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FAQs about the Powder Brown and White Cheek Tangs Disease/Health
Related Articles: Powder Brown Surgeonfishes,
Genus Acanthurus, Naso,
Related FAQs: Powder Brown Tangs 1,Powder
Brown Tangs 2, & FAQs on: Powder Brown
Tangs Identification, Powder Brown
Tangs Behavior, Powder Brown Tangs
Compatibility, Powder Brown Tangs
Selection, Powder Brown Tangs Systems,
Powder Brown Tangs Feeding, Powder
Brown Tangs Reproduction, &
Acanthurus, Acanthurus Tangs 2, Acanthurus
Tangs 3, Acanthurus ID,
Acanthurus Behavior, Acanthurus
Compatibility, Acanthurus Selection,
Acanthurus Systems, Acanthurus
Feeding, Acanthurus Disease,
Acanthurus Reproduction, Surgeons
In General, Tang ID,
Tang Behavior,
Compatibility, Systems,
Feeding, Disease, | 
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White-faced tang
Hi, I recently asked you about adding a powder
blue tang to my 55 gal tank. You suggested another type of fish. Well ,
I decided on adding a white-faced tang A. japonicus). I've had him since
1-30-00. My problem is he seems to have a small section of white fungus
looking stuff on his left side below the lateral line. Also in front of
his eyes are little holes, I don't recall these being here before. I set
up a hospital tank and purchased some meds (Hex-a-mit active ingredient
Metronidazole). Is there something better to use?
I do monthly 25%
H2O changes, last one 1-23. The set up is as follows: 20# live rock,
H.O.T pro canister and BioWheel, Skilter filter, small power head, 2
cinnamon clowns, 1 blenny, 1 banded coral shrimp, 1 yellow tail damsel,
some macroalgae. Also the Skilter filter isn't producing any scum.
The last H2O test showed about 1.5 on the scale. I know there's a lot of
questions here, so any suggestions would be helpful. Nicole'
<<Hmm,
well I wish I could see this animal close up... Don't know if I'd move
and treat it... the pits may be just natural openings of the Lateral
line system... and not necessarily infected... Do consider moving the
fish back to the main tank and trying feeding it foods soaked in vitamin
and iodine preparation (the Nori sheet algae from oriental food sections
is great for this)... and maybe add a biological cleaner (like a Lysmata
shrimp) to help clean up the damage on the side... likely not an
infection, but a sign of mechanical injury. Bob Fenner>>
Blotchy Powder Brown Tang
Bob, or anyone else who can help me.
My Powder Brown Tang has started showing some skin coloration blotches
along its gray body. They are not spots and no other fish seems to be
affected. All readings are okay except that the alkalinity is way down
less than 1.0 The fish only tank is 75 gallons with a UV sterilizer, a
protein skimmer and trickle filter. The fish appears to be fine, eating,
etc. but I am worried. What should I do?
Thanks. Howard Cushnir
<<Hmm, how long have you had this animal? What do you feed it? What
temperature is your water? I would raise the temp (to low eighties) and
raise the alkalinity (add a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate, yes baking
soda, per ten gallons for the next few days till the alkalinity is above
3.0), and check for low oxygen tension... and/or just add a mechanical
aerator (airstone, powerhead with venturi intake)... lower your specific
gravity to about 1.021... This is a touchy species that requires high
water quality, lots of oxygen...Bob Fenner>> Black spot
Hi,
I have recently acquired a power brown tang. It's eating and
swimming normally. However, yesterday I noticed it rubbing one side of
its body along the substrate and today I there is a black/dark-ish spot
close to its scalpel spine. Do you know what this is and what should I
do to correct it?
<Mmm... "this" might well be just being new as a
cause... but this species is one of the more difficult to keep
Surgeonfishes. Please read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/GoldRimSs.htm
and the accompanying FAQs...
on to the nutritional, environmental disease sections on the Marine
Index... Bob Fenner>
Thanks. Geoff Powder brown dis.
