Agreed. However, it seems there does seem to be an occasional issue using freshly made water based on replies to this thread. I also recall reading in other threads that during TTM there have been occasional sudden, unexplained downturns after transfers during TTM. Wonder if these are related to 'new saltwater syndrome' for lack of another term? Being a relative newbie and with certainly much less experience than everyone trying to help, I wonder if it happens frequently enough it to mention a warning as a posting in the main TTM thread? Or is just one of those pretty rare things that can happen, like probably an infinite amount of other potential problems? Maybe it only affects fish that are already on the 'edge' (i.e. the straw that broke the camel's back.)
Fish not surviving tank transfer method
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Agreed. However, it seems there does seem to be an occasional issue using freshly made water based on replies to this thread. I also recall reading in other threads that during TTM there have been occasional sudden, unexplained downturns after transfers during TTM. Wonder if these are related to 'new saltwater syndrome' for lack of another term? Being a relative newbie and with certainly much less experience than everyone trying to help, I wonder if it happens frequently enough it to mention a warning as a posting in the main TTM thread? Or is just one of those pretty rare things that can happen, like probably an infinite amount of other potential problems? Maybe it only affects fish that are already on the 'edge' (i.e. the straw that broke the camel's back.)
To my surprise the wrasse is still alive, but pretty much in the same weakened condition. Color is poor, just lays on the bottom, but seems to be able to keep itself vertical and is not struggling to breath.
However, I can not get it to eat, and I keep trying at least twice a day. I've tried soaking Mysis in selcon and garlic, with no luck. I've tried pellets and flakes, with no interest. I've seen the Mysis land on its snout, with zero interest in eating. Any suggestions on what else I can try to get it to eat?
do you have somewhere where you can pick up a few ghost shrimp? obviously, they aren't a staple diet for saltwater fish but in a pinch, they might jump start his hunting instinct since they jump around actively. i throw a few in my dt occasionally just for fun to watch the fish go after them. i have 4 wrasses and every one of them LOVES these.
Thanks. I'll check if my nearby PETCO has them.
After not finding them at my local Petco or Petsmart, I found them at a second Petco. Unfortunately, no success. The wrasse showed no interest the shrimp.
No, I'm not sure. That is why I started this thread, and it seems the consensus advice received here is that it is related to the TTM water.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=23362061&postcount=71
I don't want to hijack the other thread, so I'll ask here. How much Selcon should I dose? Water volume is 8 gallons.
I don't want to hijack the other thread, so I'll ask here. How much Selcon should I dose? Water volume is 8 gallons.
Wrasse still alive but not eating. He has not eaten in two weeks. Final TTM will be over today (I've continued transfers every 3 days with DT water, basically as a way to keep the water quality up that it being degraded by ammonia, uneaten food and selcon). Thinking of adding some sugar to the tank several hours before the final transfer to see if the wrasse can absorb some nutrients from the water, as I want to prevent him from starving to death.
Spar
New member
he must be eating while you aren't in the room or else he'd be dead already. it is not uncommon at all for fish to be shy while you are around. i had a trio of flame wrasses that were like this in QT. they were personable as dogs by the end of QT.
i haven't heard of the sugar treatment before...
good luck with him, hope he pulls through! glad you got him through TTM (almost anyway, knock on wood)!
i haven't heard of the sugar treatment before...
good luck with him, hope he pulls through! glad you got him through TTM (almost anyway, knock on wood)!
Deinonych
New member
I would tread carefully with adding a carbon source like sugar. You could cause a rapid bloom of heterotrophic bacteria and deplete the oxygen in the tank.
Spar
New member
Possible I suppose. But if so id think that is true for healthy fish rather than one that is already ailing. Im no expert here though.
OK. I don't want to possibly add more stress, so I'll skip doing this, as the risk seems higher than any reward from this desperation move!
Good point, and I don't recall where I had read the month fact. You certainly have more expertise and experience than me, and I appreciate your input.
