Hawaiian Flame Wrasse - Strange Swimming Behavior

[bdubble]

I have had a male hawaiian flame for ~6 wks...he has been eating great and looking very healthy but has been doing some strange things in the past few days. He has been hovering in a vertical orientation much of the time, has been doing barrel rolls perdiodically, and lets himself get blown around by the current in the tank. He is still eating well but is not out swimming as much as before.

As far as causes, the only thing I can think of is that a few days ago while I was standing by the tank (has canopy and egg crate along the back), I heard him jump out...he must have landed on the overflow cover because I heard him flutter for a couple seconds, then fell back into the water. He was of course totally freaked out...floated down to the bottom and gasped for a while...but calmed down and was simming/eating again a couple hours later.

Before this incident, he was periodically hovering vertically...but since the incident it is much more frequent, plus he started the barrel rolls. I'm not sure if it is related...but the behavior is certainly strange, and I fear that something is wrong with him.

Any ideas what might be going on?...thanks

 

[rholguin]

Might be bladder issues. If so theres really nothing you can do.

 

[bdubble]

that's what I was afraid of...but he was at the LFS for 3 or 4 weeks, and then with me for 5 or 6. wouldn't a bladder issue normally show up sooner?

 

[rholguin]

Theres really no time limit. One minute their good the next their gone.

 

[snorvich]

First, egg crate does not keep fairy wrasses in. If you want to keep them in, you need 1/4 inch holes. Secondly, the jump was not the cause of your swim bladder issues which are going to be fatal to the fish. Time is not the issue, it may not have been decompressed correctly when collected.

 

[bdubble]

I appreciate the replies, guys...even though they make me sick to my stomach. If he does not miraculously get better, at what point is it appropriate to catch and euthanize him?

 

[snorvich]

The condition is not painful. As long as other fish are not picking on him, there is no urgency to euthanize. There seems to be a fair number of cases of this with male Flame Wrasses.