Flame wrasse strange behavior

[julie180]

I have had the pair for a 10 days in a 29 gallon QT with a salon wrasse and diamond goby.

Sg and temp match to acclimate. No meds at this point. Ammonia badge was tested before tank was filled and it reads 0. Bio-wheels have been in my sump for several months and I used biospire just to be safe.

The male frame wrasse is hanging at the wall and close to the bottom, breathing seems normal, nothing stand out on his body although his color might be faded a little. The strange things is how he is swimming, his tail is tightly clamped and it appears he is trying to turn himself into a C shape. He ate fine yesterday but refused food tonight. The other 3 fish ate with gusto and appear to be fine.

I have seen no flashing of any of the fish, all are breathing normally, clear eyes, nothing else that seems abnormal.

Any ideas what could be the problem or how I should proceed.

TIA

 

[julie180]

Looking worst this morning, sitting on the bottom listing to one side.

Any ideas, I don't want to lose this beautiful and expensive fish!

 

[snorvich]

Male flame wrasses are difficult shippers. If I want a male flame, I get two females.

 

[julie180]

Thanks for that. But, I have the fish, what can I do to try and save it?

 

[julie180]

I just examined the fish under my microscope and did not see anything external that I could ID as a problem. Fins are showing the slightest bit of fraying at the ends, but other than that, I did not see anything of concern.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Understand that you have precautions for ammonia but have you actually tested it? Those badges are not always accurate. Do you have any Prime or something to lock the ammonia? Given the fish's attitude I wonder if it might have an internal parasite or a bacterial infection. Do you have any antibiotics on hand?

 

[julie180]

He is sitting on the bottom and has started more rapid breathing.

Only meds on hand are prazipro.

Ammonia test was also negative.

What to do next? Do you think it could be flukes? Would a freshwater dip be appropriate?

 

[julie180]

Gone. I dissected his body minutes after his last breath and could see nothing. Granted, I have never autopsied a fish before and don't know what I am looking at, but I assume any parasite would be still alive and visible under a microscope.

One thing I am not sure about was the flesh from mouth to middle was extremely red, not like it was bleeding, just very red, and the back was light pink. Could this be something or is it normal?

Question, is there anything I should do for the rest of the fish who are eating and look great, or just continue to observe?

TIA

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Sorry for your loss. Unless you have a microscope and do a scrape you probably won't see anything. It could have been flukes but lethargy and loss of appetite are the first symptoms associated with nearly every disease. Also as Steve mentioned they do not handle shipping well so it could have been stress related as well.
As for the other fish vigilantly observe for symptoms. If anything pops up then post back here. In the meantime feed vitamin enriched food and keep water very clean.

 

[julie180]

I was looking under a microscope. Nothing obvious was seen.

The fish went down hill FAST. He ate on Friday, not Saturday and was dead today. He was with me for 10 days. I am not understanding why it would take so long and go so fast if it was shipping stress. Can someone please enlighten me.

I am very concerned about the other 3 I have in the QT tank. Any precautions I should take?

 

[snorvich]

The fish went down hill FAST. He ate on Friday, not Saturday and was dead today. He was with me for 10 days. I am not understanding why it would take so long and go so fast if it was shipping stress. Can someone please enlighten me.

As I said previously male flame wrasses (red margin male wrasses as well) often do not make it. And your time frame is consistent with that.

 

[Deinonych]

Sorry for your loss. As Steve mentioned, terminal males do not ship well. This seems to be the case with many Cirrhilabrus species. Personally, I have had mysterious deaths when trying to QT more than one wrasse at a time. Given that you also have a C. solorensis in the same QT, that could have been the case here.

 

[texdoc77]

Sorry for your loss. As Steve mentioned, terminal males do not ship well. This seems to be the case with many Cirrhilabrus species. Personally, I have had mysterious deaths when trying to QT more than one wrasse at a time. Given that you also have a C. solorensis in the same QT, that could have been the case here.

Ugh, now I am not sure how to get them. I will keep trying DD as they have great customer service, wish I had known this little bit of info, maybe I would not have ordered two at the same time, but for the shipping it is hard not to...

I was looking under a microscope. Nothing obvious was seen.

The fish went down hill FAST. He ate on Friday, not Saturday and was dead today. He was with me for 10 days. I am not understanding why it would take so long and go so fast if it was shipping stress. Can someone please enlighten me.

I am very concerned about the other 3 I have in the QT tank. Any precautions I should take?

Julie, I am sorry. I know that even though it was a new fish it is not fun to deal with a loss. Hopefully you can snag another with better results...

 

[jonwright]

I've had more than one wrasse with the exact same symptoms (both yellow flanked). One was a juvenile that was in the water with a chromis. Chromis died in QT and I treated the little wrasse proactively with a lot of stuff: Formalin baths, prazi. He had frayed fins and hung his tail down and was like a "C" like mentioned here. Metro, API Gen cure, paraguard dip, cupramine, Kanaflex few rounds of antibiotics (eurothromycin, and nothing worked. He didn't eat and wasn't active. Died a couple weeks later.

I figured it was something the chromis brought in or that I shot-gunned too much with meds. Bleached holding tanks. Couple months later here I am again:

I now have a larger YF wrasse in QT by himself. Formalin dip, then in meth blue bath (recommended doses) for a day. On day 4 now he has frayed fins, drooping tail like a "C" again.

Looks like exactly the same symptoms and I'm not rushing to treat this guy. I may just put him in my 50 gal holding tank and see how he does.

What gives?

New guy:

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