Melanurus Wrasse swimming vertically

[mastersonr]

I have had this guy for 3 years. He has always been happy, healthy and eats like a pig. 2 days ago he started floating vertically with head up / tail down and swimming erratically. He is still on his routine of burying / sleeping at night and still eats when I feed him. He is struggling to swim though and starting to rest on the bottom of the tank.

Is this a swim bladder issue? Did he eat something that might be obstructing him now? Anything I can do to try and help him? I hate seeing him like struggle like this.

All water parameters are unchanged / fine and all other fish and corals are fine too.

 

[CedzAquAddictio]

Sounds similar to my experience. Is his stomach bloated?

 

[mastersonr]

his stomach is large but has always been that way because he eats so much. It does not appear to be bloated. It seems like he can't use his tail at all either.

 

[mastersonr]

Sounds similar to my experience. Is his stomach bloated?

I just checked the thread you have on the issues you are having with your melanurus. I saw your pics and see what you mean about a bloated stomach. Mine is nothing like that. He has not become bloated at all so we must be having different issues. Good luck with yours and hope he can recover.

 

[Taahirs]

I had to similar issue with a Lubocks wrasse. I think it was because some rocks maybe shifted on top of him.

He swam vertically for a few days but always corrected himself. I thought nothing of it. Then one day I got home and he was being blown around by the wavemakers.

So I put him in a breeding box type thing you get for fw fish. I tried to feed him in there but he didn't take food. After a few days I felt bad and killed him.