Chromis, displaying weird behaviour..

[NanoReefWanabe]

well i have a single green chromis (Steve) in my 20H with a 6line and a pair of false percs...

chromis was the first fish in followed by the clowns...then about 6 months ago the 6line...

just today the chromis has been hiding in the bottom corner of the tank, wedged between the tank and some rocks......and seems to be panting...he swims in and out his little cave about 2 inches...

he didnt come out for food wheni fed the tank...i always feed on the opposite side of the tank from where he was...and always at the same time...the fish seem to know this and wait for me...today no Steve...so i took some pelet food and wet it so it would sink right to him...he swam out to get it then dodged straight back into his little hole..

i am concerned he is coming down with something....all the other fish seem fine...swimming about freely etc...eating very well, and all very fat..Steve looks okay...but his panting is a little unnerving...plus his little hiding place is in the corner of the tank the clowns have called home and i am affraid if there is something wrong that they too will get it...

ammonia is 0 nitrite is 0 nitrate is about 10, PO4 is undetecable, mag is 1500, cal, is 440, and alk is 11.5...

any ideas why my fish is panting?

 

[rlcline76]

4 fish in a 20 gallon is a lot. I have 20s, myself, can't put too much in there. Assuming you did not QT. Is it possible that the percs have been aggressive lately and maybe helped create a stressful environment which brought on disease?

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

no QT, fish were added very slowly...this is now 14 months into the tank life...chromis at month 2...clowns at month 4 and finally 6line at month 8....i wanted to be sure the system could handle it...also have a full ten gallon sump...water parameters are relatively stable...

i have seen the 6line harassing the chromis lately..kinda pickin on him...i know realize they are a docile fish and should be in a school...

he used to always swim with the clowns...lately i have noticed him a little distant from them though...

i was assuming it is stress induced...and am hoping he will shake it off...if not i will have to try and catch him...possibly trade in on a new fish...or just give him to someone with a larger school of them...

he is only about 1.5" tip to tip....the 6line is now about 2" tip to tip, the female clown is about 2.5" tip to tip..where the male is about 1.5" aswell..when the clowns were first intro'd they where juvi's each about one inch tip to tip....

it just seems wierd that this would just start now though...and not months ago when the 6line was added..

 

[rlcline76]

Since Steve has isolated himself in the tank could you take him out for quarantine? My concern is that if he dies he could release pathogens to the others. I believe that this is your best bet. If you can get him feeling better, set him up with a friend or maybe take him back to the LFS.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

well like i said it is strange behaviour, today he is out and about playing with the clowns with no signs of distress...

and my wrasse dosent seem to be buggin him anymore...

i wish i could set up a video camera to see what happens during the week...while i am at work..

 

[natan]

I know what u r talking about, being their with chromis
its not aggression from other fish, the effected fish appeares to be blind/unable to catch food and eventually quits trying and starves (gets picked on by otheres when too far gone to escape). Unfortunately i was unable to solve the problem and lost all 3 chromis i used 2 have. But, my other fish remain unaffected, fortunately. I beleive its some sort of internal parasite (fluks may be? i didnt try a FW bath and regret it, for they were breathing heavily) and am still interested in a diagnosis and qure though, in case i ever see it again. I know of a number of people who lost fish same way recently.