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 loss     4/11/12
Hello WetWebMedia Crew!
<Toby>
I ordered and received a Naso Tang based on our previous conversation.  The Naso was about 6"-7"
<Mmm, a bit too large to be caught wild, shipped... too small and too large specimens of all species have a hard/er time adapting to captive conditions... 3-5 inches standard length is about "the best" range for Naso lituratus>
and doing great for the last 9 weeks.  I say was doing great because he died last night.  There were absolutely no physical signs and anything wrong and the water parameters were checked often.
<Ah yes... an anomalous, mysterious loss...>
Tank Param.s
Sg: 1.024
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 10-20 (Working on getting them lower).
Tankmates:
7" Blue Hippo
4" Foxface Lo
(2) 1.5" Osc. Clowns
Blue Linckia Sea Star
(2) 1.5" Blue Green Chromis
<In how large a system? Six foot long plus I hope/trust>
The Naso ate like a pig everyday.  I fed the tank a small amount early in the morning before I left for work and again at night around 7:00 pm.  I feed New Life Spectrum pellets as well as food made by our local Marine Fish club which contains all kinds of variety.  I also put sheets of Nori in the tank for everyone to eat 2-3 times per week.
What could have caused the Naso to go from Mr. Personality to dead in two days? 
<"Cumulative stress"... not a satisfying descriptor likely, but the most likely and apt>
I should note that during his last day and a half, he just stayed in corner of the tank except last night before he died, he ventured out a little which made me think it was just a hunger strike over something that upset him.  There was also something strange with his upper teeth, they were showing like they were overgrown, however that was the case since I got him.  Didn't seem to interfere with him eating at all.
Any insights?  I've read and understand that sometimes fish just die, but I don't like losing any animal like this.
Thanks
Toby
<Do read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nasolsel.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Naso Tang: System\Health\Shipping Stress. 3/14/2009
<Hi Paul>
I have a 125 (6' long) all fish.
I have some live rock (1) blue tang, (1) clown, (1) damsel, (1) mandarin,((1) yellow tang, (3) emerald crabs, (3) cleaner shrimp, several snails, (2) sally crabs, and several hermit crabs.
<Pretty closed to maxed out as far as stocking is concerned>
All the water parameters are exactly where they should be.
<Actual readings would be helpful.>
The tank has been set up for 6 months and have not had one problem with it.
I started out with a 30 a couple of years ago and learned from there.
<OK>
Three weeks ago I purchased a (Naso) Tang (west indies?) from Saltwaterfish.com.
<What kind? I am going to assume Naso lituratus Totally inappropriate for a tank this size and with this level of stocking.>
When it got here it was very lethargic and couldn't seem to get off of its side. It carried on approximately two days this way and then started swimming upright.
<How big was the fish - Fish under four inches rarely adapt to captivity.
Also, it is imperative to get them eating immediately.>
During this time it didn't eat and I let it go for three more days and it went back over on its side and never recovered. I subsequently got my credit for the fish and decided to use it to order a larger Hawaiian Naso Tang. (after the acclimation period)
<Any Quarantine?>
I put it in the tank and it just laid on its side. After several hours it righted itself and seemed to be swimming OK.
<Shipping\environmental stress, starvation.>
It has yet to eat and this morning it is listing to one side like the other one did. I have tried everything I can think of, "entice", krill, algae, flake food, etc. but it will not eat. The other fish in the tank are loving the different variety of things I have offered.
<You may want to try some live Brine Shrimp>
Am I missing something? I hate to lose the guy he is very pretty but am at my wits end. I contacted a local fish store about some help but he was as clueless as me on what to do.
<There is much to learn here. Firstly, Nasos get BIG, needing hundreds of gallons. Being in conditions too small will stress them to death.>
If you can give me some advice I would be most appreciative.
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/naso.htm and here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/naso_lituratus.htm >
Thanks,
<My Pleasure>
Paul
<Mike>
Naso Tang: Acclimation\Quarantine\Health\Need More Information 3/20/2009
Hi all!
<Well hello there!>
I have Naso Tang that has been in quarantine for 8 weeks (he had a bout of Amyloodinium {microscopic verification}).
<Kudos to you for quarantining/verifying a disease before treatment!>
After battling that I introduced him to my display. My quarantine tanks are usually pH~7.8 (tap water almost always consistent. Just easier and if I run into emergencies like I said almost always pH 7.8). When I'm ready to transfer fish to display I increase the pH in quarantine to 8.2 over 10 days.
<OK so far.>
Except, with this Naso. I just put him in the DT completely forgetting to slowly increase the pH of quarantine (only realizing after his release).
Tried to catch it but forget it in 200g full of LR.
<Hehehe, I know what you mean.>
A week later Naso was lethargic, not eating introduced foods but still scavenged LR algae. Couple days after was very lethargic (I figure all a result of no acclimation). The same night after noticing his inactivity I
saw a tiny hermit clinging to his pectoral fin and dining (my Naso is 7 inches). The Naso was trying to dump the hermit but couldn't. I grabbed a long stick hitting the crab while the Naso was trying to swim away (either from me or the crab).
<I'm thinking the long stick...>
Finally the hermit dropped. The hermit had a good dinner. So now the Naso has exposed white tissue, and I've since removed the hermit.
<Ouch!>
It's been 2 days since this incident and Naso just lays on his side and hides all day (I would to). So to my question. Do try to grab the Naso and put him back in quarantine? OR do I leave him as he seems already very stressed (no one else in the DT appears to bother him). I'm leaning towards the later.
<Agreed - leave him in place and observe.>
And if I leave him, is there any point I should catch him and put him quarantine?
<Signs of infection etc.>
I really don't' want to lose this guy, he's the show, Nasos are my favourite! My anxiety is through the roof.
Thanks a bunch
<Mike>
Re: Naso Tang: Acclimation\Quarantine\Health\Need More Information 3/20/2009
No visible signs of infection but this morning dead.
<Sorry to hear that.>
I suspect bacterial infection or some physiologic anomaly precipitated by lack of acclimation all magnified by injury and trauma.
<I agree.>
I'll postmortem tonight but I don't think I'll see anything obvious.
<Still, not finding anything obvious still rules out environmental or pathogenic.>
Looks like only one solution; get over it with a weekend on the hills with my board and deep powder.
<Now there is an idea.>
I forgot I'm in Toronto. Sucks to be me...lesson learned...
<Do let me know if you find anything.>
<Mike>

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