What is happening to my tang?

[AuntKaren]

I posted a picture taken 2 days ago of the new tang (Tommy) in our 180. I was watching him and in about a 5 minute time span it looked as though he went head-on with a rock. His face is scratched. I thought he had done a really quick turn in a cave and scratched his face but it seems to be worse today.

These are pics I took about an hour ago. Anyone have an idea what's going on here?

:eek:

[jojo22]

Not sure but from your description it seems to be spreding fast. It could be a infected scratch. I would put him back in QT and start treatment for fungal and bacterial infections untill you get a more positive idea of what is happening.

[lReef lMlaster-old]

Could be Marine Head and Lateral Line Erosion. commonly caused by stress and diet. i would place in QT and try a varied diet of seaweed and mysis, just my $.02. hope it helps

this is an excellent article on it http://www.captivereefing.com/showthread.php?t=3979

[jojo22]

Good call but from my understading, and it woul not be the first time I was wrong, HLLE generaly starts around te eyes and not in te front of the head, but none the less something to look into.

[Sweetpea]

I would definitely get him into QT quick. It must be scary to see it getting bad so fast. In addition to treating him with meds, I would enrich his food... soak the seaweed in Selcon before you give it to him (and the other foods too). A little garlic probably wouldn't hurt either. Best wishes!

[greg97527]

looks just like HLLE to me, we have a koran that started out just like that of a customers. she brought it in to us and we treated with selcon and garlic. she's doing great now but will be left with a scar. good luck.

[AuntKaren]

Geeze! He had two weeks absolutely no problem the day AFTER he goes into the general population he gets HLLE? He IS getting a nice varied diet of mysis shrimp, nori, spirulina, and yes it is usually soaked in garlic first AND we add a vitamin supplement AND cyclopeeze. He's eating like a horse and eats nearly 1/2 a sheet of nori a day. What is selcon?? Can selcon be put into the main tank? Is HLLE contagious to the other fish?

Boy this is really disappointing!

[AuntKaren]

OK I read the article. The tank paramaters are all perfect. No nitrates No ammonia, No nitrites, Alk 9.6 and calcium 450. Salinity is 1.25, Temp is 78. We change 10% water weekly and it's ALWAYS the above measurements.

I've already said we soak all the fish food in garlic (at least 3X a week) We also use a vitiman additive (at least 3X a week). (I'm not being sarcastic here just pointing out something said earlier so y'all can remember.) He eats nori, he eats mysis, he eats clam, he eats talipa, he eats shrimp, he eats spirulina and he eats laminaria strips. So his diet is definately varied and supplemented. Now what?

Should I see to it that ALL his food has the garlic and vitamin supplements? We are trying to figure out a way to pen him into a section of the main tank and we can insure that he gets the proper food supplements all to himself. Does that sound feasible? Again, what is selcon??

[Whoyah]

Here is a link on the Selcon, which is good stuff in my opinion.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=AM1511

Personnally if the tang is eatting well in the main tank I would just leave it in there and just keep boosting its immune system with all the things mentioned. I would give it some time. Flippin it back into the QT might stress it out more. Just my 2 cents.

[jojo22]

I still don't think it's HLLE! it has spread to rapidly and with the positioning I highly doubt it. Plus if you params and diet are as you stated, which I am sure they are, then it makes me think this even more. Just my 2 cents but I highly recomend you look at other possibilites along with HLLE.

[AuntKaren]

Well, I've been looking at him more closely. His face seems to be healing but we are going to our favorite LFS tomorrow to ask our guy there. We'll take him a picture and get his opinion. I did notice tonight that his face "scratches" seem to be shrinking. The spot on his face along his nose is notably smaller. I'm thinking he's jumping around in the caves of LR and bumping up against walls. He's doing his "territory" dance all over the tank especially when we get up close with the magnifying glass LOL. He sure flashes pretty! When I figure out how to edit my camera's video I'll post it.

[hummer]

sounds good .... and hope he makes a full recovery

[cweber]

Im glad hes doing better, and wish you the best.

[mutts]

I thought HLLE took a long time to start up...

What I was able to dig up on HLLE really quickly (you have got me interested AK I feel another research project coming up)

Ok here it is from Robert M. Fenner's book The Conscientious Marine Aquarist:

"This common complaint is manifested in enlarged pores and disfiguring scarring along the heads and body laterals system of fishes. This syndrome has been linked to poor water quality, nutritive deficiencies, and the protozoan Octamita (Hexamita) necatrix. Tangs and angels are especially susceptible. Definite improvement is achieved with the administration of stabilized vitamin C and vitamin D. Fresh and prepared foods should provide these, but making sure they are there by including a vitamin supplement is recommended. Lightly steamed or microwaved broccoli has also been used successfully to treat the condition.
Anecdotally, “stray voltage” has also been implicated as a causative agent for HLLE. If in doubt as to whether your setup is grounded adequately, do test it and correct any problems. "

Hope that helps!

[AuntKaren]

You guys are ALWAYS helpful. His face is healing nicely it's about a 1/4" spot now. He's now gotten a scratch along his side. It's a scratch not a wormy looking thing as HLLE or MHLLE pictures have shown in the places you guys so generously provided for me :-) . He's been flashing and swishing his tail kicking up sand dust alot so it's my guess he's gotten carried away and run into rocks.

Anybody know where I can get a protective Tang Suit? LOL He gets along with all the other fishes and even pals around with the Longnose Butterfly so maybe it's a sally lightfoot or the creature we hear popping in the tank. (I don't know if it's a mantis shrimp or a pistol shrimp but it's one of em!)

Thanks for all your opinions they were all helpful!