Hi,
I put a small powder brown with a small purple tang they are
doing fine but my powder brown have some white spots but they are like
really hard to see. am I okay ??? the powder brown was 15 days in
quarantine tank and now he is in a 45g reef with cleaner shrimp and a
cleaner wrasse! is they ick the result of the initial stress of the fist
day? will it go away? -Miguel
<Oh where to start. Hopefully, you have
the good Powder Brown Tang, A. japonicas. You can read more about their
care and determining which you have here
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/GoldRimSs.htm Also, your cleaner wrasse has a
terrible history of dying in captivity. You can find out more about them
here http://www.wetwebmedia.com/labroide.htm Now, what to do about your
sick fish. Move back to quarantine and treat separately. You may have to
quarantine the Purple Tang and allow the tank to go fallow for up to one
month. -Steven Pro> Wrong Kind of Powder-Brown Tang
I
tried to do everything the correct way this time around. After eight
years away from marine fishkeeping, I got back into it here recently and
decided this time I was going to take my time and do things properly to
avoid the heartache of losing livestock. I was making good progress on
your book, but I now know I should have been more conscientious! I
purchased a 55 gallon, dug back up my old wet/dry, added 70 lbs of live
rock, bought 4-96 watt subcompacts, a Fluval 404, a couple of
powerheads, undergravel, added live rock to the wet/dry and lit it...
and waited two weeks for the nitrogen cycle before I decided I'd add my
first fish. I got excited and went to the retailer to see if I could
find a fish I'd fall in love with. I have not yet set up a quarantine
tank, so my new fish was slowly acclimated and released. Some of the
retailer's water escaped into my system via a bag puncture. The new guy
is what I now know to be the "bad" Powder Brown Tang nigricans. He was
vigorously healthy at the retailer, eating algae like it was his job and
very happy. He's about four inches in length. He's now rubbing pretty
constantly on the live rock and shows tiny white spots on his body and
fins.
<Sounds like Marine Ich/Cryptocaryon.>
I also brought home
five turbo snails and two tiny blue hermit crabs that were recommended
for my planned reef setup. My pH is about 8.2, nitrite 1 ppm, nitrate 20
ppm.
<Both ammonia and nitrite should be zero and 20 ppm for nitrate
is about as high as I like to see.>
What should I do with this guy?
<Do read through WWM concerning treatment of parasitic diseases and
Marine Ich/Cryptocaryon.>
He's eating algae still but is rubbing very
frequently. What's the best treatment for him and for my tank Bob?
<Educate yourself and formulate a plan of attack.>
Thanks, Marc White
<You are welcome. -Steven Pro> Powder Brown follow-up
Greetings,
<<Hello to you, Marc.>>
I recently wrote to describe my
mistake purchase of a Powder Brown (nigricans) and the marine ich that
followed. I am sad to say the lowered salinity, increased temperature
and copper treatment did not work and I lost him.
<<am sorry to hear
of this loss. >>
I am now left with a livestock-less 55g tank and
don't know which direction to proceed. I now know I want to have a solid
quarantine tank up and running (ahh, here's to learning the hard way).
What will it take to rid the main tank of the ich?
<<Let it run
fallow for five to six weeks, then quarantine anything you plan to
add.>>
I am considering making it a q tank and starting a larger
system.
<<Also a possibility.>>
Would I be able to use the 70
lbs of LR from the 55 in the larger system, or is my assumption correct
that the LR would infect the new system? <<No worries. Live rock doesn't
'catch' parasites.>>
Also, I have an undergravel filter with reverse
powerheads as described in Bob's book, but I have been told by others
this may cause problems with nitrates. Should I remove it?
<<You
could. There really isn't anything wrong with this system per se... and
normal levels of nitrates can be addressed with regular water changes.
Are your nitrates high? If not, I wouldn't be concerned. If you do build
the larger system, you could easily forego the undergravel filter and
add more live rock.>>
Also, the turbo snails and blue hermit crabs
almost immediately died when I introduced them to the new tank along
with the nigricans. Was this likely from the nitrite at 1ppm?
<<Ahh
- perhaps. If you have/had any nitrite at all, then the possibility
exists that your tank had not completed the nitrogen cycle. In any case,
it's never wise to add many things at once to a system... much better to
add one thing a month and let things settle in between.>>
Thanks for
your time and understanding!
Warm regards, Marc White, Greenville, SC
<<Cheers, J -- >>
Powder Brown Problem?
Hi,
<Hi there- Scott F. here today>
I'm hoping you can help me diagnose what is affecting a new fish of
mine. I've begun the process of carefully adding livestock now
using your advice. I added a powder brown tang to my main tank
about a week ago after quarantining him for two weeks.
