My royal gramma went into hiding about two weeks ago. I have a nice hole in one of my larger pieces of live rock - and it has always used that place for a hiding spot. I've had the fish for 5 years. Almost two weeks ago it went into the hole and didn't come out - other than to stick its head close to the end of the hole (so I knew it was alive). I have not seen it come out to eat either. I tried several times to use a turkey baster to put some food into the hole, but I'm not sure how successful that was. Last night I decided that if I didn't try harder to get him out of the rock, it would definitely starve to death and die. I had to remove the rock from the tank, and after alot of work, got the fish out of the hole - and into my quarantine tank. He was breathing hard, and late last night I thought he was dead (lying on his side flat on the bottom of the tank ...) - but decided to wait til morning to remove him. Well, today the fish is still alive but almost not moving at all (for the most part he's leaning against the back of the tank). I don't see any wounds or spots on him. I have a bottle of Melafix - so put 5 ml in the quarantine tank yesterday evening and again today. I put some food in the tank, but it hasn't attempted to eat anything. Any suggestions?????
Sick/dying royal gramma
- Thread starter beckerjm
- Start date
Amazon4
Premium Member
It's hard to know. Especially if he was full grown when you bought him. Could just be old age. Five years is a respectable time to have kept a fish of that sort happy and healthy. Although sad if he does not pull through, you should feel good that you've provided a good home for so long. 
The royal gramma is still alive. He spends most of his time at the bottom of the tank, leaning against one of the walls. I've got a couple pieces of PVC pipe in the tank for hiding, but he hasn't used it at all. His breathing seems normal, except every couple minutes he gives what I can best describe as a big heave/sigh. I'm not sure if it is to prop himself up more or what. Then every once in awhile (like just now), he did an about face and stood vertical for a few seconds, before lying back down against the glass. His mouth is not open - so I don't think he's breathing heavy. He seems to perk up just a bit after I add the melafix. Now I wonder if I injured it in extracting it from the piece of live rock. He was probably dropped about 6 inches from the rock to the water. If he does survive (big if), I don't think he will stand a chance against the dottyback. He was initially in the display tank for probably 4 months before the dottyback was added.
Water quality is good - amnonia and nitrates both at zero.
Well as I finish this message he just swam to the top of the quarantine tank (10 gallon - 12"high). Who knows.......
Water quality is good - amnonia and nitrates both at zero.
Well as I finish this message he just swam to the top of the quarantine tank (10 gallon - 12"high). Who knows.......
Hey - I'm starting to think that maybe this guy will make it after all. Today he's actually started to swim a bit. Spending alot of time on the back wall next to the heater. But he's definitely not just lying on the bottom all the time. Still haven't seen it eat yet - though so that could be a problem.
My royal gramma is still alive!!! He swims about some, but also likes to spend alot of time huddling next to the heater. He's been in the quarantine tank for three weeks now. I think I'll give him another week and then see if I can remove the dottyback to give him a chance in the main tank without being harassed. He never eats while I am watching though - and that worries me some. But he must be eating the food I put in the tank, otherwise I don't think he would still be alive today.
MatthewLaw
New member
my RG loved to hang out under the heater during ich treatment in teh QT. treatment went well but a tank crash in the display tank a day after -reintroduction unfortunatley took him.
