Tang troubles

C

Cornbreadbob

New Member
Hello all,

I have had my Desjardini Sailfin Tang for just over a week. He never looked great at the store so I wanted to give him a good home. He was doing well until two days ago. Now he is staying near the bottom and breathing hard. He has white discoloration splotches on him and he doesn't have much interest in eating.

Water quality is as follows
Salinity - 34 or 1.025
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5 or 10 ppm? Just changed 20% water last night with condition tap water.

72 gallon bow with plenty of live rock. Rather low flow (power head on the way)

Other Inhabitants include
6 line wrasse
Algae Benny


Any help would be greatly appreciated. I want this guy to make it. I attached some photos.

Thank you!


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jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Biggest issue is tank size. Its a bit small. That said, that shouldn't be your issue so fast. Buying a healthy fish should be your goal. I do get the wana save a fish theory tho. Its how I got my naso's.
You say low flow tank, this could be your issue tangs need oxygen, sw has lower oxygen then fw. So turn up the turbulence. Even w just a few air stones until u get power head's
 
C

Cornbreadbob

New Member
Thanks guys. Beth that is a very helpful link!

I plan to stop in to my LFS tomorrow and see what their policy is. My tang had signs of the issue when I purchased it and the employee was aware of my concerns with the coloration.

Do you truly think the 72 bow is too small for A sailfin tang? I think it would take quite a few years before one at the size they are available in the store would outgrow my tank.

Thanks again,
 
lmforbis

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
It isn't as much an issue of fish size as fish behavior. Tangs are swimmers. They need the length to swim. With out that they are stressed and that makes them more susceptible to disease.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Imforbis is rt. A small tang still needs to swim. Tangs are the reason I upgraded my tank. My biggest nontang is a golden sleeper headed goby my 75 was plenty, but not for my tangs lol. If you return or something happens to the sail and you want a tang try a kole.
diet tho is huge w them to prevent hlle. Lots and lots of plant material. Sea weed, live macro alage, foods enhanced w spirulina, ect. Tangs will eat anything but alot of meat isn't good. My yellow is a picky eater at times. Won't eat jumbo mysis, plankton, pellets, ect. I feed my angle and file fish clams. The yellow eats those tho!!!! Lol
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
72 is a tad small for any tang, but it can be done if you don't have the tank heavily stocked or filled to the rafters with live rock. Healing this fish should not be so difficult, he's not that bad off. However, high nitrate environment is a contributing factor to consider with a fish prone to HLLE. 5 is not really high. Do not get any more tangs for that tank.

If you keep him, keep us posted on progress.
 
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