[salt-rookie]

OK...I have had this Powder Blue Tang three months...NEVER a spot of ich. Eats like a pig. I was without power for 51.5 hours last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Monday morning I realized that my water temp had dropped to like 70 degrees. I gradually pulled it up to 76 and when my power came back on, the tank returned to the normal temp of 79 degrees. NOTHING else has happened or changed.

Last night I noticed that his colors were light and very splotchy....here's a picture (Please click on it and it will get larger so you can see this in more detail). A couple of times he darted through the tank as though he might be itching or uncomfortable. Lights went out at 10:00 last night and I hoped the dark might help.

Lights on at 10:00 AM this morning, and the areas that were splotchy are now colored back up and appear to be whelps on his flesh. I got a picture of this also. I cannot find any information on this, and I'm wondering if anyone has any CLUE as to what this could be, is it treatable? Any info would be GREAT!

Another note, this is a fish that is usually very active and swims the entire tank all day. He now hovers under one coral and did not eat this morning. PLEASE Click and Look...then tell me what to do!!!

Thanks,
Phil

[leebca]

The marine Tangs do not have a particularly good immune system, so it seems. I know their mucous coating is thinner and less effective than some other Genus of fishes.

A drop in temperature usually upsets the mucous coating which reduces the fish's ability to cope with disease, parasites, etc.

I'd say from the photos that the fish is undernourished. Not having enough energy to call upon during the crisis (the drop in temperature) has caused a variety of skin responses that can be toxins within the fish or potential parasites for the first time getting the upper hand.

Had the fish ever been de-wormed? Was it ever quarantined and treated for any disease?

A fish can harbor problems that don't appear until a severe stress, like a temperature shift, happens.

I'd be sure the fish is getting extra good food, with vitamin and fat supplements AND for the next couple of weeks, immune boosters: Fish Immune Boosters