Yellow tang can't suck food into his mouth to eat (1 Viewer)

[Fishbone]

Hey guys I have a yellow tang that came with the 180g tank I bought about a year and a half ago. He's pretty big (4-5in) so I imagine he's at least a few years old. Everything has been fine until about 3 weeks ago when I noticed he wasn't able to suck food into his mouth he desperately wants to eat but can't get food into his mouth. He can't even eat Nori algae sheets.

Tank parameters all seem fine with the exception of ph which which stays at 7.8 to 7.9 but then again it's always been there and everything is fine including all my corals sps, lps and softies.

I thought it might have been gill flukes so I caught him gave him a fresh water dip and then treated him with prazipro. He didn't try to eat while under treatment in the quarantine tank but I put him back into the display yesterday and he went straight back to trying to eat with no success.

While I was transferring him back to the main tank I looked into his mouth and it looked swollen but you can't tell from the outside.

Only other symptom I can tell is that his belly is sunken in but I'm sure that's from not eating.

I'm giving up trying to figure it out on my own and seeking help. Anyone have any idea what this could be and how to cure it? Anyone ever dealt with something like this?

Thx folks!

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[FarmerTy]

No clue but perhaps something fungal or bacterial causing the blockage in the mouth?

 

[webster1234]

I had one do that a while back. I put him in QT, and dosed him with different antibiotics over several weeks but never could get him to come around. I finally concluded it must be old age. Never could get him to eat.

You might move him back to QT and treat with Kanaplex. That is a broad spectrum antibiotic.

 

[PorpoiseHork]

Found this info for a similar issue on another site hopefully it will help...

From a disease standpoint, he could have a growth inside his mouth or possibly an infection. Or it could be swelling. However, that is all just pure speculation on my part. I think your best bet right now is to take the "wait & see" approach.

Now if you want to be proactive, there are two things I can think of you can do which may possibly help:

1. Dose Epsom salt @ 1 tablespoon per 5 gals - this will only help if swelling is occurring. Epsom salt is just magnesium sulfate, making it both reef and FO safe.
2. QT the fish and treat with a mild antibiotic such as Kanaplex. This will only help if infection is occurring. Dosing antibiotics in a FO is doable but not recommended.

 

[webster1234]

Agreed. I would not dose any antibiotic in anything other than a bare bottom QT. It can nuke the biological filtration in your DT. He will be fine in a 10g QT and won't require as much medication. If his stomach is already concave, timing is very critical and he likely won't survive anyway. So I would do something asap. You could probably do Epsom salt and Kanaplex together.

 

[Fishbone]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I am going to do the epsom and kanaplex. Thx everyone


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[Tangs]

I have had lots of Yellow tangs over the years. Swollen mouth does does not look good but never say never eh.