Help for hippo tang?

[dwest]

I’ve been reefing for about 30 years now. I currently have a 180 gallon reef that houses a hippo tang that I purchased in 2012. He was purchased very tiny (smaller than my yellow tail damsel). I likely did not quarantine back then. The only fish I’ve added in the past 5 years was a couple biota mandarins that I observed in isolation for a couple months.

Back to the hippo, it’s never been healthy. In fact, soon after purchase, I tried to capture and euthanize it before leaving for vacation once as it was whirling and I thought it would die. Well I couldn’t catch it and I appeared fine when I got back 2 weeks later. Now, 12 years later it’s growing and living but still slowly going downhill.

Its tail has never been bright yellow. It’s always had some classic HLLE signs. But now I’m seeing more and more skin hyperpigmentation. I’m just wondering if I’m missing something that could help her.

I’ve read all the HLLE info out there. I do run rinsed ROX carbon 1/2 cup replaced every 3 weeks. I tried for almost a full year running with no carbon but didn’t help. I have 3 zebrasomas that are healthy so I believe my feeding is good. In fact my purple tang is 30 years old. I feed nori, formula 2 flake, nls pellets, and LRS frozen. I’ve tried selcon in the past too.

I’ll try to add a couple photos including a FTS.

Is there something I’m missing? Is this just an unhealthy fish with classic HLLE? Thanks!
@Jay Hemdal

 

[MnFish1]

1. Nice tank.
2. It looks like HLLE - except the yellow area on the tail - -which looks like scarring of some sort - especially since you said its been there for a while (I'm assuming thats what you meant by 'light tail'. If not let me know.
3. The other markings are unclear what they are. Is there any possibility that flukes, etc could have gotten into the tank?

 

[dwest]

1. Thanks

2. Yes, the tail has never been a robust yellow like I see on most hippos. It’s more whitish and often somewhat clamped.

3. I’ll never say never. But certainly for the past 8 or so years I’ve been very good at quarantine with both fish and inverts. The last big influx of anything is when I added 5 wrasses about 6 years ago. I quarantined then with copper then 2 rounds of prazi. I even dosed 2 rounds of prazi in the display soon after that. It’s the only med I’ve ever dosed in the tank. I didn’t see any difference in the hippo after prazi. She looked the same before and after. The thing that has been getting worse is the dark spots on the skin. I think she’s scraping rocks, corals, and aiptasia. But I dunno.

Since all my other fish are good, could the hippo only have flukes? That seems unlikely to me, but I’m stretching here.

Thanks for the help

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ve been reefing for about 30 years now. I currently have a 180 gallon reef that houses a hippo tang that I purchased in 2012. He was purchased very tiny (smaller than my yellow tail damsel). I likely did not quarantine back then. The only fish I’ve added in the past 5 years was a couple biota mandarins that I observed in isolation for a couple months.

Back to the hippo, it’s never been healthy. In fact, soon after purchase, I tried to capture and euthanize it before leaving for vacation once as it was whirling and I thought it would die. Well I couldn’t catch it and I appeared fine when I got back 2 weeks later. Now, 12 years later it’s growing and living but still slowly going downhill.

Its tail has never been bright yellow. It’s always had some classic HLLE signs. But now I’m seeing more and more skin hyperpigmentation. I’m just wondering if I’m missing something that could help her.

I’ve read all the HLLE info out there. I do run rinsed ROX carbon 1/2 cup replaced every 3 weeks. I tried for almost a full year running with no carbon but didn’t help. I have 3 zebrasomas that are healthy so I believe my feeding is good. In fact my purple tang is 30 years old. I feed nori, formula 2 flake, nls pellets, and LRS frozen. I’ve tried selcon in the past too.

I’ll try to add a couple photos including a FTS.

Is there something I’m missing? Is this just an unhealthy fish with classic HLLE? Thanks!
@Jay Hemdal

On back I’m seeing skin irritation and possibly mucus cones
Treatment in separate tank with coppersafe at 2.25 may be warranted with added aeration with air stone
How is breathing rate?
Any scratching or lethargic behavior?

 

[dwest]

On back I’m seeing skin irritation and possibly mucus cones
Treatment in separate tank with coppersafe at 2.25 may be warranted with added aeration with air stone
How is breathing rate?
Any scratching or lethargic behavior?

Thanks for the help.

On the pics I see what looks like mucous cones too. But I don’t seem them when I just look at the fish. I’ll keep looking.

What do you think I might be treating with coppersafe?

I’d say breathing rate is normal. I don’t see any scratching. I’m not sure about lethargic behavior. She definitely is very active around feeding time but less during others.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks for the help.

On the pics I see what looks like mucous cones too. But I don’t seem them when I just look at the fish. I’ll keep looking.

What do you think I might be treating with coppersafe?