Very good,
but I recommend a full 30 day quarantine procedure>
He appeared
very healthy up until a day or two ago. The symptoms he's showing
are pale coloration on top of the head and towards the dorsal area
and a more slight paleness overall. He darts about and thrashes
around a bit. There are no visible spots of any kind on his
exterior and I haven't really seen him scratch, so I don't think
it's ich or velvet. I've tried to see if there is rapid gilling,
but it's hard to tell with him.
<That's somewhat encouraging. If
he's eating well, that's a good sign, too.>
I have a Picasso
trigger in there too and he seems fine right now, but then again
that fish is seemingly bullet-proof. Do you know what this might be
or what else I should look for?
< Well, hard to say without a
picture, but it could be anything from acclimation/collection
trauma, water quality or dietary issue to a disease. In the absence
of poor water quality parameters (i.e.; detectible ammonia, nitrite,
etc.), I'd suspect that this may be the beginnings of a more serious
parasitic illness...I still would not rule out Cryptocaryon or
Amyloodinium here.>
And what treatment should I use? I have the
QT ready to go. Is there anything I should do immediately, like a
freshwater dip? Thanks so much for any help.
Tim
<Well, Tim-
I'm inclined to recommend removing the fish to the treatment tank (I
commend you on the preparation of the "hospital facility") for
further observation. Yes, I do like the idea of a freshwater dip
here as an initial start. If other symptoms indicative of a
parasitic illness manifest, I'd begin a treatment regimen utilizing
a formalin-based product. I'm a big copper sulphate fan for many
fishes, but you do need to be careful with tangs and copper, as this
medication can damage the fish's digestive system and cause other
difficulties for the fish. If this does prove to be one of the
aforementioned parasitic illnesses, I'd consider removing all of the
fishes for observation and/or treatment. Meanwhile, you may want the
main tank to go "fallow", without fishes for about a month, to allow
the parasitic population time to "crash" for lack of hosts. Quick
action is vital here...Regards, Scott F>A Cure For The Powder
Brown Blues?
Scott, thanks for the reply. Well I took him
out and placed him in the QT and he was just fine, no signs of
irritation or anything.
<Excellent! Glad to hear that!>
I left
him there for a few days, and in the mean time I thought maybe an
old power head that I had in there that quit working might have
something to do with it since it was still plugged in but had quit
running properly. So I unplugged it and put him in a few days
later.
<I wonder if "stray voltage" or some other unusual
phenomenon caused this problem? Hard to say what it was...>
He
seemed ok but I noticed he gets real frisky and aggressive along the
glass. I think he's seeing his reflection and it's
driving him
nuts.
<Definitely a possibility>
Or maybe I'm nuts, but I
don't know what else it might be.
<Well, that's an entirely
different matter, LOL!>
He started this when I first put him in
there initially, but now I he just acts kinda crazy. He zooms
around and gets all twitchy and stuff.
<Not a totally unusual
behavior for a tang...>
I tested it by turning out the overhead
lights so there is no reflection on the glass and he calms down. It
probably sounds strange, but I think he's just a little too high
strung.
<Again, not out of character for tangs..>
Anyway, he
seems totally healthy other than that. His coloration is beautiful
as it was when I got him and he's definitely full of energy. Having
so many problems with parasites in the
past, I thought for sure
he had something. It's good that he doesn't, because I'd be ready
to pull my hair out. The tank sat fallow for 6 weeks and I'm taking
a lot of precaution now. All seems to be well for now, thanks for
your help.
Tim
<Well, Tim, even though your procedures were
conservative, I think that they were the way to go...The potential
risk of skipping this process is not worth it, IMO. I hope that
things continue to go well for you and the fish! It was a little
"touch and go" there for a while, but I'm glad to see things are
looking up! Regards, Scott F.> |
Acanthurus
japonicus 26 Mar 2005
Hello Crew,
<Hi there Brad, MacL here
with you tonight.>
I have been looking for a white cheek for a while
now and came across on in a LFS. It was housed in a tank with another
white cheek of the same size. They were having a fierce battle. Both
fish were beaten up one way worse than the other.
<Such a shame,
those guys don't import well to begin with then to put them in a tank
together is tough.>
Feeling sorry for the fish I purchased the
better of the two for a good discount.
<Please, please please don't
ever buy a fish you feel sorry for, it's always fighting a tough
battle.>
He was placed in my 20 gal QT tank. I then added Mela fix
for 5 days and his torn fins and body gashes have healed nicely.
