View Full Version : Help needed with sick PB tang
My Powder Blue has always had a bit of whitespot since I got him 9 months ago. He's always eaten and been happy as the boss of the tank, but now the whitespot has got worse, he's off his food and he's not his usual bullying self - just hiding in a cave.
What can I do? Will a freshwater dip or something help?
Cheers
Jon
i had a problem with whitespot on my yt an wise old reefer told me to do an r/o dip for a few mins put the temp up in the tank and slowly lower s/g and wait for 4-5 days,the white spot drops off and has not come back for the last 3 weeks hth
Are you running a UV Sterilizer?
It worked for mine. He got rid of his white spot and hasn't had it again since.
Whatever you are going to do, if it's got to the stage where he is hiding and not eating, you need to do it fast!
Are you running a UV Sterilizer?
It worked for mine. He got rid of his white spot and hasn't had it again since.
Whatever you are going to do, if it's got to the stage where he is hiding and not eating, you need to do it fast!
Good point. I turned it off a couple of months ago thinking it wasn't doing anything - I'll switch it back on!!!
I might try the freshwater dip if I can catch him.
Cheers
Jon
I think I would try and put him in a hospital tank with a low dose copper treatment and maybe a obviously over a few days. But first turn on the UV, up the feeding maybe add ome reef complete to his food or garlic guard. If he doesen't get better take action. Maybe also add an airstone and bombard the tank with oxygen
Don't try a freshwater dip it will have no effect on marine whitespot. As the parasite is embedded in the skin the freshwater cannot reach it and kill it as it would an ectoparasite all this will do will be to stress the fish.
I would put the UV on as this can be very effective in removing the tomites providing the bulb is in good condition (i.e. with in the manufactures effective operating period) and the contact time is long enough to kill the parasite.
You can hyposaline treat the whole tank going down to around an no SG lower than 1.015 as this will kill the tomites as they search out the host but a cure can take 6 weeks plus with this method.
However your best best is to set a quarantine tank and treat with copper in the range of 0.15-0.3ppm using a copper test kit to keep the copper at a therapeutic level.
simon garratt
01-11-06, 23:45
Hi Jon.
A different approach from me...
Its ok fighting the symptoms, but you need to sort the problem.
the whitespot has got worse, he's off his food and he's not his usual bullying self - just hiding in a cave.
3 Yellow Tangs, PB Tang, Scopas Tang, Lipstick Tang, Regal Tang, 3 (!) Perc Clowns, Blue Throat Trigger, 2 Chalk Goby's, 2 Yellow Tail Damsels, Copperband, Spotted Mandarin, Cleaner Wrasse, 4 Common Anthias
5x2x2,5
Youve got one of the most territorial fish in the entire tang family, cramped into small box thats 1/100 the size of its natural habitat, and your forcing it to share that space with not just one or two, but 6 other family / related competitors for territory. An aggressive fish is a stressed fish, and a stressed fish, is suseptable to infection.
If you do pull him round (which i hope you do) I would strongly urge that you loose some of the tangs, (down to a maximum of 3 ime for that sized tank..) if nothing else think of it as an ethical move towards providing a more relaxed and natural environment for the fish rather than a bussling display for your own pleasure..
IMO, If you carry on as you are, you stand the chance of having a major outbreak on your hands, and the loss of hundreds of poundsworth of stock.
regards and best of luck.
Si
Simons right :eek: this is a job for the Tang police you have way to many in there!
Cheers guys. Mr PB died yesterday :( Gutted.
I think the tang police should have arrested me earlier..... I may even join the force.
Rgds
Jon
We all learn by our mistakes very sorry to hear about its puke when you lose fish. I have a new 325 ltr tank going only one tang for my tank and thats my powder blue. My last 2 tangs were supposed to peaceful and they still had the odd ruck and tail waving.
Cheers Guys. As you say, we all learn from our mistakes. All I hope is that others learn from mine too, rather than making the same mistake.
Rgds
Jon
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.