Purple Tang Face Discoloration

[rupertlilly]

I have a purple tang (have had it for over 2 years) and within the last 3 weeks her face is discolored. It looks almost cream colored or ivory. I have hard coral & rock in my tank and I think she has been rubbing in them – thus removing her scales? Or is she sick and should be removed from my tank so she does not get others sick?

 

[renogaw]

sounds like HLLE. what do you feed it? do you have a grounding probe and gfci circuit? can you post a pic?

 

[rupertlilly]

I have NO IDEA what you just said!!!!

 

[rupertlilly]

All the fish get flake food, shrimp brine and every other day they get red seaweed

 

[earlybird]

HLLE disease is Head and Lateral Line Erosion. Do a search for it. Grounding probe to deal with stray voltage and GFCI is a ground fault circuit interruptor that will trip if there is enough stray voltage.

 

[rupertlilly]

Will this kill her or my other fish?

 

[renogaw]

look at posts 14 and 15 here:
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=127007

 

[rupertlilly]

Thanks. I have just bought a grounding probe online and also some SELCON. Hopefully this will fix my problem.

 

[renogaw]

ok, if it's the food, then fine you'll fix your problem. but after 2 years, i'd bet it may be electricity. if it is, yes the grounding probe will fix it, but you may have a faulty piece of equiptment. do you have a volt meter that can check the tank for stray voltage?

 

[rupertlilly]

I had an established 55 gal and in July switched it to a brand new 72 gal with all NEW equipment. I will use the ground probe and hope this helps.