Thursday evening I noticed a few white spots on his body, flashing, and
rapid breathing out of one gill.
<Stress from the fighting.>
I
have started treatment in the QT tank with quick cure but am confused
about what is the better method of treatment. I have read in your FAQs
that copper is harmful to tangs as well as formalin based meds.
<They can indeed be, you need to use very low doses with them and
frequent water changes after treatment.>
Which is the better of the
two evils to use?
<Copper works faster in my experience.>
30
minutes after adding the quick cure the tang started using both gills
but has resorted to one again this morning.
<He might have damage to
his gills, often you have to treat with a follow up antibiotic and not
MelaFix to handle the results of the ich damage.>
Most of the ich
spots have dropped off but is breathing is still fast. Also his inner
lips were reddish and are starting to return back to a white color.
<Since you have already begun with the formalin I would continue with it
but cut the dose. My problem with both of them is that you really need
to test the amounts in the tank.>
If I need to switch to copper
should I put carbon in to absorb quick cure before using the copper or
can I just switch. <Big huge water changes to get rid of something
before you add something else. Good luck Brad.> Powder Brown Low-Down (Tang Quarantine) 7/14/05
I have a 75gal FOWLR, and I am thinking of adding a Powder Brown (White
Faced) Tang.
<Just keep thinking, but please don't add this fish to
your tank, unless a much larger tank is in the very near future. Your
tank really is too small to support this fish for anything close to a
natural life span, IMO. You need a tank that is at least 6 feet long, to
provide "physical space" for the fish, as well as large water capacity
to help dilute metabolic waste...>
I have a 20gal hospital tank
setup and I know how to perform a freshwater dip.
<A good practice>
Should I run copper in the hospital for the whole 21 days or just wait
and see if anything pops up.
<I would not use copper, or any other
medicine, on a prophylactic basis.>
I'm pretty sure with a Powder
Brown it is going to have ich (even if I don't see it) and I don't want
to kill it the copper treatment but I also don't want the ich in my
main. What to do?
Thanks
Daryl
<Well, Daryl- if you were
going to get this fish, you'd be well advised to do a full 30 day
quarantine, without copper or other medication. Only medicate if the
fish shows signs of illness. Just make sure that you run the full 30 day
quarantine. Regards, Scott F.> White-cheek tang,
Acanthurus nigricans 9/17/05
I recently got one of these
from Hawaii direct. It is beautiful, very active and quite aggressive.
It is 5" long. It will chase my 5" saddle grouper, 8" niger trigger, 7"
Bluejaw trigger, and even make my new 12" red Coris watch it's tail. It
loves dried seaweed, Nori like the site suggested, and dried brown
algae. It has not eaten pellets or meat yet. I am curious about the
longevity claim on the site. This fish is aggressive, more than I
thought, and very healthy. Have you heard of this? <These tangs are
generally aggressive toward other tangs. This should simmer down.>
Could this fish still be in the die in 3 months or less category? If so,
what to look for. <Dan, Acanthurus tangs are not the easiest tangs to
keep. They are ich magnets so to speak. Your tank is MUCH too small to
keep the sizes of fish you are keeping. Most tangs from this family are
difficult to keep alive more than three months. Your stocking level
alone will more than likely shorten this time.> This alone will add
stress to the fish.> I have an Eheim wet/dry that sprays in 2 gallons
every minute creating a ton or air in the water, and all together the
water cycles 18 times an hour. I have 2 large skimmers and 2 emperor
400's also, UV, and nitrate reducer by Aquaripure that actually keeps
them under 20 ppm. The tank is a 100 gallon with about 175 lbs of
rockwork. <Good luck, James (Salty Dog)>
Thanks, Dan North.
Possible fish ick but not sure??? 2/13/06
To
All: <To James today.>
I have a 90gal tank setup with coral and
fish. I believe I have two tangs with ick. It almost looks like small
air bubbles on the skin and front side fins. It also looks like my
powder tang's color maybe fading. I have two. Is this what
Ick looks like?? <Sure sounds like it.> I know you recommend a tank for
treating, but I don't have one setup at this time. <Should have waited
till you got one, especially with purchasing a powder blue/brown
tang. The quarantine tank would have been a much better investment than
the powder tang.> I was going to try "Stop Parasites until I get a 2nd
tank. If it doesn't cure the problem hopefully it will save the fish
<How can it save the fish if it doesn't cure the problem?> until I get
the 2nd tank setup.
