I've had my Orange Spotted Blenny for about six months now (6 weeks in QT then 43g display), and during that time, he has been very lively and a voracious eater, not only of algae but frozen meaty food and veggie pellets. I have a barnacle cluster in the tank that it quickly made its home, darting from its safety to eat and explore. Terrific personality and no problems with the other fish.
About two weeks ago, that all suddenly changed. He stopped leaving the barnacle and won't come out to eat at all. He ignores all food sources, garlic-laced or otherwise. He now seems afraid of its own shadow, floating particles, other much smaller, peaceful fish that he used to swim around with and eat with. He's constantly pulling into the barnacle at the slightest.
A few nights ago, I heard splashing and broke out the flashlight. He was freaking out in the dark, trying to jump and banging against everything in between periods of just sitting there breathing heavily (relatively speaking for a blenny). Luckily I have a secure screen on the tank so he wasn't going anywhere. I was pretty sure that I was going to wake up to a dead blenny, but the next day, he was back in the barnacle. However, he hasn't moved from there since, except right now as I type this, he's actually sitting on top of the rocks nearby for a change. I say "sitting" but he looks weak and flat to the rock, not perky and strong. No signs of disease on the skin and he's not terribly thin, but thinner than I'd like. It's possible he's about to launch another freakout session.
As far as potential negative parameters, the salinity is a bit high at the moment (36-37) and nitrates are 4. No ammonia. Alkalinity is also a tad low, but pH is sits around 8.1 (I struggle with CO2). But none of this is really a change from the norm.
Needless to say, I'm feeling a bit helpless. I'm not new to the hobby so I know sometimes things are inexplicable, but I'm wondering if anyone has experienced this with a semi-established rock-skipper and what you did, if anything, to help your fish. Searching around for others' experiences has turned up mostly tales of newly acquired fish that are understandably stressed and unacclimated. I'm sure I left out details that someone might find necessary, so I'm happy to add whatever anyone wants to know.
Tank: Reefer 170 (43g)
Other Fish: Oscellaris Clown, Radial Filefish, Yellow-Lined Possum Wrasse, Yellow Assessor Basslet
About two weeks ago, that all suddenly changed. He stopped leaving the barnacle and won't come out to eat at all. He ignores all food sources, garlic-laced or otherwise. He now seems afraid of its own shadow, floating particles, other much smaller, peaceful fish that he used to swim around with and eat with. He's constantly pulling into the barnacle at the slightest.
A few nights ago, I heard splashing and broke out the flashlight. He was freaking out in the dark, trying to jump and banging against everything in between periods of just sitting there breathing heavily (relatively speaking for a blenny). Luckily I have a secure screen on the tank so he wasn't going anywhere. I was pretty sure that I was going to wake up to a dead blenny, but the next day, he was back in the barnacle. However, he hasn't moved from there since, except right now as I type this, he's actually sitting on top of the rocks nearby for a change. I say "sitting" but he looks weak and flat to the rock, not perky and strong. No signs of disease on the skin and he's not terribly thin, but thinner than I'd like. It's possible he's about to launch another freakout session.
As far as potential negative parameters, the salinity is a bit high at the moment (36-37) and nitrates are 4. No ammonia. Alkalinity is also a tad low, but pH is sits around 8.1 (I struggle with CO2). But none of this is really a change from the norm.
Needless to say, I'm feeling a bit helpless. I'm not new to the hobby so I know sometimes things are inexplicable, but I'm wondering if anyone has experienced this with a semi-established rock-skipper and what you did, if anything, to help your fish. Searching around for others' experiences has turned up mostly tales of newly acquired fish that are understandably stressed and unacclimated. I'm sure I left out details that someone might find necessary, so I'm happy to add whatever anyone wants to know.
Tank: Reefer 170 (43g)
Other Fish: Oscellaris Clown, Radial Filefish, Yellow-Lined Possum Wrasse, Yellow Assessor Basslet
