fish scratching!

[rane]

Ok this is killing me
all three of these fish were put in qt for 5 weeks, they did not show anything when I got them but did it anyways for a preventive thing, I am noticing that my yellow tang and sometimes the blue hippo scratch up against the rocks, now this is not happening all the time and just noticed it today its once in a while, my water is perfect they have great landscape to hide in, as a matter of fact since I got them they seem to be afraid when anyone comes by the tank, they hide in the rocks ( look like beat step children) anyways what can I do, they have alge sheets that they haze on all day and also I see them picking on the live rock..again I dont see any spots on them is this normal or am I over reacting, when I first started this hobby I lost all my fish to ick and I cant let this happen again
I feed them either frozen brine or mysis shrimp 2 times a day once morning and evening and have the alge sheets in the tank everyday
thanks

 

[kenny]

After keeping my yellow tang for a year, Ive had some of the same problems your experiencing. When mine hides and rubs on rocks it is starting to get sick. Next will be gradual fading of color and weight and fin loss. This occurs from reduced food intake. It may develop a bacterial skin infection on it's rear flank and develop red streaks on other parts of it's body and face.
Iv'e learned that Tangs need certain care. I now try to prevent illness before I have to treat it! They are somewhat more of herbavore than some of my other fish and need more vegetation in their diet. I was feeding too much meat (mostly shrimp) as well as an algea strip. Now I feed a frozen mixture called "Marine Cuisine" that has a varity meats as well as spurlina, and vitamins and minerals. I also add flake food (Omega 1) that has a varity of seafood meats + kelp and spurlina and omega 3 & 6 HUFAs for their imune system. I still keep seaweed/algea strip for grazing in the tank. Ther may be a better diet available but this is what I'm doing now.
As for treating my sick tang, Here's what has worked for me:
I remove him from the main tank and Q/T him in a 10Gal. I Medicate him with Maracyn-Two for about five to ten Days untill he regains color weight and appetite.
Good luck!