Batty Blueface behavior

[eskymick]

I'm not sure which forum to put this in, but I'll try "diseases" first.

I have a 125 gallon FOWL tank. The substrate is a shallow bed of fine grain coral sand. The water parameters check out as excellent .. no traces of anything, even Nitrate. PH and alkalinity are within accepted range, too.

I am having repeated problems with my Blueface angel. He becomes extremely agitated about something in the water or in the tank. He shudders and shakes .. and darts across the tank and hides without any provocation. His respiration is deeper than normal.

The other tank residents are totally unaffected. There is a squareback anthias, an Asfur angel, and Double-saddle butterfly.

For the third time, I have removed the Blueface from the display tank and put him in quarantine (bare bottom with live rock). Once in quarantine, all of his strange symptoms disappear almost immediately. After several days in quarantine (after doing water changes and carbon on the display) I put the Blueface back into the display tank. Within a few days the strange symptoms reappear (with the Blueface only).

I see no visible signs of ich or velvet or even bacterial infections. The only think I can think of is that the fine sand particles from the substrate get suspended in the water column and irritate his gills. Could that be possible? He is a vigorous eater, and he stirs up the substrate in foraging for food.

I am considering replacing the sand substrate with a crushed coral with a slightly coarser grain. Would that be a waste of time and money? Anyone have any other ideas or suggestions?

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

Is he possibly being threatened by the Asfur? Blueface Angels are one of the less aggressive Angels...Others get pretty aggressive..

I have one ,and though he is actually more aggressive than my other fish, he darts into the rocks when I come near [Unless its chow time...then he's at the surface ]
Also, Flukes are pretty common in Angels, this would cause similar behavior but I would think he would act the same in qt

I would leave him be...moving him back and forth is a little stressful

 

[eskymick]

Thanks BTTRFLYGRL ..

Actually, the Blueface is the boss of the tank. The Asfur is smaller, and they pretty much ignore each other. If there is any show of authority at all, it comes from the Blueface.

I do realize that the Blueface is a shy species, and he does "run for cover" when startled. But, when he all of a sudden shakes and shimmies, and then darts across the tank it strikes me as highly unusual ... especially coupled with the continuous deep respiration.

He seems very calm and content in the 20-long quarantine tank, but Idon't want to leave him in there too long.

 

[brians_224]

Could it be an electrical leak? I know you say no other residents are being impacted - thought I'd throw it out there.

Good luck!

 

[eskymick]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7920601#post7920601 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brians_224
Could it be an electrical leak? I know you say no other residents are being impacted - thought I'd throw it out there.

That's something I didn't even think of. How does one test for that and/or correct it?

 

[brians_224]

A voltmeter would tell you. Maybe someone can describe the method to use one? I have one but don't know how to use it.

To fix it, replace the device. Maybe a grounding probe? I think electriv leaks are often attributed to heaters.

 

[ariel47]

If it's skin flukes prazipro is a great product.