Yellow tang sudden distress

[jetson]

My yellow tang was under the rocks on its side breathing fast so I set a small hospital tank, and moved him there. A video is attached of him in there. He has been eating since I got him from a local hobbyist, and not shown any signs of stress or problems that I have noticed until now.
What should I do first? Other fish in the tank are Copperband and falco hawk, and a few mollies. Everyone is doing well and seems healthy.

 

[The Ugly Phase]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

My yellow tang was under the rocks on its side breathing fast so I set a small hospital tank, and moved him there. A video is attached of him in there. He has been eating since I got him from a local hobbyist, and not shown any signs of stress or problems that I have noticed until now.
What should I do first? Other fish in the tank are Copperband and falco hawk, and a few mollies. Everyone is doing well and seems healthy.

How long have you had the tang?

Be sure that tank has good aeration, bubbles from an air stone, and monitor the ammonia.

 

[jetson]

How long have you had the tang?

Be sure that tank has good aeration, bubbles from an air stone, and monitor the ammonia.

I’ve had him about two months now

 

[Fish Fan]

@Jay Hemdal were you able to view the video the OP posted in their first post? To me, the respiration looks a bit rapid and labored, with possibly some inflammation of the gills.

@jetson if possible, could you first upload that video to YouTube and then link it back here? That way, all R2R members will be able to see your video.

 

[jetson]

Here are two: and

They were just uploaded and second is a new video just recorded. I’m at work today so will check back in a couple hours.
Thanks so much for the help

 

[Fish Fan]

Here are two: and

They were just uploaded and second is a new video just recorded. I’m at work today so will check back in a couple hours.
Thanks so much for the help

In the first video above the fish's breathing looks more normal, but in the second video (which I think is the original from post #1) it looks rapid to me. Give Jay and the #fishmedic team a chance to look at your videos and weigh in.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Here are two: and

They were just uploaded and second is a new video just recorded. I’m at work today so will check back in a couple hours.
Thanks so much for the help

The tang is breathing fast and deeply, it is also thin. Trouble is, those symptoms don’t line up with any of the common parasitic diseases.

I made the assumption that since you got from another hobbyist, that it was a long term captive that was doing well for them - but maybe it had issues when you got it?

 

[MnFish1]

My yellow tang was under the rocks on its side breathing fast so I set a small hospital tank, and moved him there. A video is attached of him in there. He has been eating since I got him from a local hobbyist, and not shown any signs of stress or problems that I have noticed until now.
What should I do first? Other fish in the tank are Copperband and falco hawk, and a few mollies. Everyone is doing well and seems healthy.

What are you treating the fish with. Since they have all been exposed, they all should be treated (and I would start with the usual copper/prazipro recommended here). Mollies can carry disease - and it's not recommended to keep them with saltwater fish. The Old-school mollie disease testing thing does not really help.

 

[MnFish1]

The tang is breathing fast and deeply, it is also thin. Trouble is, those symptoms don’t line up with any of the common parasitic diseases.

I made the assumption that since you got from another hobbyist, that it was a long term captive that was doing well for them - but maybe it had issues when you got it?

I made the assumption that it could be velvet or another gill disease with the breathing. What would you think would be a regimen

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I made the assumption that it could be velvet or another gill disease with the breathing. What would you think would be a regimen

Sudden onset rapid breathing is always either velvet or some water quality issue. Flukes or bacterial disease takes longer to develop. However, it’s pretty common for folks to miss the early symptoms of rapid breathing, making it seem to just start suddenly.

 

[W31Olds]

I can see some Black grain like spots below the Dorsal Fin indicating a parasite. Most likely Marine Ich or Black Ich (a worm).
@Jay Hemdal

 

[vetteguy53081]

My yellow tang was under the rocks on its side breathing fast so I set a small hospital tank, and moved him there. A video is attached of him in there. He has been eating since I got him from a local hobbyist, and not shown any signs of stress or problems that I have noticed until now.
What should I do first? Other fish in the tank are Copperband and falco hawk, and a few mollies. Everyone is doing well and seems healthy.

Assure hawk does not harass the tang as they often will and I agree on added aeration and satisfactory diet such as LRS fish frenzy, plankton, mysis shrimp and brine shrimp

 

[jetson]

I just got to the tank for a lunch break, the specks seem to have been some dirt or waste that settled on him. I bumped the counter and he moved, and it all came off.
He’s still breathing heavily however, and in the same place as when I placed him in the tank.

Hawk is still in display with Copperband. Tang is alone in sterile tank.

 

[winxp_man]

So you had the fish for about 2 months. How many days has fish been like this for?

What sucks about paying attention to fish, is we end up seeing issues too late. As in we don’t spot them as it ramps up. Just had an issue like this. Ended up being ammonia. In another instance it was flukes.

Assure hawk does not harass the tang as they often will and I agree on added aeration and satisfactory diet such as LRS fish frenzy, plankton, mysis shrimp and brine shrimp

I also see fin damage. Aggression of sorts could have taken place.

 

[winxp_man]

I just got to the tank for a lunch break, the specks seem to have been some dirt or waste that settled on him. I bumped the counter and he moved, and it all came off.
He’s still breathing heavily however, and in the same place as when I placed him in the tank.

Hawk is still in display with Copperband. Tang is alone in sterile tank.

How’s the fish doing now?

 

[jetson]

So you had the fish for about 2 months. How many days has fish been like this for?

What sucks about paying attention to fish, is we end up seeing issues too late. As in we don’t spot them as it ramps up. Just had an issue like this. Ended up being ammonia. In another instance it was flukes.





I also see fin damage. Aggression of sorts could have taken place.

This just happened today, noticed at first feeding this morning.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So you had the fish for about 2 months. How many days has fish been like this for?

What sucks about paying attention to fish, is we end up seeing issues too late. As in we don’t spot them as it ramps up. Just had an issue like this. Ended up being ammonia. In another instance it was flukes.





I also see fin damage. Aggression of sorts could have taken place.

.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This just happened today, noticed at first feeding this morning.

Next time you feed, set your cell phone on video mode for about 20 mins and drop a little food and walk away - YOU MUST walk away as they know youre there. Often the aggressor is a bully at feeding time.
Review the video and see who it may be

 

[jetson]

How’s the fish doing now?

Just got home from work, the tang has passed unfortunately. Now the Copperband is acting very strange. 3 hours after lights out and swimming all over the place which is not normal for him. Also did not eat at second feeding. Normally will eat like a pig.