Possible HLLE?

[dkode]

Hello,

I have been observing my sailfin tang for the last couple of days and he seems to be developing pitted holes behind his eye that seem to be duplicating in number and slowly moving back towards his lateral line. At first glance I thought it might be HLLE. This is the first time I have encountered HLLE, what should I look for? High nitrate levels? salinity? My salinity has gone up a little as it was at a very low level so I raised it slightly to 1.022. Other than that I have not introduced anything new to the tank, as a matter of fact I have had 2 shrimp and a half dozen scarlet hermits die over the last 2 weeks. It seems as if EVERY invert I put in the tank dies within two weeks.

Any ideas? I will be doing a water testing today and will post the readings asap.

thanks!

Sean

[jojo22]

Do a water change and try finding better/varied foods. these IME are the two leading causes of HLLE. You will also probably find the article posted by bobby in the featured threads at the top of the forum very helpful.

[lReef lKeeper]

here ya go, this article is by Mr. Steven Pro on the topic of MHLLE ...

http://www.captivereefing.com/showthread.php?t=3979

[seahorsedreams]

Bobby, provide a link to your original thread so he can see your pics of the boy you had. :-)

[lReef lKeeper]

coming right up !! ....

http://www.captivereefing.com/showthread.php?t=3946

there ya go, this was a pretty severe case but you should see him now !! i put him on a VERY strict diet and he looks 100x better than he did. he is still mine, but i have him at a LFS right now. he is in his own system that i take care of every couple of days. he contacted ICH from being moved so much, but between the cleaner wrasse and the copper med. he is doing great.

[seahorsedreams]

I'll be very interested in how he does in the future.

[lReef lKeeper]

still has the "pits" on his face, but his body looks AMAZING. he is changing colors a lot though. 1 minute he is bright and the next he looks like a ghost.

[jojo22]

Any updated PICS possible???

[lReef lKeeper]

i can get some later today or tomarrow jojo. i never know when i am going to the LFS, so i rarely take my camera.

[jojo22]

COOL I would like to se some progress pics as the only fish I saw with HLLE was at the LFS and someone bought him. I wounder if this is a somewhat common problem with sailfin's as that is what was at the lfs also.