Help with id and treatment please

tanuki

tanuki

Member
I came home to find this (amphipode?) on my tang's tail fin. It was completely latched on and the fish was loosing color (maybe just stressed from it) and barely moving.
I was able to reach into the tank and pull the thing off the tang so I know that:
A) It was completely latched on hard
B) It was hurting the tang and the tang was losing strength.
The tang has been in the tank a few days now, he is a new addition, but at the same time, he has been freely swimming and eating. He eats spectrum pellets as well as nori that is added daily.
What is it and what should I do about it? Will there be others?
Can I do anything for the tang other than just giving it time and space? Lights out vs lights on etc?

 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
It's probably a cirolanid.
Is it dead?
Keep a close eye on him. You'll be able to see them. There may or may not be others. You may never see another.
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanuki http:///t/387498/help-with-id-and-treatment-please#post_3410034
I came home to find this (amphipode?) on my tang's tail fin. It was completely latched on and the fish was loosing color (maybe just stressed from it) and barely moving.
I was able to reach into the tank and pull the thing off the tang so I know that:
A) It was completely latched on hard
B) It was hurting the tang and the tang was losing strength.
The tang has been in the tank a few days now, he is a new addition, but at the same time, he has been freely swimming and eating. He eats spectrum pellets as well as nori that is added daily.
What is it and what should I do about it? Will there be others?
Can I do anything for the tang other than just giving it time and space? Lights out vs lights on etc?
I've never experienced such a parasite on a tang - but keep monitoring it for others AND other issues.
RED - as far as diet goes - please invest in better foods for your tang(s). Frozen foods like marine cusine, emerald entree, frozen mysys, formula 2, rods (h) or (c), AND dried (not toasted) nori - most green nori is toasted, and lacks ALOT of vitamins - where as the dried (pruple) is alot better. look for it online....Pellet food is very poor quality - and NOT for longterm care. Tangs do BEST longterm with the widest diet you can provide (frozen foods & sheet (purple or red) nori)
Blue - I'd just keep looking for more, and remove any that do return. Since it;s a new addition, also look for ich too, and monitor his eating habits.....if he suddenly quits eating then investigate & post an update.
 
tanuki

tanuki

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cranberry http:///t/387498/help-with-id-and-treatment-please#post_3410114
It's probably a cirolanid.
Is it dead?
Keep a close eye on him. You'll be able to see them. There may or may not be others. You may never see another.
Yeah I put him in a vile with water last night, but he was out of the water for his photo session long enough I think he is dead. If he is alive and you can think of a way to preserve him in the mail I will send it to you haha. Otherwise down the drain he goes.
As for the diet, I do feed frozen mysis 1 time per week, but from what I have read, it should be considered more of a luxury dish rather than staple diet, but I am all for providing the best care for the fish as possible.
I stayed up all night waiting for more isopods to show up, but saw none. Also the tang seems to be doing much better today.
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
look around here, there are several recipes for home made foods that are good and cost a lot less. You can pick mix bag of seafood at walmart for around 5 bucks and it last for ever.
 
tanuki

tanuki

Member
Some updates:
The Tang has recovered well and went from completely white, to striped and swimming again. He is eating nori as I type and it looks like I found the bug just in time.
I have woken up a few times through the past two nights to look for other Isopods, but have not seen anything. All fish in the system appear to be strong and healthy.
Luckily things are looking good!
And I made about 8 freezer bags of food last night. A nice mix of fresh fish, nori, garlic, oysters, clams, and a few other things. Hopefully the fish enjoy the gourmet meals.
 
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