Paralyzed Royal Gramma...?

[badbreath]

So I have a Royal Gramma that has been with me for 6 months...it has been hiding for most of its time in my tank. A week ago, I found it sitting on the bottom...not dead, but not moving. 4 days passed with not much changing but the location of the fish from day to day. Yesterday I finally scooped it up and put it in a little jug (mostly to keep it away from the bristleworms that have been bothering it for months.

Tank mates include:

1 tailspot blenny
1 firefish (the other suddenly died)
1 melanarus wrasse
1 chomis
1 big Long spine urchin
1 arrow crab
several hermits
CRAP TON OF Bristleworms

water at 74F
pH ~8.0

Any thoughts? What could have caused this behavior...again not really moving but hasn't died with this going on for over a week.

Thanks
Ryan

 

[badbreath]

oh ya, can a long spine urchin paralyze a fish...?

 

[snorvich]

Arrow crabs can take fish. Two firefish become one the vast majority of the time

 

[badbreath]

Arrow crabs can take fish. Two firefish become one the vast majority of the time

I forgot to mention that aside from bristles in the fish's mouth (from worm encounters) there are no apparent injuries on the fish.

 

[ThRoewer]

How big is this Gramma? Is it fully grown (~3")?

How does it behave?
Is it just sitting on the ground as if it is weak or tired or is it "crawling" like it lacks buoyancy?
Is its breathing elevated or normal?

 

[badbreath]

How big is this Gramma? Is it fully grown (~3")?

How does it behave?
Is it just sitting on the ground as if it is weak or tired or is it "crawling" like it lacks buoyancy?
Is its breathing elevated or normal?

Maybe 1.5"
Behaving like it is unable to move.
Calm Subtle breathing. Just leaning against the side of the container at the bottom.

 

[badbreath]

2 week update...
Condition mostly unchanged. I put the fish in an open top container to keep away from the worms...still looks like it is unable to move itself. But isn't dead yet!

 

[badbreath]

Week 7 update... Situation unchanged...

 

[badbreath]

Week...15? The fish is getting better. I've seen it swimming and defending is territory but it mostly hides.

Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk

 

[pinnatus]

Well, that sounds encouraging.

You didn't happen to dose it with copper? Sometimes fish get somewhat mentally deficient when getting too much copper.

 

[badbreath]

Well, that sounds encouraging.

You didn't happen to dose it with copper? Sometimes fish get somewhat mentally deficient when getting too much copper.

No copper.