2 Spot Bristletooth Tang Not Eating

[jonbry]

Yes Something fish is a reputable store.  I have been a customer for almost 10 years.  If it is picking at the rocks and other decor that is a good sign.  Another sign of Cyanide poisening is a sudden loss of motor skills but if the tang seems to be swimming fine then the only other possibility I could think of is some type of internal parasite such as tape worms or some other type.  I've had newly purchased fish that I suspected of having worms and used Hikari Prazipro.  It is highly effective and IMO reef safe.  The fish do not like it so when feeding the frozen foods I do I put that in a cup along with about 6 drops of the PraziPro and let it soak.  I also make another batch of food with the PraziPro and soak overnight in the frig.  I add garlic to the mix as it masks the smell/flavor of the medication.  The bristletooth tangs normally graise in the wild by picking on rocks so it is looking for food.  If it is an internal parasite and it won't eat and you want to save the fish you may need to remove it from the tank and using an eye dropper get some med's into it's stomach.  Again though not sure how much trouble you want to go.  The only place in the area now selling PraziPro that I am aware of is American Aquarium on Rt 309 N in I think it is Coplay and I paid about $12.00 for the bottle they had.

[jonbry]

If you don't have any inverts in the tank you can dose it into the tank but turn off your skimmers and any other filters you may have for 24hrs.  Go a day then do again for around 10 days.

[Hiker4twenty]

Thanks for the info!

[Hiker4twenty]

Well I've tried everything with no succes.  I don't think its going to make it.  I haven't seen it swimming about in a few days.  It just sits in this cave and does nothing and is VERY SKINNY. 

[subielover]

Sorry to hear that. What foods are you trying specifically?

[eastonreef]

how about gutting live brine shrimp with cyclopeeze ... it might go after some

[Hiker4twenty]

Sorry to hear that. What foods are you trying specifically?

Nori, Ocean Nutrition Formula 1&2, frozen mysis, frozen brine, frozen marine cuisine, frozen cyclops, frozen blood worms and Fishy Food from Something Fishy.  I have it all mixed together, except for the nori which I cut into pieces from larger sheets. 

[coralnut99]

He may be too far gone as you describe.

How are you feeding your Nori? I've got a Gold Rim Tang that will only take it off of a rock. I take a half sheet and wrap it around a small piece of rock and wrap a rubber band around the rock a couple of times to hold it in place. Remember they're grazers so you have to try and mimic what they're used to. The rocks are slightly smaller than fist size so it's no big deal to just leave it in place until they finish. My GRT isn't that competitive an eater, so I put two rocks in the tank so he can get his share while the Yellow Tang and Majestic tear the other one to shreds.
I wouldn't discount the possibility that it had internal parasites to begin with. Most fish have the stamina to fight them off, but the stress of getting them into your tank can sometimes tilt the fish's immune system in favor of the parasites. The definition of stress can be pretty broad. It's not just the handling, bagging, and change in water chemistry, you can add the change in surroundings and tankmates to the list.

[jonbry]

I don't have any experience with this genus of tang-Ctenochaetus but here is the the comments from the RC forum in the difficult fish list:
 
"Bristletooth Tangs:(Ctenochaetus spp.): Ich prone,some of the hardier tangs once established but can starve when detritus and algae aren't available in decent supply, so overtly clean  aquariums are not a good choice, the Chevron is probably  the least hardy  of the genus and can be particularly difficult.
 
You did say it was picking at the rocks so is probably still looking for it's natural diet assuming no disease present.  Sound like it would do well in an established tank with a lot of fish and micro algae growth.

[Hiker4twenty]

Well, the fish didn't make it.  Not sure what went wrong.  Maybe it had internal parasites.  I didnt' QT it so I have no way of knowing for sure. 

[eastonreef]

i'm so sorry to hear that. 

[subielover]

That sucks, sorry to hear that.

[jonbry]

Assuming no disease it sounds like it's natural food was not in abundance within your tank-microalgae and detritus and with not being the easiest of the tang group to acclimate it may have had no chance to begin with.  As a general rule of thumb I always make sure I know the needs of the fish before I purchase.  I do sometimes take a chance on those with less than stellar survival rates and depending on the fish I will always ask the LFS to feed before I buy.  If the fish won't eat int the store don't buy it and don't be afraid to ask them to feed the fish before you purchase.  Any store that won't stay away from.  SF and R&P both will feed a fish if you ask them to before purchase.

[Hiker4twenty]

Thanks everyone!