Not sure if something is wrong with my wrasse

[iiismet]

I got a solan fairy wrasse at my lfs and drip accumulated him and introduced him to my 80 gallon tank Thursday night and he went around and hid in the rocks and stayed there til my lights came on Friday. All day Friday he was out swimming and ate some flakes and frozen mysis when my lights went off he went for cover in a rock and has been there since. He had developed a little bit of a mucus coat around him earlier that is now gone

Ammonia .25 ppm
Nitrate 5
Nitrite 0
Ph 8.2
Going to do a 20% wc tonight

 

[Reef908]

Well that seems typical for a new wrasse to hide. Mine usually act strange for a bit until they are comfortable fully after adding. Mucus coat when sleeping is perfectly normal. I do see an issue with the ammonia being .25. You should read 0. That could cause an issue right there. What are some of the other tank mates?

 

[Deinonych]

Normal behavior for wrasses in a new environment. He will get more bold once he feels comfortable. Agree that any ammonia is cause for concern, though. You should not have any ammonia present if the tank is properly cycled. How old is the tank?

 

[heathlindner25]

The tank looks new, but everyone gets .25 reading with, let me guess. .....API?

 

[iiismet]

The tank has been set up since April, I also have a couple damsels and a cardinal.
Yes I am using an API test kit.

A little update on him, he is still alive and has moved from his rock that he was in to a new one on the other side of the tank, still hasn't eaten and I think he has swim bladder disease
He tries to swim a bit but when he does its on his side or upside down, ammonia test still registering at .25, currently mixing another 20 gallons

 

[iiismet]

I did another 20 gallon water change tonight, here's a gif of him a couple hours ago, he's currently just laying on the bottom pretty bummed out not sure what to do

 

[scooter31707]

Don't go changing nothing. API is known to give fasle reading of 0.25ppm for ammonia. I use Salifert test kits. Much better accuracy.

 

[iiismet]

Unfortunately, I just got home and he didn't make it.. If anyone knows why he could have died so quickly I'd like to hear them and if there's something I could have done. I really like the species and would like to try to get one again soon.
And I'll look into other test kits before I get another fish

 

[lg2725]

Man, that stinks. Sorry to hear.