Yellow tang stopped eating/hiding

[new2mac]

Hi everybody,

my Zebrasoma tang for no obvious reason stopped eating and hiding all the time behind the rocks (def not normal). Problem been noticed about 4 days ago. Tried several different foods (green nori sheet, 2 types ocean nutrition flakes, frozen Mysis - no luck), it just ignore it, looses its rich yellow coloration and its skin looks sort of "rough".
40gal 3 year old tank and this fish is w/me for almost 2 Y. No fish or corals were added to the system in the last 8MO.
Made several photos if that may help ID the issue. Please help, advice on remedy.
J.

 

[justingraham]

I would say he's stressed and needs a bigger tank 40 gallons is small

 

[RJinPV]

I can't seem to get the links pasted but in a post I started called "Sick Ocellaris Clown?", Humblefish posted links to a fish disease index. It will help you ID your tang's ailment. My clownfish stopped eating and started hiding and within a week he was gone. He did not have symptoms like your tang however. Check it out

 

[TCFletch]

Old age maybe?

 

[new2mac]

I would say he's stressed and needs a bigger tank 40 gallons is small

Bigger tank is on its way but will take a few more months before migration. As for the stress, you made a good point but where the stress would come from at the moment? So I should just give him some time to recover?

 

[new2mac]

I can't seem to get the links pasted but in a post I started called "Sick Ocellaris Clown?", Humblefish posted links to a fish disease index. It will help you ID your tang's ailment. My clownfish stopped eating and started hiding and within a week he was gone. He did not have symptoms like your tang however. Check it out

Checked ID info, nothing matched, that's why posted my Q.
Links w/photos should open directly in here, no need to past them.

 

[new2mac]

Old age maybe?

When I got it 2Y ago it was not adult size grown yet...I don't know, poor thing changed its behavior so suddenly, leave me clueless. Seems like I just have to wait "cross fingers". Thanks for the ideas though.

 

[TCFletch]

He looks pretty healthy other than the skin color. Is he getting enough Nori?

 

[TCFletch]

Oops sorry. You already mentioned that he isn't eating. Something wrong with the water maybe?

 

[Humblefish]

I know you said no fish or corals, but any snails/CUC added recently? Also, have you tested water parameters (especially pH & ammonia)?

 

[Humblefish]

I would also test for stray voltage (I've seen this cause fish's pigmentation to fade). Also, any toxins or chemicals that might have made their way into the water? Roach spray, household cleaners, fumes from scented candles, etc.

 

[new2mac]

I would also test for stray voltage (I've seen this cause fish's pigmentation to fade). Also, any toxins or chemicals that might have made their way into the water? Roach spray, household cleaners, fumes from scented candles, etc.

To be honest never tested for stray voltage, chemicals might in theory enter the system but who could really say? Did extra WC just in case - no difference with the fish.
On the previous suggestions: Kh 8.9; Ca 430; Mg 1350; Ph 8; all pretty stable, weekly check w/Salifert. N 1-2; P 0.04 RSPro test. Ammonia never thought to check, it is 3Y old tank, I don't even have a test for it but if there is some shouldn't it affect other fish as well? Make me thinking...

And no CUC additions, nothing. Well, apparently it is not nothing, there must be something since fish is not in good shape but what is it that's what puzzles me. In any case thank you for your time and suggestions guys.

 

[ZoaCollector]

Looks almost like a koi tang, pretty cool, aside from the health of the tang itself.

As far as eating concerns, I feel people don't check the food quality often enough. Frozen foods and even freeze dried foods can go bad and have adverse affects to fish.
Check coloration and smell of food. Especially frozen. Taking in and out of freezer constantly has to have some kind of effect on freshness and bacteria levels.

 

[new2mac]

After all the good news is yellow fellow is getting better, appetite is coming back and it is showing again (mainly 2 clowns) who's the boss in the tank. The (not so) bad news is it will remain a mystery what was wrong with the fish. I might still learned something - next time if everything in the tank is OK be patient and leave it to nature.

 

[zeeGGee]

Hi everybody,

my Zebrasoma tang for no obvious reason stopped eating and hiding all the time behind the rocks (def not normal). Problem been noticed about 4 days ago. Tried several different foods (green nori sheet, 2 types ocean nutrition flakes, frozen Mysis - no luck), it just ignore it, looses its rich yellow coloration and its skin looks sort of "rough".
40gal 3 year old tank and this fish is w/me for almost 2 Y. No fish or corals were added to the system in the last 8MO.
Made several photos if that may help ID the issue. Please help, advice on remedy.
J.

Looks like velvet...

 

[new2mac]

zeeGGee I am afraid you are right. After short false recovery, which made me cheer, now fish is showing physical signs of velvet similar to the one on a photo I googled.

 

[Humblefish]

If its velvet, this is your best chance of saving the fish: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/#post-2499437

 

[new2mac]

Thanks for great info!

 

[new2mac]

Never QT (I know, its Russian roulette) and not sure on the next step. With fish been velvet diagnosed should I move all the fish from that tank (as velvet exposed) to QT too or just the sick one?
thanks.

 

[Humblefish]

Never QT (I know, its Russian roulette) and not sure on the next step. With fish been velvet diagnosed should I move all the fish from that tank (as velvet exposed) to QT too or just the sick one?
thanks.

ALL fish need to be QT'd, and treated with copper or CP for 30 days.

The DT itself should be left fallow for 6 weeks; or 76 days if you also want to starve ich out of the tank.