Emergency: Help My Tang

TheoKay · Aug 5, 2024

Hello, I'm new here. I joined because I'm trying to save my blue tang. This fish is from a big name pet store. I pointed out the awful condition it was in and they were willing to give it to me for free to try to save it. I am new to saltwater fish, but I couldn't leave this fish there in that condition. What meds and such should I be giving this fish to help her? I've attached the best photos I could get. I call her Froppy, but I don't even know if it's a girl. She slowly got worse over the few weeks I was keeping an eye on her at the store. The day I got her she was spending most of her time on her side laying at the bottom of the tank. Honestly didn't think she would live through the night. Now she swims around and is eating and no longer lays on her side, so she's already better, but I want to do everything I can to make sure she thrives.

Thank you to anyone who can help her out!

vetteguy53081 · Aug 5, 2024

TheoKay said:
Hello, I'm new here. I joined because I'm trying to save my blue tang. This fish is from a big name pet store. I pointed out the awful condition it was in and they were willing to give it to me for free to try to save it. I am new to saltwater fish, but I couldn't leave this fish there in that condition. What meds and such should I be giving this fish to help her? I've attached the best photos I could get. I call her Froppy, but I don't even know if it's a girl. She slowly got worse over the few weeks I was keeping an eye on her at the store. The day I got her she was spending most of her time on her side laying at the bottom of the tank. Honestly didn't think she would live through the night. Now she swims around and is eating and no longer lays on her side, so she's already better, but I want to do everything I can to make sure she thrives.

Thank you to anyone who can help her out!

Please place tang back in water and repost pics
It’s impossible to assess a fish out of water

KrisReef · Aug 5, 2024

Spirulina brine shrimp, sushi sea weed, chopped live clams, and your free clown should continue to thrive.

TheoKay · Aug 5, 2024

vetteguy53081 said:
Please place tang back in water and repost pics
It’s impossible to assess a fish out of water

It is submerged in the water. I was holding my hand in a way that it couldn't escape and hide so I could actually get photos.

vetteguy53081 · Aug 5, 2024

TheoKay said:
Hello, I'm new here. I joined because I'm trying to save my blue tang. This fish is from a big name pet store. I pointed out the awful condition it was in and they were willing to give it to me for free to try to save it. I am new to saltwater fish, but I couldn't leave this fish there in that condition. What meds and such should I be giving this fish to help her? I've attached the best photos I could get. I call her Froppy, but I don't even know if it's a girl. She slowly got worse over the few weeks I was keeping an eye on her at the store. The day I got her she was spending most of her time on her side laying at the bottom of the tank. Honestly didn't think she would live through the night. Now she swims around and is eating and no longer lays on her side, so she's already better, but I want to do everything I can to make sure she thrives.

Thank you to anyone who can help her out!

There is reflection from lights on the body. Again, offers a diminished chance of proper assessment
As for laying on its side, its something these fish typically do, in sense playing dead. These fish are susceptible to gill flukes and even mucus cones and trying to determine if any but pics do not help. This fish does not relic chopped clams until much larger and mysis shrimp, plankton and LRS fish frenzy are other foods it will benefit from

TheoKay · Aug 5, 2024

vetteguy53081 said:
There is reflection from lights on the body. Again, offers a diminished chance of proper assessment
As for laying on its side, its something these fish typically do, in sense playing dead. These fish are susceptible to gill flukes and even mucus cones and trying to determine if any but pics do not help. This fish does not relic chopped clams until much larger and mysis shrimp, plankton and LRS fish frenzy are other foods it will benefit from

Here is a different photo with a little less reflection. The room with my quarantine tank doesn't have much for natural light, so I'm not sure how to get photos without using the tank light. At the store she would flip on her side while swimming and then sink to the bottom, looking like she was gasping. I haven't seen that though since the first night. I've been feeding her mysis shrimp along with nori sheets. I'll definitely get some LRS fish frenzy for her. I have also been using stress coat since she's been so stressed.

MnFish1 · Aug 5, 2024

TheoKay said:
Here is a different photo with a little less reflection. The room with my quarantine tank doesn't have much for natural light, so I'm not sure how to get photos without using the tank light. At the store she would flip on her side while swimming and then sink to the bottom, looking like she was gasping. I haven't seen that though since the first night. I've been feeding her mysis shrimp along with nori sheets. I'll definitely get some LRS fish frenzy for her. I have also been using stress coat since she's been so stressed.

Unfortunately, it is very very difficult to determine anything with the photos. Did you happen to add a quarantine medication when y ou got her home? Stress coat is not likely to help this situation based on your description.

TheoKay · Aug 5, 2024

MnFish1 said:
Unfortunately, it is very very difficult to determine anything with the photos. Did you happen to add a quarantine medication when y ou got her home? Stress coat is not likely to help this situation based on your description.

I am using Pimafix and Melafix together

MnFish1 · Aug 5, 2024

TheoKay said:
I am using Pimafix and Melafix together

Thanks - If you could post a picture of the fish swimming - with white light - it would be very helpful.

Uncle99 · Aug 5, 2024

You post your feeding.
Does it eat?

This fish is delicate, can it not hold its own?

vetteguy53081 · Aug 5, 2024

TheoKay said:
I am using Pimafix and Melafix together

Pimafix and melafix are useless even in freshwater and are merely a tonic made with Teak tree oil. You are using poor products (not to insult you by any means) and need to focus on advice. Holding the fish in pics is adding stress and believe me- allow this fish to swim and then take pics

TheoKay · Aug 5, 2024

MnFish1 said:
Thanks - If you could post a picture of the fish swimming - with white light - it would be very helpful.

I had to put her in a specimen container to have any hope of getting a photo. I really hope this helps because this is the best of the many photos I attempted to get.

Jay Hemdal · Aug 5, 2024

TheoKay said:
I am using Pimafix and Melafix together

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Those are both just herbal tonics and really don’t cure active diseases.

I’d consider treating this fish with Praziquantel - it may have flukes and those black spots could be parasites as well. Prazi s generally reef safe as long as you run it with good aeration. Prazipro is one commercial form. You dose it twice, 8 days apart (different than the label instructions)

TheoKay · Aug 5, 2024

Jay Hemdal said:
Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Those are both just herbal tonics and really don’t cure active diseases.

I’d consider treating this fish with Praziquantel - it may have flukes and those black spots could be parasites as well. Prazi s generally reef safe as long as you run it with good aeration. Prazipro is one commercial form. You dose it twice, 8 days apart (different than the label instructions)

Thanks! I'll pick some of this up and hopefully it helps

PharmrJohn · Aug 5, 2024

Just for future reference, I wouldn't hold any fish like that. My dad trained me in high lakes fishing. His rule was to never hold the fish if you're gonna catch and release. It messes with the mucus covering.