White stripes on yellow tang? Concern?

[bluemarlin]

My yellow tang is a relatively young specimin. He is about 2 years old. He used to be all yellow except for the little white "dot" near the rear of its body. Lately though, he has these white lines that run from above his eve and down towards his mouth. Have these always been here? I don't think so. Is it normal? Thats what I am asking? Can this be lateral line disease? Do yellows get this? Any help is appreciated.

 

[holacanthus]

Any fish with lateral lines can get hlle! A picture would be more helpful. I could be more than just hlle. How big is the tang, what do you feed it, do you use a protein skimmer, what type of tank is it in, do you use any supplements in the tank what are the water parameters, any of this info could be helpful.

 

[holacanthus]

Any fish with lateral lines can get hlle! A picture would be more helpful. I could be more than just hlle. How big is the tang, what do you feed it, do you use a protein skimmer, what type of tank is it in, do you use any supplements in the tank what are the water parameters, any of this info could be helpful.

 

[bluemarlin]

Sorry. I guess no question is ever simple. Here are my numbers.
180 gallon tank. oppm ammonia, 0 ppm nitrites, 20 ppm nitrates, ph=8.2, sg=1.023, temp 78 degrees, 150 lbs. LS, 200-250lbs LR, Berlin Skimmer, 55 gallon wet/dry sump.
Tang is fed red and green algae (the dried type that gets put on the clip). Also eats some of the shrimp and bloodworms. Is this enough info?

 

[bluemarlin]

Any more thoughts on this before it gets buried? I still have concerns about the tang.

 

[here fishy]

Have you added any new fish recently that would cause any stress. When I have seen lateral lines they have not gone down towards the mouth but across the fish. That doesn't mean it's not possible though. Your water quality seems ok but I would change it anyway and see if it helps..Let me know

 

[me-n-my-fish]

I do not think that it would be anything with a lateral line. It runs "lateral" or down each side of the fish. Is your tang acting funny, scratching, swimming **** -eyed or anything like that? Is the dot "Rasied" like a lump on the skin, or is it just a white spot? Any other fish in this tank? It would be real helpful to see a picture, then we could help for sure.

 

[me-n-my-fish]

Well you have got to be kidding!!! The ****-eyed got hit by the censors I guess. Lets see, another word, lets try "sideways"

 

[bluemarlin]

me,
Thats pretty funny that you got censored. But for the life of me, Imust be brain dead today, I can't figure out the word. Not even with your "similar" word. Its killing me and I find it pretty funny.
Anyway, the tang nor any other fish is acting strange or swimming funny and I have not added anything new in months. He is not hiding either. He seems heathly except for these white or clear stripes. I did recently lose one of my Pearlscale Butterflyfish. Last week in fact. I found him under the cleanup crew one day. Thats a bad sign!
I wish I could provide a picture but I cannot at this time.
Ohhhhhhh. Now I get it! I just went back one more time and I got the word. Now that is really funny!!!

 

[me-n-my-fish]

Yea, kinda stupid....anyways sitting at work with nothing to do, so I said, hey, I look for that tang with the white spot. Now, lets see if I can get a picture to work....

I know that this is not a Yellow Tang, but does it look something like this?? If it does then I was wrong. It is HLLE, which I now know means "Head and Lateral Line Erosion" Learn somthing new everyday. If it is then <a href="http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/weekly/aa040901.htm" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for some info on it. If not let me know, I will be here all day with nothing to do but wish I was at home with my fish!!

 

[heavenly damsel]

My yellow tangs have white lines in the morning when the lights come on that eventually disappear. I have also seen the white lines when they are stressed, like when I add a new fish. It is normal from what I have been able to tell from reading. BTW that white dot near their tail is a "barb". They use it for defense against other fish and may use it on you when they get larger. Be careful of that particular white dot.
HTH

 

[bluemarlin]

Nope. Great replies everyone and I really appreciate the help but we haven't identified it yet. I'm sorry I don't have a photo for you.
Thanks for posting that link for the HLLE. I now know that it is NOT lateral line disease. The lines start just above its eye and wrap around the rear of the eye and swing down towards the mouth. Like a bananna shape. This is the same on both sides of the fish. Then, there is another line that starts in front of the eye and curves down to the mouth. Again, this line is also on both sides.
I looked really close at him last night and I don't think these lines belong there. Its almost like someone took a fingernail and made these lines.

 

[duff]

Not to be a smart***, but it sounds just like the gills on my Yellow Tang. Do they move in and out?