Any suggestions on this or help if this is
really ick would be of great help. Oh and this tank has only been setup
for about 3 months. <Tank really isn't "seasoned" enough to be adding
difficult species of fish such as the powder. Only in larger and well
maintained systems will you have a chance at keeping powders alive for
any length of time. Any effective ich treatment is going to contain
copper which cannot be used in a tank with corals. My only suggestion to
you would be to ask your dealer if he has a treatment tank you could put
the fish into. If not, then you will have to find a home for the corals
so you can treat with a copper base medication. A copper test kit will
be required to ensure effective levels without overdosing, which can be
fatal to the tangs.>
Thanks, <You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
J.R.
Gold Rim Tang with Blue Bumps... learning not an easy
way 7/10/06
Hey guys. I have a gold rim tang and have
had him for about a week. I noticed this morning that he has a few blue
bumps on his face and about 6-8 blue bumps on his side. I noticed that
he also has 3 white bumps on his other side. I am unsure as how to
diagnose this and treat. If it was only white bumps that would be ich,
but not sure about the blue bumps. He is acting normal. The other 3
fish are healthy and happy. We added some new Fiji live rock a couple
days ago. I have been testing the water every 3 days. Water parameters
are: salinity 1.021,
<I'd raise and keep this up to NSW, 1.025...>
Ammonia 0, nitrite .05 (had a small spike),
<Dangerous>
nitrate
5 (again tied to that small spike when I added the live rock) and ph
seemed low this morning 8.1. I know the ph needs to be raised ASAP.
<Uh, no>
I tested the water 3 days ago and the PH was fine. Not
sure what caused the drop. I read that you can dissolve a small amount
of baking soda in a cup with dechlorinated water and that will raise the
PH. How can I safely raise the PH?
<Not with sodium bicarbonate
here: Please read:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marphalk.htm
and the linked files
above>
Sorry, not to get off topic... but I did not heed your advice
about a QT tank, and am setting one up as we speak. How can I help this
little guy get better?
<... now a treatment tank.
Actually, this fish likely "came in" with either a protozoan (likely,
and likely a sporozoan of some sort) or Cercaria infestation... is
"under the skin"... not able to be treated easily... except to treat the
environment... That is, to optimize, stabilize the habitat, deal with
through reduced stress, good nutrition... Very common for this species
(Acanthurus nigricans, nee glaucopareius) to have problems. Read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/GoldRimSs.htm
and the linked files
above.
Bob Fenner> - Help with Ick on
a Goldrim Achilles Tang - 6/14/06
I am
interested in a Goldrim achilles hybrid at the local LFS but he has bad
ich. They don't seem to know very much. I suggested vitamin C and algae
to feed and Kick Ick but they don't know about any of it. <I don't know
that the Kick Ich is a good idea.> Would I be better off to buy it and
treat it myself or let them teat it. <Your choice - one of the two ways
will cost you nothing.> I guess I should ask if the fish would be better
off. <Too late for that...> I think I know more than them but do you
have any tips as to aid in its survival.
<You can try but when these
tangs get sick for real, they rarely make a comeback. You'd have to have
a large quarantine system with excellent water quality to even begin to
turn this fish around. Odds are not in your favor.>
Thanks, James G.
PS. They are only asking 40 dollars so I wouldn't be out too much...
<Or... you could save your $40 for the next one that comes in healthy.
Cheers, J -- >
Treating a Powder Brown Tang (A. nigricans) with Crypt.
9/27/06
Hello Crew,
<Mark>
First let me tell you what
a great service your website is to those of us who love the
hobby. It is simply the most accurate source of information I've
found. It has really helped me make better decisions at the LFS,
separating truth from fiction.
<Ah, good>
I'm treating a
powder brown (A. nigricans) for crypt that was in a 120 gal reef
tank. The tank is located at a business and is "taken care of" by a
local service. I have salt tanks at home and have seen/treated
crypt before but never on such a delicate species as a powder
brown. I was the first to notice the fish had a slight case and
suggested to the service that they remove all the fish and treat in
a separate tank.
They obviously didn't QT the tang before they
brought it to us. We'll they didn't listen and went to dipping and
then to Kick Ich and......you know the rest.
<Oh yes>
Yes
they put Kick-Ich in the main tank, soft corals, inverts, and
all. I have nothing good to say about Kick-Ich. I fell pray to it
a long time ago. It's worthless.
