sifuentes31 Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I have a yellow tang that is swimming around looking healthy for weeks and eating like a pig. Just this past week i noticed his sailfin was receding. Any suggestions on why this is happening. He gets along with everybody in the tank especially the Bi-color Angel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClarkiiCircus Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 If you're positive nobody is picking on him, it could be fin rot. But even with fin rot, it generally starts with some kind of physical abuse. Or he could have tried to squeeze somewhere tight and torn a fin himself, followed by infection due to bacteria created by poor water quality. You could do water changes to keep the water quality pristine while he heals, and eliminate further infection. Or, if you see it keep getting worse, try an antibacterial medication, like the Dr. G's anti-bacterial food (which you can use in your DT). Fish are surprisingly resilient- my little maroon has grown back entire fins after mommy maroon picked on him. Just keep the tang eating, and reduce stresses as much as possible, and he should be able to heal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 So with the food how often do i feed him? It might have been a little stress from me because i reaquascaped the tank so i could get more flow within the rocks. but i've never seen anyone pick on him. Thanks.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Looks like his lower fin is damaged as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckyuv Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 i think it looks cool like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 LOL kinda of like a Punk Rocker!! I'll get what i need later on today. Do i need to quarantine him or is he ok with the others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I've seen something similar over the years and I'm not sure what it is. It does not appear to be bacterial as there are none of the typical indicators, red streaks or red blotches with white edges and the fish is not acting listless. The dorsal fin is usually the most affected but all of the fins will can show tissue loss. I've seen just one tang affested and I once saw a whole tank full show symptoms but it appears to only affect Zebrasome sp. If you can qt it that would be best while researching treatment options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuxx Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 (edited) Good luck Seen red blotches on a yellow tang... cleared up with a big water change. Also our little yellow belly blue tang rubbed (?!?!) most of his dorsal fin off, down to bone. We treated the DT wish a small dose of melafix marine and it all came back in a week or two. Hope that helps... Edited October 29, 2012 by offshore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 sifuentes31, search "dorsal fin erosion" Opinions tend to think what you are seing is a form of HLLE (head and lateral line erosion). I found this one comment "One species is a common exception to this syndrome's usual manifestation. Yellow tangs (Zebrasoma flavescens) do not appear to be afflicted in the same manner as other fish (Hemdal, 2003). They first tend to lose their vibrancy and lighten in overall color. Then their fins erode, usually beginning with the soft tissue between the dorsal fin's rays. If there is any erosion around the head or down the lateral line, it is usually only minor. This is not, however, the case for all species of the genus Zebrasoma. I have witnessed purple (Z. xanthurus), sailfin (Z. veliferum) and brown (Z. scopas) tangs all exhibiting the classic signs of this condition, while every Yellow tang I have seen with MHLLE has always exhibited this atypical symptomology." I will add here that my observations I have seen the typical symptomology of HLLE in Yellow Tangs (Z. flavescens) Purple Tangs (Z. xanthurus) and in Regal Tangs (Paracanthurus hepatis) AND seen the dorsal fin erosion on different specimens in these three species so either HLLE can present the diffferently in different specimans OR we're actually looking at two different diseases or syndromes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sifuentes31 Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 Thanks Tim....I'll keep a close watch if his behavior changes. For now he's swimming like theres no tomorrow. I am going to QT him for awhile to see if he gets any better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 You could treat for a protozoan infection. HLLE is a syndrome so no specific cause is definitively known but protozoans have been implicated as well as water quality issues, dietary insufficeincies, stray electricity and stress. If you do not see an improvement in 30 days I would return the tang to the tank, my reasoning being your DT should be less stressfull than the QT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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