Seems like it still being alive is a good sign, even if its only pecking at food when I'm not watching. Maybe there is some hope for survival!
I've ordered some brine shrimp eggs, as I can't find any locally newly hatched brine shrimp. I'm thinking there is a chance, if it can hang on a few more days, the movement of newly hatched brine shrimp will trigger it to eat more, as Nina51 had suggested doing with the ghost shrimp. The ghost shrimp didn't survive long enough in the saltwater to stimulate his appetite, but I'm hoping the constant movement of the brine shrimp will have some type of stimulus to increase its eating.
Update: The wrasse is still alive, but doesn't seem to be improving. No feeding response to brine shrimp. I loaded the QT tank today with tons of freshly hatched brine shrimp, and dozens are constantly gently floating by it, but no feeding response. I can see the brine shrimp hitting the wrasse in the eye and head area, but it doesn't seem interested in eating them.
It is still very weak, and just lays on the bottom. I actually touched it today, and no response. However, it did swim away (only about 12 inches) when I moved the rock it was laying against, so it is not completely unresponsive. It moves very infrequently. For example, I went out today for about 4 hours, and when I came back it was still laying in same spot as before I left. Just wondering how long it will be able to hold on. I don't want to be cold-hearted, but he's tying up a tank, so I'm not ready to get additional livestock to try TTM again!
At it's worst (right after it went south 2-1/2 weeks ago) it was breathing rapidly and laying on its side. For the last week and 1/2 it appears to be breathing normal and it can stay upright, even though it just lays on the bottom. No improvement I have seen in the last 10 days and its color is still terrible.
It is still very weak, and just lays on the bottom. I actually touched it today, and no response. However, it did swim away (only about 12 inches) when I moved the rock it was laying against, so it is not completely unresponsive. It moves very infrequently. For example, I went out today for about 4 hours, and when I came back it was still laying in same spot as before I left. Just wondering how long it will be able to hold on. I don't want to be cold-hearted, but he's tying up a tank, so I'm not ready to get additional livestock to try TTM again!
At it's worst (right after it went south 2-1/2 weeks ago) it was breathing rapidly and laying on its side. For the last week and 1/2 it appears to be breathing normal and it can stay upright, even though it just lays on the bottom. No improvement I have seen in the last 10 days and its color is still terrible.
I'm at the point of cure it or kill it, as it is still hanging on but not eating. Is there the equivalent of a fish steroid to try to stimulate its appetite, even if it is high risk?
Even if it is nibbling at the brine shrimp (which I have not observed), they are at the point of having no nutritional value, having hatched several days ago. I tried frozen Mysis again this morning, and it just bounced of its head, and I observed no attempt at eating. (When I first got the fish, it had eaten Mysis, so I know in the past the fish would eat it). In the past week I tried Selcon and garlic soaked Mysis, and this had no impact, so I doubt garlic would do anymore than cloud the water at this point.
Even if it is nibbling at the brine shrimp (which I have not observed), they are at the point of having no nutritional value, having hatched several days ago. I tried frozen Mysis again this morning, and it just bounced of its head, and I observed no attempt at eating. (When I first got the fish, it had eaten Mysis, so I know in the past the fish would eat it). In the past week I tried Selcon and garlic soaked Mysis, and this had no impact, so I doubt garlic would do anymore than cloud the water at this point.
Spar
New member
i still think it is eating while you aren't around. if you have a webcam, set it up and watch him from the streaming footage.
other than garlic, i am not sure of what else can be added to stimulate hunger. additional fish might help (spark competitiveness), but might be too stressful for the wrasse.
other than garlic, i am not sure of what else can be added to stimulate hunger. additional fish might help (spark competitiveness), but might be too stressful for the wrasse.
So far no change except one happy chromis with a full belly and a devastated brine shrimp population! Lets see if the additional fish will get it to move its needle of life towards the healthy side.
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