Tang's color is fading?

[jodilynn]

I have a bright yellow mimic tang that seems to be doing well other than I am noticing that it's color looks to be fading. There are parts that are still pretty bright yellow and other parts that look to be washing away/streaking. I have never seen this in any of my other fish (tomato clown, purple firefish, neon goby) but this is my first tang. I have a new 75 gallon that is full of live rock and coral. It is run by using the ecosystem which is doing very well from what I can see. I will be doing tests on the water tonight but from the last time we tested the phosphate were a little high but everything else was fine. Thanks.
Jodilynn

 

[cboyfan2020]

are they faded all the time or just at night and after lights come on?

 

[jodilynn]

I noticed it for the first time this morning after I turned on the lights. I have VHO so there is no easy way of slowly turning one light on at a time. I used to turn on my blue first when I had power compacts then the white but now it's all or nothing. Is it just stressed from the lights being put on too suddenly? Also, I just ordered some seaweed selects today and will start feeding it that as well as brine, marine cuisine, pellet and flake food. I try and give the fish a variety. Thanks.
Jodilynn

 

[dattong]

That's normal, yellow tangs usually fade their color at night when they rest (you'll see mostly on the center of the body) They'll gain the color back after the lights turned on for awhile.

 

[wrassecal]

If it fades at night when lights out and in the morning when you turn them them on it is normal for their sleeping camo mode. If you notice it is faded during the day that is not normal. You do need to have plenty of algae for them and supplement with nori strips or seaweed selects and that will help keep their color bright. You mention you have a "new 75" but you also mention you used to use pc's so I'm not sure what you mean there, need a little more explaination. HTH

 

[cboyfan2020]

Color will fade at night. My yellow has a fat white stripe at night and in the morning but he colrs up to a bright yellow during the day.

 

[jodilynn]

Yea, I do need to give more info. I had a 29G reef tank with 2 50/50 power compacts but now have a 75G with VHO (2 white,1 blue). The color did come back shortly after the lights had been turned on. That is a relief! I did order some brown and green seaweed selects off of the internet. I tried to find nori strips but only found roasted nori strips which the tang would not eat. Anyone make sushi???
Now I have a new probem. I am needing to freshwater dip all of my coral for I am INFESTED with nudibranches that are sucking the zoanthalia out of my zoo's!
Fun, Fun. Happy Mothers Day to all.
Jodilynn

 

[cboyfan2020]

i'm not sure it is ok to freshwater dip corals. I would hold off and get the boards opinion.

 

[cboyfan2020]

also, are you sure they are nudi's and not flat worms? I hear zoo's ccan handle a FW dip ok but I would double check before doing it. FW dipping an already stressed coral will just stress it even more. JMO

 

[jodilynn]

Yea, I know they are not flatworms. I have seen those on some of my mushrooms from time to time. No, these are nudibranches. I found a picture of what it appear to me to look like on the internet. It is called a rhino nudibranch. Please, if anyone knows the best way to handle this I would appreciate feedback. Thanks.
Jodilynn