Hey guys, thought that you might find this interesting. I purchased a sailfin tang as a rescue effort from a local petco fairly recently. A little while after I purchased him, I noticed he had the beginnings of hlle. I watched the sores begin and then grow slightly larger. Some of them started connecting. Well, I immediately popped onto my favorite bulliten board(saltwateraquarium at the time - no longer the case obviously) and posted the problem there. It was suggested to me (I think Joaco was the first....) to try feeding broccoli. Joaco even posted a link about a public aquarium that fed broccoli to their purple tangs with hlle with impresive results.

I started feeding broccoli as well as adding Kent Zoe to OSI flake food right before feeding. Within two weeks the sores have almost completely healed. Now they were still small to begin with, but I was suprised (in a little bit of disbelief actually) to see such a quick turn around. I thought that I'd pass the info along.

Here's a link to the pic of the recovered fish nibbling on his new favorite meal. If you look REAL close, you can see the scars right above the eye.
http://www.ravenmoreaquarium.homeste...fullimage.html

-Mike

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I died once, but I got better

Website

Wow Raven. How do you prepare the brocoli? Is it steamed or raw?

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The Pope

That is great news. FWIW I would use Selcon onthe food a couple of times a week.


Jeff

The broccoli was frozen and then left to thaw at room temperature(another Joaco suggestion). This seems to soften it up a little without using heat. I'm told that heat destroys the vitamins. It's very important apparently to not warm it up in any way.

I'd have preferred selcon(I've heard it's better but have never tried either product until now), but I was in a rush at the time and could only find Zoe locally.


Mike

Eggcelent. Thanks for the tip. What is the Kent Zoe stuff, though? Which caused the cure? (Broc or Zoe)

Thanks,
[img]/ubb/fish.gif[/img]

Well, the theory is that HLLE is caused by a lack of vitamins. Specifically vitamins C and A. Broccoli is high in these nutrients. Zoe is a liquid vitamin supplement for fish, as is Selcon. I've heard selcon is better, but only have used Zoe. Personally, I think the broccoli had more to do with it, but I did start doing both at the same time so I thought it best to mention it. I also think good water quality is important, but that goes without saying. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

-Mike

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I died once, but I got better

Website

Great Job Mike, great job! [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
I will move this post to the fish forum.

Joaco

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My webpage Updated 14th September 2000

I did question if it was HLLE or not. The sores were appearing right above the eye at the beginning of the lateral line and followed it(I noticed them about a week after I bought the fish). They got noticeably larger in the space of about 1 week to 2 weeks. Started out a bit larger than pin pricks and got bigger (it looked like the flesh underneath was exposed - was a diffent color than the skin - kinda pink). Some of the sores started "connecting". Also, it wasn't bi-lateral - the markings appeared only along the fish's left lateral line at the head. The sores never got REALLY big but were noticeable. I wish I had a camera to take pics before and after(I borrowed a friends Nikon F4 with nikkor 60macro for the shot in the link because I wanted to document the "turn around".) I'm no marine biologist, and I certainly could be mistaken, but it really looked like the other cases of HLLE that I've seen. (esp. considering it was in a species of fish prone to this disease). Anyway, I'd like to try this treatement again to verify it but HOPEFULLY I won't get the chance. [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

If any one else out there has a fish with hlle perhaps they could try this and see what happens? It'd be important to remember not to cook or heat the broccoli to avoid destroying the vitamins in it.

Joaco, could you repost that link to the seascope article? (yep, I know, the check's in the mail [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img] ) Anyway, I'm pretty impressed with what I saw in my own tank, but I certainly recommend others try it and see for themselves.

[img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

-Mike

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I died once, but I got better

Website

I gave my tang steamed brocolli, and he wouldn't touch it. Maybe I will try again. I could try putting a bunch in and mix it with my homeade "mixture" food.

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The Pope

I read something similar about carrots in Joyce Wilkerson's book on clownfish.

my tang wouldn't touch it either at first. I just left it on a clip in the tank round the clock. I'd replace it with a fresh piece every 12 hours. Eventually he figured it out. I also cut back on fish food feedings to make him hungry enough to try it.

Also, I wouldn't steam it - either raw or frozen but no heat.

-Mike

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I died once, but I got better

Website

are you sure your diagnosis of HLLE was correct.

there not really sores but just an erradication of the skin, mostly harmless to the fish.

vit c is what's suppose to help. spinurila has alot of it and most fish will eat it. www.brineshrimpdirect.com sells spinurila/kelp flake that's enriched with vits and its very inexpensive . its a good product like there other foods.