Hybrid PBT blind?

[rsvale112]

Hey everyone,

So I need some help on a matter. Last week I purchased a hybrid Powder Blue Tang, to jump right into it, that night I noticed she appeared to be bumping into things as if she was blind, I asked a friend I have on here and told her what I was witnessing the PBT doing and she was right on the same idea I was with the PBT being blind. It wasn't just that night she was bumping into things either, she's bumped into my rocks, other fish (which has made them go after her) my coral, even my urchin (which I witnessed last night) When I feed everyone she doesn't eat, it's as if she knows the food is there but she doesn't go to the top she stays in one open spot in the front of my tank and just swims in circles. I've even been in the tank with a net to get another fish out and have put the net right in front of her, hasn't even spooked her or made her swim away. She's a pretty tang, she looked extremely healthy when I bought her with no discoloration in her eyes, but now I'm noticing a lot of scrapes along her body and I am at a loss on what to do. I mean if its going to be inevitable that she will die from not eating then there's nothing I can do, but I'm hoping there is something maybe, I don't know, but I wanted to get other opinions on this.

 

[Awibrandy]

Come on guys/gals, doesn't any one have any ideas on how to help this pretty little fish out?
Only thing I can think of is to put her in qt by herself to give her a better chance at find her food. Problem with that would be that I believe removing her to qt after all she's been through all ready would just stress her further.

 

[Awibrandy]

No one?:sad2:

 

[KathyC]

Unfortunately there isn't a lot that can be done if the fish is truly blind.

The biggest challenge is obviously feeding the fish. I'd make sure there is always nori in the tank in the same location (pick somewhere near where it tends to hang out..if it has a spot) so it can get at least some nutrition.

There was a member here (a while ago) who had fish that became blind and he would feed it mussels - in a shell and the fish would find them, but IIRC he kept the fish in a tank by itself so he could monitor it's eating and it didn't have any competition for the food, so it just picked as it was hungry.

You mention it bumping into other fish in your tank, so it obviously isn't living alone in there..do you have a low fish load and if so are you willing to keep it that way so the competition is less?

Does it pick around the tank at all for food?

You might want to consider re-homing the urchin to lessen the danger/damage to the PBT.

 

[KathyC]

I found the original thread I was thinking about...this fish did regain some sight..so, ya never know, there could possibly be trauma and maybe a chance for recovery.
I (personally) would do what I could to help him hang in there and see if the situation changes as more time goes by.

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/fish/27857-blind-cbb.html

 

[rsvale112]

I actually moved the urchin last night to my 220 tank. I have quite a number of fish, it's a 300 gallon tank and tonight or tomorrow everyone is being moved to the 220 gallon. I've only noticed maybe once or twice her looking for food on the sand or swimming to the top.

 

[marrone]

It's very common for PBT to come in like this, where they swimming around bumping into things like they're blind. Another thing to look at is if the PBT eyes are continuously moving back and forward. Either of these conditions aren't good and usually the PBT dies. Outside of hoping that the PBT will come out of it the only thing you really can do is place it in a tank by itself and hope it will start to get better.

It very important when buying a PBT that you make sure it's not swimming in circle, eyes moving back and forward and that it's eating. PBT usually come in very stressed out and a lot of them do die from this.

 

[Fishluva513]

Most tangs do not do well with shipping. I highly doubt the fish is blind. It would not have made it so far being blind.

+1 on putting it alone and waiting it out.


Matty'sCornerAqauriums

 

[rsvale112]

Thanks for the input guys!

I actually got some great news, my girlfriend is at home and she has been watching the PBT all day and says she hasn't seen her bump into anything at all and she's swimming around and even took some pellets today. Could it have been shock? Or my lights being too bright and the PBT had to adjust?

It very important when buying a PBT that you make sure it's not swimming in circle, eyes moving back and forward and that it's eating. PBT usually come in very stressed out and a lot of them do die from this.

Well I've seen her move her eyes, like all the other fish move their eyes. And she was swimming is a continuous circle in the tank at the store... I just thought she was really active. She swims in circles in a spot in our tank too. But she's been swimming the entire tank today.

 

[ziggyreef]

Any update

 

[rsvale112]

She's still kicking. Everyone is saying that she must be eating something to be going so long. I have yet to really witness her eating though, but I got some suggestions on things to try so I'm just going to keep at it until she does. She now goes to the top when I feed every one.

I'm kind of thinking though that it could possibly be my own lights that did this, because when they're off and just the regular day light is on she seems more aware of everything in the tank. But once I turn my halides on she starts to bump into things. I'm changing my lights anyway so I'm hoping there will be a change.