I’d say breathing rate is normal. I don’t see any scratching. I’m not sure about lethargic behavior. She definitely is very active around feeding time but less during others.

With coppersafe, these cones are often mixed in with ich

 

[Lavey29]

We all get old. His immune system is just slowing down.

 

[Uncle99]

I have a 7 year old hippo with a tail like that. Every once in a while he gets maybe ick and after several weeks it just disappears with no action by me.

At the end of the day he continues to lead the hierarchy and has survived this far.

 

[MnFish1]

1. Thanks

2. Yes, the tail has never been a robust yellow like I see on most hippos. It’s more whitish and often somewhat clamped.

3. I’ll never say never. But certainly for the past 8 or so years I’ve been very good at quarantine with both fish and inverts. The last big influx of anything is when I added 5 wrasses about 6 years ago. I quarantined then with copper then 2 rounds of prazi. I even dosed 2 rounds of prazi in the display soon after that. It’s the only med I’ve ever dosed in the tank. I didn’t see any difference in the hippo after prazi. She looked the same before and after. The thing that has been getting worse is the dark spots on the skin. I think she’s scraping rocks, corals, and aiptasia. But I dunno.

Since all my other fish are good, could the hippo only have flukes? That seems unlikely to me, but I’m stretching here.

Thanks for the help

No I would think not. It does have a weird look, though, to its skin. (Besides the HLLE) - has that changed - or is it more chronic. Give the extra history you gave - I can't see a reason for copper. Have you added corals during that time period that weren't quarantined.

Though Mucus cones (as already stated) - are often associated with Ich - I would not treat every fish that has them personally - since they often resolve. Since tangs can live to the multi-decade range - I would not think its immune system is the issue.

Your'e welcome

 

[dwest]

No I would think not. It does have a weird look, though, to its skin. (Besides the HLLE) - has that changed - or is it more chronic. Give the extra history you gave - I can't see a reason for copper. Have you added corals during that time period that weren't quarantined.

Though Mucus cones (as already stated) - are often associated with Ich - I would not treat every fish that has them personally - since they often resolve. Since tangs can live to the multi-decade range - I would not think its immune system is the issue.

Your'e welcome

The tail has looked the same as long as I can remember. It’s possible that it got caught in an mp40 when she was a baby, but just a guess. But certainly the past 10 years or so it’s been the same.

I haven’t added nonquarantined corals in over a decade. I’ve only added acros in the past few years. I quarantine them, clip off the plug and dip too.

Thanks again.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I’ve been reefing for about 30 years now. I currently have a 180 gallon reef that houses a hippo tang that I purchased in 2012. He was purchased very tiny (smaller than my yellow tail damsel). I likely did not quarantine back then. The only fish I’ve added in the past 5 years was a couple biota mandarins that I observed in isolation for a couple months.

Back to the hippo, it’s never been healthy. In fact, soon after purchase, I tried to capture and euthanize it before leaving for vacation once as it was whirling and I thought it would die. Well I couldn’t catch it and I appeared fine when I got back 2 weeks later. Now, 12 years later it’s growing and living but still slowly going downhill.

Its tail has never been bright yellow. It’s always had some classic HLLE signs. But now I’m seeing more and more skin hyperpigmentation. I’m just wondering if I’m missing something that could help her.

I’ve read all the HLLE info out there. I do run rinsed ROX carbon 1/2 cup replaced every 3 weeks. I tried for almost a full year running with no carbon but didn’t help. I have 3 zebrasomas that are healthy so I believe my feeding is good. In fact my purple tang is 30 years old. I feed nori, formula 2 flake, nls pellets, and LRS frozen. I’ve tried selcon in the past too.

I’ll try to add a couple photos including a FTS.

Is there something I’m missing? Is this just an unhealthy fish with classic HLLE? Thanks!
@Jay Hemdal

That's how hepatus tangs show HLLE. Generally, chronic HLLE is considered non-life threatening, I've seen fish survive a decade with it. However, with all that open skin, it is possible for a bacterial infection to take hold, causing the fish to decline....

 

[dwest]

That's how hepatus tangs show HLLE. Generally, chronic HLLE is considered non-life threatening, I've seen fish survive a decade with it. However, with all that open skin, it is possible for a bacterial infection to take hold, causing the fish to decline....

Thanks Jay. I’ll feed her well and cross my fingers. I’m guessing she’s shown signs of HLLE for about a decade already.

 

[Debramb]

Thanks Jay. I’ll feed her well and cross my fingers. I’m guessing she’s shown signs of HLLE for about a decade already.

I’m so sorry about your Hippo. Mine is also the same age and luckily a beast, so tiny at first he lived in the overflow for a week before we found him! I’m so excited to her about your Purple Tang living this long. It sounds like even the weakest have a great home with you. You’re DT is beautiful.

Debra