Special Needs Purple Tang

[Humblefish]

I sometimes get in fish with various disabilities, and I believe this Purple Tang is either blind or has very bad eyesight. He seems to be able to distinguish rocks (i.e. doesn’t bump into them), but has difficulty snatching food out of the water column. So, what I’ve done is setup a feeding station for him (pics below) to rubberband nori to a rock and stick Masstick, tablets, etc. to an empty clam shell.

I’ve spent a great deal of time working with him to live with his condition, and it’s very important to me that he goes to the right home. I think he would do best in a smaller tank without aggressive fish who would probably outcompete him for food i.e. other herbivores. You would also need to resupply his “feeding station” daily - takes just a few minutes. It’s possible he might regain his eyesight in time, but I can’t guarantee that. PM me if interested and we’ll see if we can work out a deal. Pics & video below.

 

[Humblefish]

^^ I forgot to mention that he does have a little bit of HLLE, but it is improving daily ever since I got him used to the feeding station.

 

[clsanchez77]

I think this post needs a little Sarah McLachlan in the background

Seriously, great job caring for and retraining a fish most would have let wither away.

 

[Leahfiish]

He looks pretty healthy to me, if you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't know that he has special needs from the video alone. Great work, I'm sure you'll be able to find a good home for him.

 

[Jim McNamara]

So it would eat algae off rocks and nori as supplied? Wonder if it would fit my 120? Has the pyramid, Bannerfish and the Bimac. If I put nori out none bother it really. I really thought the pyramid would eat algae but not much.

 

[Humblefish]

So it would eat algae off rocks and nori as supplied? Wonder if it would fit my 120? Has the pyramid, Bannerfish and the Bimac. If I put nori out none bother it really. I really thought the pyramid would eat algae but not much.

He stays "low to the ground" and doesn't swim laps near the surface like other tangs do. He moves about just fine and even seems able to avoid rocks, but never strays too far from his feeding station area. The reason I am pretty sure he can't see too well is he will sometimes bump into my hand (and then jump back) when I'm feeding him. I think he sees images (just not in focus); because if he was completely blind he should be bumping into rocks, glass, etc. And he never does that.

 

[Travishagen318]

Hey it’s travis. So what’s the story on the purple tang

 

[Humblefish]

Hey it’s travis. So what’s the story on the purple tang

He came to me with a shipment of fish that was delayed by the airlines and many of these fish had been exposed to ammonia in the bags. @Aaronhome27 will remember this shipment well, as we didn't get home from the airport until almost midnight with it.

My theory is the ammonia intake damaged this Purple Tang's optic nerves, and he is either partially or fully blind. In the past few days he does seem to be getting better at taking food from the water column, so it's possible his eye sight is slowly improving.

 

[Humblefish]

I've given this fish repeated Methylene Blue baths (to reverse any ammonia poisoning) so it's possible that is helping as well.

 

[Travishagen318]

I've given this fish repeated Methylene Blue baths (to reverse any ammonia poisoning) so it's possible that is helping as well.

Ok well I would definitely be interested in giving him a good home.

 

[Travishagen318]

Ok well I would definitely be interested in giving him a good home.

What are you asking for him?

 

[Humblefish]

What are you asking for him?

I'll PM you

 

[Aaronhome27]

This is great! I hope he gets a great home now. Travis is grade A and hopefully gets him. He will treat it like it's his own child!

 

[mggray87]

im waiting for the happy ending of a special needs tang. usually it would be throw away for alot of people... someone totackle the journey and give it life is going to be so awesome

 

[DexterB]

Agree! We want to see pics once he is settled & need to know what name/moniker he will have.

 

[Humblefish]

No happy ending yet. He is getting better at picking food out of the water column. Sometimes it takes him a try or two, but he usually gets a morsel. Moves on to the next piece of food. This suggests to me that he is not completely blind, but probably still has very poor eyesight. He definitely wouldn't be able to compete with aggressive eaters unless his vision continues to improve.

 

[Humblefish]

Little update. When I put pellets in and they sink to the bottom, he's able to eat them. Seems to know right where to go to pick them off the sand. So, at least another food option for him.

 

[mggray87]

so maybe your baths are working..... or hes not completely blind. he must see to find little pellets..

 

[vetteguy53081]

I think he would do well in my 660g. Price shipped to WI 53081?

 

[Humblefish]

I think he would do well in my 660g. Price shipped to WI 53081?

He's doing A LOT better now. Picking food right out of the water column and eating nori on a clip. He's acting more like a tang, so I'm hoping his eyesight is returning.

I'd like to put him in another tank (with more aggressive fish) to see how well he competes for food before selling him.