Naso tang fin problem - injury?

brett559 · 10/30/2014, 12:16 AM

Yesterday I added a Naso tang to my tank. For several hours after I added him, my yellow tang was chasing him around being sort of a jerk. The Naso didn't seem too bothered by it - his breathing was fine throughout and he never showed the white spots. The aggression died down today, although something is wrong with one of his pectoral fins. Simply put, he's not using it. He's holding it close to his body and only using his other fin to swim. There is a little white mark at the base of the unused fin, right where it joins with his torso.

He is swimming around, breathing fine, no white spots, and is not behaving erratically. He ate some Nori today and seems to be doing fine. My guess is that the Yellow injured him. Is this something that could get better? It's almost like he's limping - just holding that pectoral fin to his body.

Here's a photo:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9jh769iw4vg61ns/naso.jpg?dl=0

The splotches are a function of the lighting/flash.

Any advice is helpful.

Pomacanthus1 · 10/30/2014, 12:23 AM

Sounds like the fin was somehow dislocated/torn at the base and the naso is 'limping' on it. Make absolutely sure there is no more aggression and do whatever you can to keep stress to a minimum. Other than that, keep it well fed with high quality food and hopefully it will heal in a week or two. If you have a quarantine tank, it would be a good idea to isolate the fish so it can heal on it's own undisturbed. Plus if any more problems develop like an infection or disease, you'll be able to start dosing medications asap.

shesacharmer · 10/30/2014, 09:08 AM

That fish looks very thin...is it eating well?

brett559 · 10/30/2014, 10:20 AM

I just got him. He was eating well at the LFS. He's been picking at the rocks and he eats the Nori pretty well. He was primarily eating brine shrimp and Formula 2 pellets at the LFS. That's what I feed, so hopefully that, with Nori will get him fattened up. He looks a little meatier than in that picture. I believe it's normal for a new fish to not want to eat much when first introduced.

And he is using his fin again today. Hopefully, he's on the mend. Thanks.

Pomacanthus1 · 10/30/2014, 11:16 AM

Give him a good piece of Nori twice a day so that he can take his time nibbling at it while he's recovering. A healthy tang will devour green nori and it's one of the best things to replicate their natural diet of primarily macroalgae.

brett559 · 10/30/2014, 02:24 PM

Thanks! That's what I'm doing. He's nibbling at it off and on.

10/30/2014, 12:16 AM	#1
brett559 In Memoriam Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 1,790	Naso tang fin problem - injury? Yesterday I added a Naso tang to my tank. For several hours after I added him, my yellow tang was chasing him around being sort of a jerk. The Naso didn't seem too bothered by it - his breathing was fine throughout and he never showed the white spots. The aggression died down today, although something is wrong with one of his pectoral fins. Simply put, he's not using it. He's holding it close to his body and only using his other fin to swim. There is a little white mark at the base of the unused fin, right where it joins with his torso. He is swimming around, breathing fine, no white spots, and is not behaving erratically. He ate some Nori today and seems to be doing fine. My guess is that the Yellow injured him. Is this something that could get better? It's almost like he's limping - just holding that pectoral fin to his body. Here's a photo: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9jh769iw4vg61ns/naso.jpg?dl=0 The splotches are a function of the lighting/flash. Any advice is helpful.

10/30/2014, 09:08 AM	#3
shesacharmer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Central NH Posts: 1,241	That fish looks very thin...is it eating well? __________________ 75 gal, LR w/refugium, 79 deg, PH 8.0, sg 1.025, amm 0/nit 0/nit 0, Calcium 420, dKH 8.3, mag 1300, Phos 0 Current Tank Info: A work in progress...

10/30/2014, 12:23 AM	#2
Pomacanthus1 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,489	Sounds like the fin was somehow dislocated/torn at the base and the naso is 'limping' on it. Make absolutely sure there is no more aggression and do whatever you can to keep stress to a minimum. Other than that, keep it well fed with high quality food and hopefully it will heal in a week or two. If you have a quarantine tank, it would be a good idea to isolate the fish so it can heal on it's own undisturbed. Plus if any more problems develop like an infection or disease, you'll be able to start dosing medications asap.

10/30/2014, 10:20 AM	#4
brett559 In Memoriam Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 1,790	I just got him. He was eating well at the LFS. He's been picking at the rocks and he eats the Nori pretty well. He was primarily eating brine shrimp and Formula 2 pellets at the LFS. That's what I feed, so hopefully that, with Nori will get him fattened up. He looks a little meatier than in that picture. I believe it's normal for a new fish to not want to eat much when first introduced. And he is using his fin again today. Hopefully, he's on the mend. Thanks.

10/30/2014, 11:16 AM	#5
Pomacanthus1 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,489	Give him a good piece of Nori twice a day so that he can take his time nibbling at it while he's recovering. A healthy tang will devour green nori and it's one of the best things to replicate their natural diet of primarily macroalgae.

10/30/2014, 02:24 PM	#6
brett559 In Memoriam Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 1,790	Thanks! That's what I'm doing. He's nibbling at it off and on.