Lipstick Tang DisF4

FAQs about Naso lituratus Disease-Health 4

FAQs on Lipstick Tang Disease: Lipstick Tang Disease 1, Lipstick Tang Disease 2, Lipstick Tang Disease 3,
FAQs on Lipstick Tang Disease by Category: Diagnosis, Environmental, Nutritional, Social, Trauma, Pathogenic (plus see Tangs/Rabbitfishes & Crypt), Genetic, Treatments

Surgeonfishes: Tangs for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Naso Tang with skin issue 2/23/18
Hello. I have a Naso Tang with some white scratches and areas of what appear to be slightly raised lumps.
<I see this in your photo>
I first thought they could be from scratches from the live rock. She has a great appetite and is behaving normally. Any insight?
Ragan Wilson
<Mmm; yes... likely a nutritional issue here; but could have trauma/physical damage, water quality component/influences as well. This fish is too thin (has a low index of fitness). I'd have you read on WWM re
Naso and Naso lituratus period; esp. nutrition/feeding. Do so. Bob Fenner>

Re: Naso Tang with skin issue 2/23/18
Ok, thanks. I’ve been treating the Naso for Ick with copper and am on the third week of treatment.
<Acanthurids and Cu don't mix. PLEASE read where you've been referred. You're poisoning your fish>
She is eating very well but now I’m concerned that maybe the copper is affecting her nutrition.
<Ah; you are wise here; or at least knowledgeable>
I don’t see any signs of Ick but was told to treat the parasite for 28 days. Do you think I should stop the treatment early? Thanks again.
<Yes I would. BobF>
Ragan Wilson
Re: Naso Tang with skin issue 2/23/18
For future reference, what is your method for treating Ich?
<Haaaaa: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ichartmar.htm
and the linked files above. B>
Ragan Wilson

Naso tang floating at surface after transport and freshwater dip    6/22/17
Hi Bob, I hope you are doing well.
<Ah, thank you Jake>
I am very sorry to bother you with a question but am a bit desperate to save a fish I received today. I picked up a very large male blonde Naso tang (about 11" not including streamers) from a wholesaler today and all seemed well got it back and did a freshwater dip before placing in a customers quarantine system. Normal procedure for freshwater dip that I always do (added airstone, adjusted ph and temp) but as soon as I put him in he started floating upside down at the surface.
<A "usual" behavior for large, moved Tangs... likely just anoxic; low oxygen at work here>
Added him to the tank and is upright but still floating. He has gotten a bit better but is still rising. The reason I'm asking is because this is the second large Naso tang that this has happened to me before and the first one died. Is this osmotic shock and if so what is your suggestive solution?
<These Acanthurids need to be packed in double, tripled bags of good make, in enough water to move about, and in the dark (in a box); and to be processed expediently. A job as a youngster was in the P.I., pushing newly arrived fishes about w/ a wooden dowel. Naso spp. especially were easily lost on receiving>
Again I apologize for messaging, I know you are a busy person and I personally don't prefer random messages on Facebook either but am a bit desperate. I tried W.W.M. As well as Google of course But I did not see anything pertaining to this situation.
Thank you for your time.
<This fish will resolve in time if it began righting itself. Going forward, LARGE acclimation container, LOTS of aeration applied. Bob Fenner>
Re: Naso tang floating at surface after transport and freshwater dip    6/22/17
Excellent, thank you very much for the very quick response and information!
<Glad to share... wishing we were out diving, even spearfishing for large Nasos. Cheers, BobF>
-Jake
Re: Naso tang floating at surface after transport and freshwater dip    6/22/17
This guy seems just about worthy of that status, thanks again
- Jake
<Welcome>

Naso Tang hole like symptoms on head. 7/19/16
Hello,
<Hola!>
I have being in the hobby for more than 20 years, and now I have run into this problem which I have never seen before. I wonder if you can help me diagnose what is going on here. I have search the internet where I found a discussion but nothing much said as the folks didn't seem to know either.
The owner of that fish reported that the fish was swimming and eating well but it died a few weeks later. The information was from 2003.
<I see>
I have this Naso tang in my QT tank I purchase the fish about 5 weeks ago.
The last 3 weeks I have notice these holds <holes> showing up. They seem to calcify
turn white in appearance and then they return, first red and then how you see them in the picture. The fish is eating well Pellets (Spectrum Thera A+), Rods Original Blend, Romaine Lettuce.
<I'd skip this last... no nutritional value and way too often a load of nitrate and... please do read re Naso lituratus foods, feeding on WWM>
The tank is 55 gal. The parameters are all fine. I have a flame angel and a purple tang along with her and they all get along. The flame and the purple are doing fine no symptoms.
Thanks for looking into this
Pedro
<All on one side.... Am going with this being a mechanical injury... healing from a trauma. I would not allow this to dissuade my placing this fish in the main/display. Should heal in time. Bob Fenner>

Re: Naso Tang hole like symptoms on head. 7/19/16
Thank you for the quick reply. So you do not think is some kind of bacteria or parasite. She also shows some signs on her other side but not as pronounce. Also see forehead. check this picture.
Thanks again.
<Read through here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nasodisfaqs.htm
and all the FAQs files above. B>