<We are in agreement. Perhaps
worse than worthless... as folks actually believe they're doing
something of use>
I do not have experience with this
species. I've now educated myself about the powder brown on your
site and realize I may not win this battle, but I have to try. I
brought my 10 gal H.T. in from home and set it up in my office. I
removed a small power filter I run on my 55 at home just for this
purpose. The fish had a fairly severe case when the "fish service"
finally cried uncle and let me try 3 weeks later.
I'm at day 5
of a 14 day copper treatment (Mardel, Copper Safe) and the fish is
doing very well now. I've got it eating dried seaweed, it won't
take dried foods and I haven't tried frozen yet.
<Very likely it
won't feed till the copper treatment ceases>
Spots are gone, I'm
doing daily 4 gal water changes using water from my 55 gal at home
in attempt to seed the tank. Copper is probably killing bacteria as
quickly as I put it in.
<Likely so>
I am fighting ammonia;
it's at a steady 0.5 ppm as long as I continue water changes, which
was predictable. Nitrite is 0, which may change next week. Salinity
is at 1.023. that's where I keep my tanks. I am testing for Copper
and levels are where they're supposed to be.
Here are my
questions:
Assuming I can keep this delicate fish alive through
the copper treatment, should I return the fish to the main display
after two weeks or try to get the 10 gal to cycle and keep the tang
out of the "infested tank" for a full 30 days?
<The latter...
the main tank has been left sans fish hosts? Or "nuked" as in
bleached?>
I say "infested" because none of the other fish are
showing signs of crypt.
<It's there>
I understand there is a
potential for the fish to become infested again
<Almost a
surety>
I just don't know if the extra time out of the tank
really means anything since we didn't let the system go fallow.
<A mistake>
I'm conflicted between stressing the fish by keeping
it in the 10 gal longer than required and potentially re-infesting
it in the main tank. How much stress am I putting the tang through
keeping it in such a small tank?
<A bunch>
I realize they
like large spaces! Do you see any thing wrong with my treatment
method?
Thanks for a wonderful site!
Mark
Gustin
<Mmm, nothing per se... but the "whole picture" is
incomplete w/o the "treatment" of the main display... Bob Fenner>
Re: Treating a Powder Brown Tang (A. nigricans) with Crypt.
9/27/06
Bob,
<Mark...>
Thanks for your response. I
know it's a mistake to not let the main system go fallow. I
couldn't get them (the "service") to pull all the fish from the
display. They won't listen to me. They're the experts you
see! Since I'm not the owner of the tank I couldn't force the issue
although I tried. I thought it would be better to try to get the
tang healthy again than to just let it die, which was inevitable. I
had to try something.
<Mmm, Mark... you're on the edge of
raising my blood pressure dangerously... I salute your
efforts/intervention in trying to cure this fish, re/solve the
overall situation, but don't give a damn re who "owns" the rights to
do/not do whatever here. SomeONE must come forward and seize
responsibility... I call on you to be that person, really. Am only
interested in facts, not who did or did not do what here,
anywhere... Show the "service company" our site... I worked in this
aspect of the trade for nineteen years... >
I don't have a big
enough H.T. (only 10 gal) to house all of the fish in the 120 gal
display or I would have. I normally use my 10 gal only as a
quarantine tank.
<Who owns this livestock? It will be lost, the
tank remain infested if no action is taken. You understand this...
make them understand it as well>
I really have no choice but to
put the tang back in the display (it's not my fish) and cross my
fingers it doesn't get re-infested.
<...>
Frustrating! I
know the odds are not in favor of this. Knowing that the main
system will always have some level of the parasite in it, will
keeping the tang out of the main system for the full 30 days
decrease the chance of re-infestation?
<Very marginally>
This assumes none of the other fish becomes infested in the next
25 days!
<They are my friend... just "sub-clinically">
One
thing that the "expert" brought up was that the soft corals will
help reduce the numbers of the parasite.
<... no>
Is this
true to any extent? Nothing else this guy says has been correct so
I'm not holding my breath!
Maybe I'll gain a little credibility
with the "service" and they'll at least entertain the concept of
quarantine.
<Did this myself for many years... only route to go
is to provide as clean livestock as you can...>
These guys make
pretty good money for stocking and maintaining tanks. I'd think
that they would take as many precautions as possible to keep
parasites from entering systems they're responsible for. I'm
dreaming... I know
Thanks again.
