scaling naso

Hey, I have a naso tang about 4 inches long and yesterday I noticed that it looks like the fishes scales have peeled a little bit at the top of his body; has occured on both sides of the fish.

Parameters are good except i have nitrates at about 40ppm, but they have been high for longer than just this one occassion.

Any ideas as to what could be the cause, problem and/or cure?

PS: check out his teeth

 

This isn't good as I'm sure you well know. It may be some sort of external parasite. Do you have neon gobies/ cleaner shrimp?

 

sounds like it could be hole in the head maybe. typically cause from malnutrition or stray voltage in tank among many other reasons. how big is your tank.

 

Actually yes, I was thinking maybe lateral line erosion. What do you feed him?

 

I feed him mysis shrimp every second or third day and feed him nori in between these days.
I have a cleaner shrimp and the naso regularly gets check ups.
the tank is 30 gallons, but Iv had him for about 3 months (was very small when i bought him and i was not aware of the large tank necessity - have a 55gal cycling as we speak for a week now)
A new addition to the tank was a piece of chaeto algae into the DP to help with nitrates. This was placed in there yesterday also.

 

Please help!!

 

Your 30 gallon tank is stressing him out and probably not helping. I would suggest quarantine, but I would fear that tank would be smaller so I don't really know. I would try to take him back because you can't treat him in that tank other than soaking his food in garlic. Good Luck.

 

yeah sad to say I about went down this road. Had a pocket full of money and was going to go buy everything dump it all in, flip a switch, and instareef, and I'd have my tang. Found out from the LFS that they aren't quite that easy.

Tangs want big tanks 90+ (really 125+ is best) They're vegetarian so they create a LOT of waste, and not only do they need swimming space they need a tank large enough to absorb the output from the tang.

They're one of my favorite fish but I doubt now I'll ever keep one, they simply take up too much space.

 

Naso's are very sensitive to water quality, so the nitrates could very well be taking their toll. Also, you need to be feeding other veggies besides just nori. Get a variety of frozen algae foods for it, and also start clipping some raw broccoli for it.
Also, Naso's are very easily sexed, and yours is not a "him", its a "her"

 

So.... how long have you been looking up the Tang's kilts?;D