Juvenile Naso tang - hiding and not eating         7/15/16
Hi! I need your advice (tank size 120g including sump, 5ft long,
<See WWM re Naso lituratus... needs more room than this>
ammonia 0, nitrate 7, phosphate 0-ish) (fish : 3 small Bartlett Anthias, 4 small Chromis, 4 inch blue tang, 4 inch yellow tang, 5 inch blue throat trigger, midas blenny) I just received a juvenile Naso Tang from DD two days ago. Upon arrival (day one) he was swimming about and even ate couple of NPS <NLS likely> pellets - he was chased a few time by the yellow tang and but he seemed OK. Day 2 - was spent hiding in a cave and not accepting any food. Day 3 he was swimming about in morning low lights and there was no fighting but as the lights increase he retreated back to the cave - again accepted no food. I tried NPS 1mm and larger, Nori dipped in garlic, mysis shrimp, lettuce all target fed. Finally tried to some arctic pods (target feeding with turkey baster) - I think he ate some as much as I could see in the cave. I still think he is scared of the yellow tang. I decided to try to put him in a social acclimation box to decrease aggression
<Mmm; no. Put the Yellow tang in there instead... to give the Naso time to get established>
and also try to feeding him something!
<See WWM re... Phaeophytes are preferred>
I have successfully got him in social acclimation, the yellow tang still charges but stops half way. Do you think I am on the right track with isolation in acclimation box?
<No; I know you're not>
How many days can they go without food?
<Several; depending on how well-fleshed to start>
I like the nano tang a lot - do you think I would have to get rid of the yellow tang?
<Not likely; no>
I am afraid even if I can get the Naso Tang to eat once he goes back in the tank he would be harassed and stressed out again. Thank you advance for your response.
<The reading for now... Bob Fenner>
Re: Juvenile Naso tang - hiding and not eating       7/16/16
Thank you very much for you advice. The yellow tang is tough to catch.
<Yes; two nets... and maybe a friend with two more!>
I put a egg-crate separator in the main DP tank and put the Naso Tang back in the tank. This way he can settle down and not be bothered by the Yellow Tang. I am hoping reducing the stress will help with eating.
<It should; yes. Tangs are VERY starved in the process of collection, holding and shipping... Often don't eat for some time>
Now he lives on his own side of the tank with a small blue tang who is mellow. I am putting some Nori on a few rocks and will be getting some live red Gracilaria on Tuesday.
<Look for Browns per the reading....>
Hopefully by then things would have calmed down a bit and he would eat.
Again thank you for your help.
<Welcome! BobF>
Re: Juvenile Naso tang - hiding and not eating        7/18/16
Hi Bob - thank you for sharing your experience. Unfortunately the Naso Tang didn't make it.
<Ahh; do see here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nasolsel.htm
re criteria in selection>
He was lying no the sand in the rock work for couple of days with very little movement so never got the chance to eat. She was a small
<Trouble>
so I think the stress of travel was too much for her - I got the fish from DD and I am sure that he was eating while in their care. Just wanted to give you an update. Again thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Best, Reza
<Thank you, Bob Fenner>

stunned, absolutely stunned... Still, no reading; more fish killing; sm. Naso        4/13/16
Hi Bob,
What took place tonight, put simply, can not be real, has to be a nightmare.
I have my main tank, 180 gallon, going fallow. I am starting week 5 of that. My fish, are in a 75 gallon quarantine, no rock, just pvc, with 20 gallon sump. In sump is a hob filter, with big sponge seeded in main tank for months. I am running .5 level Cupramine in ere I came home from work today, and all fish ate, no issues. Couple hours later, maybe 4-5 tops, I come back down, and my Naso tang which I acquired Sunday from very reputable store, is swimming in slow motion, almost upright.
Stunned, I observe the other fish, all seem fine, except for my 3 inch blonde Naso. Who is on the ground, dead. just 4 hours prior, they were both eating and seemed fine.
All the other fish seem fine, eating, including a 4 inch Moorish idol, 3 inch purple tang, 3 inch Achilles tang, whom is housed in the 20 gallon long sump, and emperor angel.
<..... can't live in this sized space. See/Read.... a waste of time>
There is a 700 gph return pump blasting the sump, the 300 gph HOB filter in the sump, 1000 gph powerhead in tank, along with an airstone running all the time. I don't believe oxygen could be an issue here.
Upon taking the dead fish out (4 inch Naso, 3 inch Naso) I noticed the larger one had a large white blotch, almost like tissue necrosis in coral, which was visible during his last attempts at swimming.
These Nasos were in expensive, and I am not mentioning that for ego purposes, but the price may imply the local of these guys, and the possibility of cyanide catching (maybe?)
Stunned, speechless, no words for it. Losing a fish is one thing. Losing 2 out of 8 fish, who happen to be the same species, at the same time hours after seeming fine, is a bit suspicious to me.
Forgive me for writing perhaps prematurely, I am reading as we speak, and am very concerned with the remaining live stock.
Thanks, bob
stunned...follow up. Killing Naso lituratus      4/13/16
Well Bob, upon reading, sure enough, on reef central I see someone quoted you about small Naso tangs not being very accepting of the captive environment. I have read that before, I suppose next time would be a larger one.
However, what is still appalling to me is the timing of both deaths simultaneously. I also see some people state that .5 Cupramine may be too high for them.
Off to bed, hope to stum
re: stunned, absolutely stunned... No sense      4/13/16
I understand a larger quarantine would be better, but would never invest the funds in a 6 foot quarantine. Suppose I won't do Nasos anymore.
<...>
But does that really explain how two fish, could be eating and fat at 6pm, and within four hours. Emaciated and struggling to swim?
<...>
Too great a coincidence, hoping there's not a bigger issue lingering.
<.... keep.... reading....... Don't write>
Thanks

Please visit our Sponsors