Mark Gustin
<Please put
them in contact with me. Bob Fenner> Re: Treating a Powder
Brown Tang (A. nigricans) with Crypt. 9/27/06
Bob,
<Mark>
I'll do my best. I've already forwarded your
responses. Don't hold your breath.
<Sometimes...>
I get
upset at ignorance too! The problem here is we have someone who
loves the fish tank but isn't interested in learning about the
creatures in it. I have to be careful here. His secretary feeds
them! He can afford to have it...likes it...and can afford to pay
someone to set it up and care for it.
<Is this then the/an
end-all rationale in the West?>
When fish get sick it just
becomes a decision of economics. If it costs more to treat it than
to kill it and replace it...guess what the decision is? That's the
attitude of the tank owner...not the service. It boils down to
money because there's no respect for the creatures themselves. This
tang would have ended up in the garbage can if I hadn't pulled it
out!
<My friend... there are many "things" contained w/in a
relationship that make it "work"... concurrent goals, projects,
paths... BUT most importantly values... I call on you... to testify,
witness on your own behalf whether you can... in good faith...
"work" with this outfit, person>
I'd just take it home if I had
a large enough tank to keep it. Unfortunately...I don't. I could
house it for a short time in a 29 I have but my 55 is fully stocked
and would not support the addition of this aggressive fish.
We'll figure something out!
Mark Gustin
<Yes... we both will
indeed. BobF>
Re: Treating a Powder Brown Tang (A.
nigricans) with Crypt. 9/27/06
I understand.... no
this is not the prevailing rational in the west... just with some
individuals. You have to pick your battles and there isn't anything
that I'm going to say that's going to change him.
<Just be
yourself>
I don't/won't work for him or with him...just in the
same building.
Since I love the tank I occasionally stop by to
see it...and dream of someday having one like it. The Friday before
Labor Day I noticed the Ich and e-mailed the owner a proper course
of action...and you know the rest.
<Ahhh>
I may have some
luck with the guy who services the tank. He is a fellow diver and
obviously respects the creatures. He may never admit I was right
but may react differently in the future just for me having said
something to him. I don't think he's a bad guy... just misinformed
about dealing with Ich, and since he's in a business relationship
with the other... I've put him in an awkward position. I think he
truly believes I'm going to fail at this. I may....but for now the
fish is doing remarkably well. I had to teach it how to eat the
dried seaweed by sticking it to the filter intake. It was picking
at the tube like they do so I stuck a piece on it the tang is now
eating seaweed from a clip.
If he makes it thru the copper
treatment I may take him home and put him in my 29 temporarily. It
beats trying to make this small tank cycle and wasting all the salt
changing water everyday.
One last question and I'll get out
you're hair...you've got better things to do I'm sure.
If I do
convince them to pull the other fish out...should they be treated
with copper even though they show no symptoms?
<Yes>
You
say they are infested "sub-clinically". To treat or not is the
question?
<Treat>
It seems that I've read in the FAQ's that
it would be ok to put them in quarantine and observe while the
display is left fallow for 30 days. If they then develop symptoms
while in QT then treat.
<May not exhibit symptoms, will be
carriers...>
Mark Gustin
<Life to you my friend. BobF>
Re: Treating a Powder Brown Tang (A. nigricans) with Crypt.
9/27/06
Good news!
<Always welcome>
The tank owner
has informed the service that he wants the fish pulled and
treated...will be meeting them tomorrow to discuss the situation.
<Ah, good>
Looks like we did it...all is going to work out!
Thanks Bob!
Mark Gustin
<Thank you Mark. BobF> |
Powder Brown has ick... writer not reading... proof or WWM
11/1/07
Hi, I picked up a Powder Brown tang at my local FS and
had him in my 20gal to QT for 30 days before putting him in my 180 with
250 pounds of live rock. It's been running for 4 months. A week after we
got him we notices spots of ick, so we moved him to a 10 gal.
<...
Am a bit lost here... the fish was quarantined for a month, THEN moved,
THEN caught and placed in a treatment tank? Your main system is now
infested>
QT and started Red SEA non-chelated copper.
<Not my
choice...>
The test says to keep it at 0.3 ppm for ten days but
everything I am reading says to treat for 2 weeks. Is ten days long
enough?
