Kole Tang Pale and Hiding

[chaderic26]

I have had this Kole tang for about 3 months. Last couple of days he's been looking kind of pale but has been active and eating. Today he's been hiding all day in the rock work. I turned off all my pumps and fed the other fish. He came out and ate a little but soon returned to the rock work as soon as the pumps came on. He also still looked pale and very thin with fins clamped.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? When should you remove a fish? I hate babysitting a fish that's going to end up dead. Does anyone have any advice or should I just remove him so he doesn't pollute my reef.

[romsoccer12]

QT it. Probably has ich or some other disease. Is it getting picked on by other fish? Water params? if you dont QT it, take it out when it dies, if it dies. Hopefully it doesnt. GL

[Notathumpa]

I hope he's OK. My Desjardini is like a freakin' chameleon with the going pale every time he wants to be preened by my little neon gobie or cleaner shrimps! Maybe your Kole is just moody. If he's eating he might be OK.

[chaderic26]

I'm paranoid if I QT it, it will add more stress and do more harm than good. He's been looking healthy up until now. Pretty weird.

[Mopar Reefer]

Did you have a chang ein your photo period? My kole tang turned pale when I had a lights out session for a few days, his whole body turned a very light shade of red. Now that the lights have been back on for a week or so his/her color has came back.

[chaderic26]

I changed out my halides to some for some new XM 14k's but they were about due. Could that have something to do with it?

[ironwill723]

I would wait it out and see how the fish looks in the next day or so. Might be adjusting to new lights, might be fighting off something. I would think QT tank might add more stress. If its still eating its got a decent chance to make it.

[chaderic26]

I changed them out a couple weeks ago. I changed his food a little lately, I just added more PE mysis and less pellets. Didn't think it would hurt.

[chaderic26]

He was dead this morning. How long does it take a dead fish to pollute water. He was alive at around 1:30 AM when the lights went off and died sometime before the lights came back on at 2:30PM

[catfisher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15064261#post15064261 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chaderic26
He was dead this morning. How long does it take a dead fish to pollute water. He was alive at around 1:30 AM when the lights went off and died sometime before the lights came back on at 2:30PM

Your clean up crew should have it half eaten by now.

[danielp]

Sorry to hear that poor guy is dead.
Did you add any other fish lately?
Any possibility of harrasing by other fish, maybe other tang?

[Notathumpa]

My condolences. I hate to lose a fish!

[chaderic26]

I didn't see anything harassing it. Kind of random. Had been looking fat and happy until recently. The only thing I had added recently was a Melanarus wrasse. But like I said I didn't see any bullying.