Rescuing a yellow tang.

[AdamsB]

While at a lfs yesterday I saw this little guy
http://i.imgur.com/yyzl9a0.jpg

I knew nobody would buy him looking like that and with a $90 price tag so I asked the staff what they wanted for him. I got him for $10 bucks and hoping to bring him back. His body looks good but his fibs are all thorn up. I had a spare 30 gallon half moon so that's going to be his home for the next month or so. Left him overnight in a 1/3 dose of methylate blue and he's eating freeze dried brine shrimp today. Using a heater, air pump and 550gph powerhead with a little crushed coral substrate and a plastic cup for cover. I'll be doing a 50% slow water change tonight with an aqua lifter and feeding a piece of dried seaweed. Any other tips or advice appreciated.

I've never knowingly bought a sick fish but I have a soft spot for tangs

http://i.imgur.com/TYMdnsZ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/vuzBqYM.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/UtV7Cwy.jpg

[hillegom]

Good for you. Hope he pulls through.

[spit.fire]

From the looks of his fins there is a chance that he won't fully Re-grow his fins. But even then he should live a happy life.

Good on you for rescuing him

[HaZRaTTy]

Good on you buddy the LFS should have just given you him he was destined for a sandy grave staying there.

[The Codfather]

Get him started on the marine grazer, he'll fatten up in no time.

[AdamsB]

So this little guy we've decided to name Bart, because he's yellow and spiky on top :)
http://i.imgur.com/RBeTr9g.jpg

I was watching him for a bit today and decided the 30 gallon half moon wasn't suitable. It has too much vertical and not enough horizontal room. So I went out and bought a 20 gallon long, glass cover and a single t5 light unit. It's a much better quarantine tank and fits just nicely on the ledge in my basement suite. Also panted the back, bottom and one side a medium blue.

http://i.imgur.com/mPNMeMm.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/LO27lHo.jpg

[Duker]

Good on ya bud, i would have brought him home to. :biggrin:

[Coralgurl]

Yay Bart! I hope he does well for you!! I had a Tomini Tang that would pick on my blue throat trigger all the time and would rip up his fins. No where near how Bart looks, but once I got rid of the tang, my trigger's fins grew back. I do think Bart's will grow back to some extent, just takes some time.

Keep us posted on how he does!!

[AdamsB]

He's doing very well. Took the advice of some others here and added a filter which won't be seeded so it's just mechanical filtration for now. But the live rock will cover the nitrogen cycle. Feeding garlic soaked freeze dried foods and nori daily. He's healing up very nicely :)

http://i.imgur.com/TNvi2gY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/OSHo3B4.jpg

[SmallFry]

Looks like you're doing a great job - that fish sure struck it lucky!

[gregzz4]

Good move on the longer tank Adam :smile:

On the advice of Albert, I covered the back and sides of my QT
I didn't have anything really handy except a black garbage bag, but it worked great
My QT fish calmed down right away
Mine is on a black stand and is bare-bottom so all was good

Later on I added travertine tiles to the bottom to cut the glare but I didn't have fish in there long enough to see any results

Hopefully Bart will not look like his namesake for long :wink:
Keep up the good work

[AdamsB]

This little dude is doing pretty good. Still a little timid and has slowed down eating compared to the first few weeks but still finishes his food. Dorsal fin is healing nicely but his head and dorsal are a little faded. He's got probably at least another month before hitting the display tank. I may even try to remove my 6 line before that, he can be a real wrasse hole!

Any advice on treatment for this guy much appreciated. All parameters are good, salinity around .025 temperature 25c, 20G long, tetra whisper internal filter rated for 40G, korella 550, 12 or so lbs of live rock, aerated while lights are on (timed for 9 hours a day) single t5 10k bulb, glass cover, painted back, 1 side and bottom.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/01/a3y2anuh.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/01/qygegytu.jpg

[nrosdal]

Nice work Adam, if you wanna give the marine grazers a try for him let me know and i will happily donate them to help your little guy and can drop them by next time i drive by your area.

[AdamsB]

That would be awesome nick. I've actually moved about 8 blocks from where I was before onto white road, so shoot me a message beforehand. I've got a few sps frags, I could trade you one for the food :)

[AdamsB]

Big thanks to Nick at reef supply canada for his donation of new era marine grazer and flake algae. I'll have this guy fattened up in no time :)

On a second note, HLLE isn't contagious (or at least no inhabitants in my DT are known to be affected) so I'm considering moving this guy over. More room, natural growing algae and a more stable water column. I'll give it a few days, if he starts eating better I'll leave him. If not I'll make the switch.

[AdamsB]

Moved this guy into my display tank about a week ago. He's doing fantastic. Much more at ease than in the quarantine. Comes out for feeding too. He enjoys the marine grazer with the rest of the fish and is filling out nicely. I break the grazer up into little pieces, they don't really go for it otherwise. I'm pretty much at the limit of my fish stock so he may be the last addition to my tank. Just coral from now on :D

[Ginu]

Awesome story, fishy got really lucky :)

[ToshAlexandra]

That's so great - made me sad watching him deteriorate at the store, glad you rescued him! My tang chows down on chaeto as well, always stick a clump in when the lil fuge gets full!

[tim the toolman]

Great to see this happening.
Good on you for putting in the effort needed to give Bart a chance.

[AdamsB]

A few updated pics :) this guy may never be 100% again but he's a great addition!
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/24/u3y7uma4.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/24/qa5evyta.jpg

[tobysmurf]

That's so awesome to see a successful rescue like that. Congratulations, I hope that little fellow lives a long happy life!