<Mmm, possibly, though I would run chelated copper, if using
it/this, and complete the two-week treatment regimen>
The test kit is
very hard to read. Is there a good test kit that is easy to read, like
maybe a stick test you hold up to the chart?
<There are better test
kits... Again, covered on WWM...>
The tang seems to be doing good
except he's not eating much. I've been trying to feed him seaweed salad
and vitamin soaked brine shrimp. It is now day 3 in his treatment. I
also had a Green Mandarin Goby in the 20 gal. with him. I've been
keeping him in the 20 gal. with 20 pounds of live rock and feeding him
baby brine shrimp that I hatch, so I can get a good stock of food in the
180 for him. The mandarin hasn't shown any signs of ick yet. I've heard
that they aren't susceptible to ick. Is this true?
<Not as
susceptible, but can/do "get">
Do you think I have enough food in my
180 to move him? Of course I would wait at least 30 days now that he has
been exposed to ick. Thanks in advance.
<Again... am not following
you closely enough... I suspect you should read on WWM re these issues:
Crypt, Copper Use, Mandarin care... And write back with sensible
information and questions. Bob Fenner>
Loss of powder brown tang 12/26/07
Hello,
First off I want to
thank you for putting together such an informative site. I have a 125
gallon tank with an attached 30 gallon refugium and a 20 gallon sump. I
have about 175 lbs of LR throughout. DSBs are utilized in the display
tank and refugium. Specific gravity kept at 1.024 <I would raise a bit.>
and temperature at 75 degrees. Inhabitants included: 1 Powder Brown
Tang, 1 Tiger Wardii Goby, 1 Orange Spotted Goby, 1 Crocea Clam, 1 Skunk
Cleaner Shrimp, & 1 Peppermint Shrimp. My heater stopped operating
yesterday and being that it was Christmas, I was not able to purchase
another.
<Yikes, a back up unit next time?>
It was cold last
night for Arizona standards and the temperature in the tank must have
dropped into the sixties. I woke this morning and found the tang dead. I
checked the water parameters and everything checked out fine. Do you
think it was the drop in temp that killed him?
<Sounds likely.>
I
added the clam a few days ago and it has periodically excreted something
from its spout, but I was leaning more towards the temp drop. Also I was
wondering, I have two 6 ft blue actinic bulbs running off an Ice Cap 660
ballast. Do you think this will be sufficient lighting for a Crocea clam
if I place it near the top of the tank?
<No, not enough light and
wrong spectrum.>
Would it make a difference if I replaced one of the
bulbs with a 50/50 daylight bulb?
<Very little, you simply will need
more light for the clam. Read more on their needs, start here and
related FAQ’s
http://wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i3/Clam_care/Clam_care.htm
Thank you
for your time
<Welcome, good luck, Scott V.>
Need Help - Tang sick Jun 22, 2008 6/23/08
Attached is
photo of powdered brown tang,
<For clarification, an Acanthurus
japonicus... nee nigricans/glaucopareius>
young, have had him 4
months, very active, eating well, were gone to Coral Conference and
came home to find him, lethargic last night, today he is on the
bottom, breathing hard, we have him in 10 gal. isolation tank with
pump, heater, and treated the isolation tank with Melafix.
<...
Worse than worthless IMO>
He has darkened area internal towards
top front of his body. Lost a chromis last week that had darkening
internal as if bleeding inside. Should we do a freshwater dip, or
antibiotics?
<Mmmm>
Please advise, we call this morning and a
technician is supposed to be calling us back but has not yet. Our
no. is XXXX, Keith and Lisa XXXX. We have another chromis inside the
rocks that has left the school.
<Good descriptions, bad
behaviors>
We think maybe the chromis brought in disease as the
water parameters have been zero for months, we just retested ammonia
and N2 both zero, PH is 8.2 as usual, temp is 78, we do 10% water
changes every week. We did have a break out of red slime
<Uhhh>
and tremendous brown/green hair algae in the past week, also noticed
a foul smell a few days ago, cleaned all filters and it went away.
Recently added alot
<No such word>
of snails and hermits.
<Something is amiss with the environment here... that needs
identifying and addressing. The BGA could be a cause/effect... I
would do a MASSIVE water change, return the Tang to the main system
(the small confines, tea juice will likely kill it), keep a good
quantity of pre-made/stored water on hand... And read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/cnidcompppt.htm
Bob Fenner> |
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