Blind Tang
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Help
Forum Name: EMERGENCY FORUM
Forum Description: If you have an Emergency post here and you should receive a quick reply.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=55982
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Topic: Blind Tang
Posted By: Ann_A
Subject: Blind Tang
Date Posted: April 24 2012 at 11:21pm
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I recently got a powder blue tang, which now seems to be blind. He seemed fine when I added him a week ago, but today he ran into the glass (swimming very fast I might add) and is now swimming along the glass and sides of the tank and bumping into things. I've been reading about causes for blindness in fish, and so far the main causes I've come up with are malnutrition, excessive lighting, parasites/illness, or trauma of some type. Currently I feed pellets every other day. They are the http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewitem.aspx?idproduct=NL1313&child=NL1315&utm_source=adwordsfroogle&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=adwordsfroogle&utm_content=NL1315" rel="nofollow - New Life Spectrum Thera +A and on the days that I don't feed with these I use frozen mysis and cyclopeeze (rotating between the two). I don't see lighting as being a problem since I run the lights for 14 hours every day and I've never had any problems with fish due to lighting. As for parasites, I think this must be the cause. Currently the tang does have a tiny bit of ich visible on his left pectoral fin, but he eats fine (or he did until he went blind) and his behavior has been normal (again until his blindness). I've looked for signs of parasites on his eyes and in his gills, but I can't see anything in/on his eyes and the same with his gills. The only trauma I can think of would be him running into the side of the tank this afternoon, while swimming rather fast and making an audible thump. I'm sure this could have caused blindness, but then there's the question of why he ran into the glass, suggesting that he was blind before this happened. Current tank parameters are as follows: Specific Gravity 1.025 Ammonia & Nitrite 0ppm Nitrate 5ppm Calcium 440ppm Alkalinity 8.5 dKH pH 8.2 Temperature 78F-80F (day/night) Anyone have any idea what could be causing his blindness? Is there any chance he could regain his eyesight? If not, is there a chance he'll be able to survive? ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Replies:
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: April 25 2012 at 9:08am
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It's really doubtful that he is blind. Confused, maybe. Trying to get free, maybe. Blind, very unlikely. If he really can't see it is almost certainly not a nutrition problem. I've seen this happen to fish but it would take years of malnutrition. Parasites of fungus, that is possible. Especially with such a delicate fish. Hmmm, does it look like he's rubbing up to the glass? If so he could be trying to dislodge something on his eyes (parasites) like people rubbing their eyes. If he is rubbing the glass with his mouth, it is likely he can see a small film of algae that he's trying to eat (they are always hungry). Does he rub up against rocks as well? Or just the glass? Oh, the blindness wouldn't be too worrisome. They can easily live blind. I'd be worried about the simple fact that it is a powder blue tang to begin with. Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: April 25 2012 at 9:41am
He's only rubbing up to the glass. There is a small film of algae on the glass and that's what I originally thought he was up to, but I can stick my hand in the tank right in front of him and he'll just run into me and then whip around and try to get away but doesn't seem to see me move my hand back in front of him. He is rubbing the glass mainly with his mouth, and it doesn't look like his eyes are bothered. I really didn't want to believe he was blind, but considering that he runs into things, I'm wondering. He did seem a little better this morning, but he's definitely not acting normal.
I know powder blues are notoriously difficult to keep because they are so susceptible to parasites and disease, but I really do love them and I'm hoping that feeding with anti-parasitic food, as well as garlic, and running a UV sterilizer will help. I also have my tank grounded since tangs are supposedly more sensitive to electrical currents in the water. I really can't think of anything more I can do (or that would be practical for this tank) to maintain such delicate fish. I am planning to add a carbon reactor soon too, so that should also help maintain water quality, and after that I don't know that there's much more I can do. Anyways, thank you for the response Adam, and I certainly hope you're right, and he's not blind. I'll have to watch him for a while when I get home tonight. Any further advice would be great! Thank you! ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Adam Blundell wrote:Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: April 25 2012 at 11:29am
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I agree, sometimes there is very little we can do for our sick fish. As in people, things happen. We can be perfectly healthy one day and the next day the effects of growing disease can put us out of commission or even dead. It's sad but it's life. Next destination - Heaven. 
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: April 25 2012 at 1:08pm
Well said. On the bright side, the more fish I lose, the bigger my tank will be in the next life!  ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |
Posted By: Laird
Date Posted: April 25 2012 at 1:15pm
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I went through kind of the same thing with my beloved powder blue that I had had almost 3 years. I was more upset about losing it then I was every other fish and piece of coral I've ever lost combined. ------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Posted By: Ann_A
Date Posted: April 25 2012 at 2:06pm
Dang powder blues!...we love 'em so much and yet they all seem doomed in our tanks.  ------------- http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53856&title=annes-65g-rsm-reef" rel="nofollow - RSM 250 Reef |