms once the tank is set up. I use Aqua Top Intank UV. 7watt version works for the 20 long tank. The super nice extra benefit is it create great surface agitation for gas exchange to take place and get plenty of o2 in the tank water.

For heaters I have been using Ti heater for about 1.5 years now. Prior I have done the glass versions. But no longer. The most accurate heater I have to date is a IM Hilos controller and Finnex Ti heater. But there way cheaper system that can work. The Finnex with the built in controller is a bit cheaper and has a build in fail said for over heating from what I recall.

Light, as long as you can get something with bright white lights you’re good to go. And intend ti limit lights to 6 hours for fish.

Bacteria I like to use turbo start 900. Give is a few days before turning on the UV. Like the Aqua Top in tank UV because it has a UV light turnoff separate from the filter pump. So it can be used to again creat surface agitation. Since you’re at an emergency stage…. I would do water changes ever day after the first two three days. This will keep ammonia down while beneficial bacteria catches on to the HOB sponge and other surfaces it can. I actually started to do Genesis rock in my QT systems for. It does not absorb any copper.

Get copper power or copper safe.

For the fish some large 2-3” PVC fittings. Gives them hiding spots and less stress on the fish.okay I’ll see what I can do about it. My space is like limited though