Sick (or just behavior) - Naso Tang

[samantha]

I just received a Naso Tang (and a few other fish) from SWF yesterday. I placed the Naso and a Pajama Cardinal in my 55 gal tank along with another peaceful fish that has been in the tank for over 6 years (after proper acclimation). There is ample live rock for the Naso to hide behind. The Pajama Cardinal has acclimated just fine and is eating. The Naso did ok for a few hours yesterday (swam around a bit) but hid most of the evening behind the rock. It would not eat anything however (I tried flakes, tubiflex worms, plankton). When I turned the tank lights on this morning, the Tang would not come out from behind the rock, he has been laying on the bottom leaning up against a rock and is just barely breathing. He has a few white specs on him but from what I have read, this may be normal for a Naso Tang. Is this normal behavior for a Naso Tang?
The Pajama Cardinal and Scat are both fine this morning as well as my coral banded shrimp. Water params are fine.
I'm just confused? Not even sure whether or not to be alarmed.
Any ideas anyone?
__________________
After I posted this message, I put Melafix in the tank and some stress coat just in case the tang had maybe damaged himself somehow.
Now he is rubbing on the rocks and performing underwater flips (no joke -- turning flips over and over -- good enough to be in the circus!). REALLY odd. When he's not flipping, he's laying on his side gasping. I'm going to remove him to an isolation tank for the time being.... but any insight into this behavior is much appreciated.

 

[stacyt]

Sounds like he is really stressed. Also sounds like the beginning signs of ich. More than likely all your fish will need to be treated. Also a 55 IMO is to small for a naso. May be part of the reason that he's stressed.

 

[samantha]

Update on the Naso Tang. He's dead. I did thoroughly check him and no ich that I can see.
Thanks for the feedback though, Stacy. Have a good weekend.

 

[beth]

Please consider setting up a QT. A QT would have avoided contamining your tank now, with likely ich, and it would have given you the opportunity to see up close what the tang's problems were and get them addressed.
Take a look at the FAQ Thread at the top of this forum.

 

[samantha]

Hi Beth,
I used to have a QT years ago. But I haven't added any new fish to that tank in probably 3 years (had a blue velvet damsel in there for over 6 years that was so mean it bullied everyone to death that I put in with the exception of Scat . The damsel died about 6 months ago, so I felt safe to order another couple of fish). Long story short, that is why I had put the QT out of commission. I agree with you that the QT would have been best. I'll be dragging it back out before my next purchase -- I remember now that the 2 other instances of ich I have had in the past came from tangs (blue regal and yellow). Should have known better than order another tang without the QT up and running.
Thanks.
BTW - This forum is great. I've been surfing it off and on for a couple of years. I just ran across an article you did on making fish food last night. I'm gonna try that out this week.
Sam

 

[beth]

Glad you'll be joining us at Saltwaterfish.com. Welcome!