McCoskers wrasse problem

[solid14th]

I got a McCoskers wrasse 2.5 weeks ago. It seemed fine initially. Then last Thursday it started breathing rapidly and swimming at the surface. Friday afterwork I went to try and catch it to put it into quarantine, but could not find it. Here, it made the trip into my sump.

I plucked it out and put into QT. Started dosing with Erythomcyin and Paraguard b/c it was breathing rapidly and resting on the bottom, belly side up.

I don't know if its a swim bladder problem or if it injested air while it was swimming at the surface last Thurs.

Is there anything else I can be doing for this poor little guy?

 

[snorvich]

There are various parasites that can cause heavy breathing. Any external symptoms such as white spots or a velvet like sheen?

 

[solid14th]

No, no external spots or growths. The only 2 symptoms are rapid breathing (although I think that might be improving) and the trouble swimming and staying belly-down.

 

[snorvich]

Could be a swim bladder problem. But rapid breathing usually means something in the gills. I don't know what else you can do at this point.

 

[solid14th]

Thanks a lot for the help, I really appreciate it. It's still alive so I'll keep treating and hope for the best. It's just so hard to see it suffer.

 

[small alien]

Bummer. Hope it pulls through for you.

 

[solid14th]

Bummer. Hope it pulls through for you.

Thank you very much.

 

[Yogre]

Only other thing I can think of is to treat for flukes, don't know if Paraguard is effective against them. I know Prazipro is.

I had a group of 4 P. Mccoskeri of which only one survived. In retrospect I'm convinced it was flukes.

 

[solid14th]

Yogre, thanks for the input, I did put Prazipro in on the first QT day. I was worried about adding it with the antibiotic and Paraguard, but I did it anyway in a panic.

 

[Akrite]

Sounds like flukes use Prazipro. THis is a good reason to QT all fish.

 

[snorvich]

Sounds like flukes use Prazipro.

A symptom of flukes would be a periodic, uncontrollable "twitch".

 

[Yogre]

A symptom of flukes would be a periodic, uncontrollable "twitch".

Yes, indeed. The 3-4 fish that I've had that I confirmed flukes on did this. It's almost like they're shaking their heads trying to shake something off.

They may also have some eye cloudiness, the flukes seem to like to attack the vulnerable tissue of the eye.

The OP has already dosed Prazi, though, so that may not be the ailment, although I have seen Prazi take a few days to really provide relief for the afflicted animal.

 

[solid14th]

The fish doesn't shake or scrape. Justs rests on the bottom of the tank bellyside up.

I am continuing to treat with Prazi, Paraguard and erythomycin.

 

[Yogre]

The fish doesn't shake or scrape. Justs rests on the bottom of the tank bellyside up.

I am continuing to treat with Prazi, Paraguard and erythomycin.

Hope he makes it. Those are neat little fish.

 

[solid14th]

Thanks Yogre, it was still alive this morning, I'm hoping for a fishy miracle.