Really Sick Scopas Tang...Need Help

[Vitaly]

Bought a beautiful Scopas Tang from a local person. Drip acclimated Sunday night. During acclimation the fish was pale white, which I attributed to stress from the drive (about 2 hours).

On Sunday night the fish did not eat and mostly hovered within the live rock. However, the body coloration returned entirely.
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Yesterday (Monday), the fish still had good coloration, but was not eating. I observed it exploring the tank a little. But, again it spent most of the time in the corners of the tank or hidden in the live rock.

Today (Tuesday) I returned home early, around 4 pm and noticed the fish looked very stressed. It was hovering just above the sand and appeared to being rapdily breathing. The color seemed normal but the lower caudal fin appeared to be turning white. Further, the tips of the fins seemed to be "rotting." Since then (it is now 9pm), the fish seems to have continued to deteriorate. The fish is swimming poorly and is spending time resting on a powerhead in the corner of the tank.
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Tanks parameters are normal and have been stable for months. Other fishes (2 clowns, 2 chromis) are behaving normally. Corals (Xenia, Toadstool, GSP) are extended.

Does anybody have any suggestions. I feel the fish is fading fast. I have added an airstone under the powerhead where the fish is resting in hopes of increasing oxygen saturation.

Any ideas regarding what may be causing the fishes deterioration or how to fix it are greatly appreciated.

Thanks...

[armagedon48]

i would agree that it sounds as if it wasnt gettin enough oxygen. though if the tang isnt improving, you might have a problem with the tang itself.
overall it sounds like the tang is just really stressed and is coming down with illnesses (fin rot) that a healthy tang can fight off.

more advice from other people will help narrow down what is going on. i hope.

[Hattie B]

Hello,

It does sound like a lot of stress. If it were my fish I would turn off the lights too to help make it feel more secure in it new home.

If you see fin rot, its a bacterial infection, gram negative, Mayacin 2 can help clear up the problem.

Also, tank parameters are normal really means nothing. When was the last time you checked?

Have you checked since you added him.

What were the other tank para's that you got this fish from.

Acclimation is interesting and can cause probelms. If say the pH in his tank was 7 and your is 8.2 those are factors to consider when aacclimating. It can cause a lot of stress.

Also, I would not be to concerned if he didn't eat the first day or two. Again there is a lot of stress.

Try feeding what he was fed at his previous owners house.