Sick Trigger help

Spar

New member
----posted this in the Reef Discussion section but didnt get a response... anyone know what else I can do here?

I have a semi-Large (7-8" long, 1-1.5" inch thick) pink tail trigger that has for some odd reason gotten ill.

I have had him for a little over 2 months. I got him from a friend that had him for several years before. I first did 5 weeks of QT (hypo) and then added him to my 450g. He did fine for 2-3 weeks and even was doing well during the day he fell ill. But then he hid in a cave and stopped eating for 2 days. He finally came out but was laying lethargic against some rocks so I swooped him out and put him back in my QT tank (luckily still fishless).

He doesn't swim much, pretty much not at all. He just leans against an object in the tank all day. He has been in there for 2 full days now.

He will eat, but only if I put it right in front of his face with a predator prong. But he is very strong when eating, sometimes grabbing the prong and tugging hard. I have been feeding him krill soaked in Vitamin C and Omega (whatever that fattening stuff is). He will not swim over to the food if it just falls in, but you can tell he wants to go to it, just doesn't have the energy.

His tank mates (when in the DT) were various tangs (2 yellow, a sailfin and a tenenti), a rabbit fish and 2 coris wrasses. No one picked on him; he took the dominant position really quick.

My best guesses as to what may have happened:
1) Had a chiller break recently and found out it had been leaking freon and oil into my tank while broken... I did notice other fish acting lethargic as well, but no one fell ill like this guy did

2) During the time I was waiting on a new chiller the temperature swings during the day would get up to 5 degrees (F) difference from early to late. This didn't faze my coral even though...

3) A few days prior to him falling ill I got a new sump and all new plumbing. Not sure what this may have had an effect on, but worth noting.

I had been running plenty of carbon as well with all the changes.

Thoughts on A) what could have led to him getting sick, and B) what I can do to help him out further?
 
Really, no one with fish sickness expertise :(

He is a little more active now, but by "a little more" I mean he just swims along the bottom when it is feeding time. Just swims into the glass, turns around, and swims into the other side of the tank glass. He can not seem to swim upward though, just hovers along the bottom... not sure if it is a "cant" or a "wont"...

Advice?
 
It sounds like you're doing everything for him you can. Any one of the things you mentioned could be the cause, or perhaps a combination of things. I would do a major water change on the big tank, and continue to care for him in QT until he recovers.
 
It sounds like you're doing everything for him you can. Any one of the things you mentioned could be the cause, or perhaps a combination of things. I would do a major water change on the big tank, and continue to care for him in QT until he recovers.

I agree. Although I think we do fairly well diagnosing may fish disorders; there are many things we can only guess at. QTs and WCs are never dangerous and may just be what the fish needs. I'm amazed that we do as well as we do; can you imagine trying to diagnose a kid (or even a dog) on an internet forum?
 
Update: He was actually swimming around semi-normally last night and this morning! This is an upgrade from him literally just laying against an object for 99% of the day.

I am starting to wonder if there is something wrong with his vision now. His eyes appear fine appearance-wise, but when sticking in the feeding prong with krill on the end you can tell he knows there is food waiting for him but he cant find it. He only knows where it is if it shoved in his face or if you tap the side of his body with it he will turn to 'try' to eat it (usually missing).

Will keep at it! I am optimistic given the upgrade in his activity yesterday!
 
I hope he recovers. When he does; I'd feed a variety of food , and vitamins (Selcon, etc).
Long-term feeding of krill been shown to cause a variety of problems.
 
I hope he recovers. When he does; I'd feed a variety of food , and vitamins (Selcon, etc).
Long-term feeding of krill been shown to cause a variety of problems.

Agreed. I am only solely feeding Krill right now because it is the only thing that sticks on to the feeding prong easily. And soaks in the vitamins easily.

In his healthy days he got the Rod's Food Predator Pack that does have plenty of big chunks of various stuff. Also have a few other Rod's Food packs that he nibbles on.
 
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