Yellow tang turning red

johnnytmc · 10/01/2011, 10:23 PM

Awhile back my yellow tang developed what appeared to be some kind of red algae growing on its skin. I had similar looking algae on the rocks in low flow area of the tank. I figured it was flow issue in my tank, and after increasing the flow the problem went away. I thought it's not possible for algae to be growing on the fish. Is this something else? internal bleeding maybe? The tang was eating and swimming normally. Has anyone seen this before?

DLANDINO · 10/01/2011, 10:42 PM

Strange. A quick search of exactly this "yellow tang turning red" in Google seems to be something that others have experienced. The thought is that this is a bacterial infection needing treatment. I personally have no experience with Tangs or fish infections/diseases. Good luck.

Sk8r · 10/01/2011, 10:51 PM

x2. I think that would be accurate. Cyano isn't an algae, it's a bacterial sheet, and it doesn't grow on things except rock and the like. But that wouldn't be infecting your fish. Go to the fish disease forum, and get an isolation tank for this fish: the only way to treat a bacterial infection is with a broad spectrum (because you don't know whether this bacillus is gram positive or gram negative) antibiotic like Maracyn or the like. Do not run carbon in this tank; do not try to cycle it. The antibiotic will kill off bacteria in the tank as well as the fish, and only add to the bioload. Read instructions in Fish Disease. This poor fellow is not happy.

johnnytmc · 10/01/2011, 10:52 PM

The problem actually went away after I increased the flow in the tank. The tang is healthy looking now, but I just want to see if I can find an explanation for this to make sure what I did actually helped it to get rid of the problem.

maymania6 · 10/01/2011, 10:55 PM

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/disease.html

Saw the same red markings on another yellow tang at almost half page. Seems it is an internal bacterial infection that needs medical treatment...

Lynnmw1208 · 10/01/2011, 10:57 PM

I just looked at that link and it states it was acclimation stress. how did you acclimate this fish? I always try to recommend getting salinity to match up to .001 away from your desired point. that you said it is going away leads me to believe the redness was from acclimation. keep feeding well and he should recover.

johnnytmc · 10/01/2011, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynnmw1208

I just looked at that link and it states it was acclimation stress. how did you acclimate this fish? I always try to recommend getting salinity to match up to .001 away from your desired point. that you said it is going away leads me to believe the redness was from acclimation. keep feeding well and he should recover.

I don't think it's acclimation stress. The tang has been in the tank for over a year. It was eating well, and when the symptom was there he was eating well and showed no sign of stress; it appeared the redness didn't bother it at all.

johnnytmc · 10/01/2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnytmc

The problem actually went away after I increased the flow in the tank. The tang is healthy looking now, but I just want to see if I can find an explanation for this to make sure what I did actually helped it to get rid of the problem.

Here is a picture of similar red algae growing on the rock at the time when I had the problem. I figured I had a flow problem in my tank, and coincidentally after I replaced with a bigger powerhead, both the algae on the rock and redness on the tang both went away.

johnnytmc · 10/01/2011, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maymania6

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/disease.html

Saw the same red markings on another yellow tang at almost half page. Seems it is an internal bacterial infection that needs medical treatment...

Interesting. Maybe my bad circulation before was causing poor water quality or bacterial boom?

elegance coral · 10/02/2011, 08:42 AM

I think it was low O2 that caused the problem. It's common for fish to turn red when exposed to low O2 conditions. It usually effects the fins first though????? Increasing the flow, probably increased O2 levels, and the fish recovered.

Alex14 · 07/07/2016, 10:08 AM

I dosed Coral shop liquid phosphate remover into my tank, could this be the reason that my yellowtang are turning red-ish?
He eats the algae that has absorbed the phosphate remover?

Squidmotron · 07/07/2016, 10:14 AM

Did you do anything to embarrass him?

10/01/2011, 10:42 PM	#2
DLANDINO D.L. Heritage Rings Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Clinton, CT USA Posts: 5,610	Strange. A quick search of exactly this "yellow tang turning red" in Google seems to be something that others have experienced. The thought is that this is a bacterial infection needing treatment. I personally have no experience with Tangs or fish infections/diseases. Good luck. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: JBJ 8 Nano mixed

10/01/2011, 10:51 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	x2. I think that would be accurate. Cyano isn't an algae, it's a bacterial sheet, and it doesn't grow on things except rock and the like. But that wouldn't be infecting your fish. Go to the fish disease forum, and get an isolation tank for this fish: the only way to treat a bacterial infection is with a broad spectrum (because you don't know whether this bacillus is gram positive or gram negative) antibiotic like Maracyn or the like. Do not run carbon in this tank; do not try to cycle it. The antibiotic will kill off bacteria in the tank as well as the fish, and only add to the bioload. Read instructions in Fish Disease. This poor fellow is not happy. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

10/01/2011, 10:57 PM	#6
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	I just looked at that link and it states it was acclimation stress. how did you acclimate this fish? I always try to recommend getting salinity to match up to .001 away from your desired point. that you said it is going away leads me to believe the redness was from acclimation. keep feeding well and he should recover. __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

10/02/2011, 08:42 AM	#10
elegance coral They call me EC Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: central Florida Posts: 6,208	I think it was low O2 that caused the problem. It's common for fish to turn red when exposed to low O2 conditions. It usually effects the fins first though????? Increasing the flow, probably increased O2 levels, and the fish recovered. __________________ "Most of the failures with marine aquaria are due to lack of knowledge of the biological processes that occur in the aquarium." Martin A. Moe, Jr. "A scientist seeks the truth, wherever that may lead. A believer already knows the truth, and cannot be swayed no matter how compelling the evidence." Current Tank Info: I'm trying to see how many tanks will fit in my house before the wife loses it.

07/07/2016, 10:14 AM	#12
Squidmotron Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 675	Did you do anything to embarrass him? __________________ .................................................. Current Tank Info: 210 Gallon "Mixed Reef" Tank (84 inches wide)

10/01/2011, 10:52 PM	#4
johnnytmc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 120	The problem actually went away after I increased the flow in the tank. The tang is healthy looking now, but I just want to see if I can find an explanation for this to make sure what I did actually helped it to get rid of the problem.

10/01/2011, 10:55 PM	#5
maymania6 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 111	http://www.chucksaddiction.com/disease.html Saw the same red markings on another yellow tang at almost half page. Seems it is an internal bacterial infection that needs medical treatment...

07/07/2016, 10:08 AM	#11
Alex14 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 1	I dosed Coral shop liquid phosphate remover into my tank, could this be the reason that my yellowtang are turning red-ish? He eats the algae that has absorbed the phosphate remover?

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