Yellow Tang laying on its side

[bluemon]

So my Biota Yellow Tang which I got 3 months ago is suddenly laying on its side, very lethargic.

Recent Changes:

Recently added a White Tail Bristletooth Tang and a Yellow Mimic Tang from Dr Reefs about a week ago. (The yellow tang is around 3 inches, the Bristletooth 5 inches, and mimic tang 2.5 inches)

This yellow tang was a bit aggressive towards the yellow mimic tang even with a mirror trick and a decoy tang, so I put it in the separation HOB tank for about two days, and released it back on Friday.

It was perfectly fine with the mimic tang after that, with only one tail swipe once or twice a day from the yellow tang to the mimic

On Sunday I noticed the slight tear in its back fin which it was healing from nicely this morning.

It was all fine up until around 7 today, when I noticed it was a bit “aloof” and would just swim in one spot and kinda glide around rather than aggressive zoomies it usually has.

Then around 8 today, I noticed it struggling to swim so I put it in the separation tank as you see in the picture and video.

It’s breathing slightly hard, ate well all today, and I could pick it up with little struggle.

What could this be? Maybe a concussion?

I don’t see any aggression towards this fish besides just a warning chase from the Bristletooth when it gets close to its cave.

 

[bluemon]

The tang was the boss of the tank,

The stock list for 125g (~11 years old)

Firefish
blue throat trigger
Swallowtail angel
Two clownfish
Yellow watchman goby
Royal gramma
White tail Bristletooth tang
Chocolate tang
Leopard wrasse

Never had any disease, all fish QTed or from Dr reefs (two recent additions)

 

[bluemon]

The last thing I did to the tank was administer DIY coral snow to the tank after stirring up the sand a bit. It’s a weekly thing I do to keep the sand clear and vermetids at bay.

It’s been through this at least for three months now so it couldn’t have been that…

 

[bluemon]

Would appreciate the input from the fishmedics.

@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081

 

[slingfox]

Bump. I hope the fish medics can provide some insight.

 

[bluemon]

Well it just died.

Any idea what it could have been?

It was fine two hours ago…

 

[Cheezeits]

Well it just died.

Any idea what it could have been?

It was fine two hours ago…

Sorry for your loss.

 

[bluemon]

Sorry for your loss.

Thank you.

Super bummed as I feel like it’s my fault, as I put him in a separation tank for his aggression, which was the right move at the time as he was the existing fish and the clear aggressor, but maybe that stressed him out?

But he was fine with the two tangs after for two whole days..

Also attached are post mortem shots before burial.

Maybe that helps with cause of death ID, even though I know post mortems aren’t that great for that. But they are at least right after death and in water.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So my Biota Yellow Tang which I got 3 months ago is suddenly laying on its side, very lethargic.

Recent Changes:

Recently added a White Tail Bristletooth Tang and a Yellow Mimic Tang from Dr Reefs about a week ago. (The yellow tang is around 3 inches, the Bristletooth 5 inches, and mimic tang 2.5 inches)

This yellow tang was a bit aggressive towards the yellow mimic tang even with a mirror trick and a decoy tang, so I put it in the separation HOB tank for about two days, and released it back on Friday.

It was perfectly fine with the mimic tang after that, with only one tail swipe once or twice a day from the yellow tang to the mimic

On Sunday I noticed the slight tear in its back fin which it was healing from nicely this morning.

It was all fine up until around 7 today, when I noticed it was a bit “aloof” and would just swim in one spot and kinda glide around rather than aggressive zoomies it usually has.

Then around 8 today, I noticed it struggling to swim so I put it in the separation tank as you see in the picture and video.

It’s breathing slightly hard, ate well all today, and I could pick it up with little struggle.

What could this be? Maybe a concussion?

I don’t see any aggression towards this fish besides just a warning chase from the Bristletooth when it gets close to its cave.

Unfortunately this fish is moribund and will likely not eat or swim normal going forward. Can be impact injury, internal issue or stress from new additions.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you.

Super bummed as I feel like it’s my fault, as I put him in a separation tank for his aggression, which was the right move at the time as he was the existing fish and the clear aggressor, but maybe that stressed him out?

But he was fine with the two tangs after for two whole days..

Also attached are post mortem shots before burial.

Maybe that helps with cause of death ID, even though I know post mortems aren’t that great for that. But they are at least right after death and in water.

Sorry to hear. All I could see in the video was the fin tear and the very rapid breathing. It is also a bit thin, but that’s the case with young biota tangs.

I wonder if it got injured during the transport(s) that it’s been through? It might have also run into the tank wall or rock, but that’s rare. If it got hit be another tang, you’d see the wound.

Jay

 

[backbayreef]

Man - so sorry to hear that. I’ve suffered a lot of fish loss last year so I know how you feel. You’ve done your best to try to save the fish - don’t be hard on yourself.