another GREAT deal

[lReef lKeeper]

this is a 9 1/2" Red Sea Sailfin Tang, i got him for $30. the only problem is ... he got beat up pretty bad by what i am guessing was a purple tang (by description). any thoughts as to how i should treat him for his injuries ?? most of the injuries are to his face, some NICE size chunks are missing (as the pics show). any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated. please help me save this beautiful fish !!

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[seahorsedreams]

You sure that's not HLE? Not to say he couldn't have been beaten up too.... but it looks like HLE.....

[lReef lKeeper]

what is HLE ?? guess i need to do some fish medical research !! like i need something else to do.

[seahorsedreams]

HLLE.... sorry left out the L.

Head and Lateral Line Erosion.

[graphixx]

I agree, that dont really look like a but kickin to me.

[lReef lKeeper]

it doesn't really look like it. the chuncks are more of a mouth shape, and the guy said he got beat up (but that means nothing, cuz he didnt even know what he had in the tank. he had to describe what sounded like a purple tang).

[lReef lKeeper]

so whats the medication for that ??

[seahorsedreams]

Lemme go get Saxman..... he is much stronger in the tang department than I am.

*signing off*

[saxman]

there's not really a med for HLLE. altho it's causes aren't completely understood, some of the triggers can be elevated nitrates, lack of sufficient/proper vegetable matter in the fish's diet, poor lighting (there is anecdotal evidence that MH lighting or sunlight decreases the chances of HLLE...possibly something to do with the assimilation of vitamin D), lack of vitamin C, and stress.

i've read that once a fish has suffered HLLE, and has healed, it is more likely to contract it again when under stress.

it seems like tangs and angels are particularly susceptible, so water quality and diet are probably the chief causes.

i know of a snowflake eel that came down with a case of it, and getting the nitrates down reversed it, and each time the trates began rising, the HLLE returned. i also know of a purple tang that was pretty much written off, but was placed into a SW pool that got lots of sunlight and had good algal growth...the fish ended up being one of the sweetest looking specimens i'd ever seen.

dunno if this helps, but that's my experience. good luck!

[lReef lKeeper]

thanx a lot !! i guess now that i got the fish home (much better water quality than a pet shop or a guy that knows NOTHING about SW) i can just keep an eye on him for a while and see how it goes. i can ALWAYS take him back to the LFS if i have to.
would HLLE affect his dorsel fin and tail tips ?? he has holes in the dorsel and what look like bite marks on the tail tips.