skinny lubbocks wrasse

[CeeGee]

I have had a lubbocks wrasse in quarantine for about 4 weeks now. The fish is a picky eater but it does eat. It seems to like very small pieces of food.

It has gotten really skinny and it continues to eat. Normally I would treat with maracyn II as I would suspect something internal but usually IME if that is the case the fish will stop eating all together.

Anyone have any recommendations? It is a beautiful fish I would hate to lose it.

Any ideas if this fish may have been caught with cyanide? I had one previously but it jumped into my return pump (while tank was setup in a temporary location while we had new carpet put in). That specimen was down right healthy and was in my care for about 6 months. I bought this new guy from the same store and I figured as long as it didn't die from ich (my LFS is rampant with it) I would pretty much be in the clear. I would assume that they are getting these guys from the same wholesalers. They are pretty regular at that particular store.

 

[Bret61081]

Ive had a lubbocks wrasse now for about 7 months and it has eaten everything I put in the tank since day 1! I dont think theyd be caught with cyanide since they are so cheap....they but be pretty common on the reefs. I am c urrently going through the same thing though with a solorenis wrasse. Its kinda skinny and the lubbucks chased him for a few days so he is pretty skitish...but is picking at the spectrum when I put it in there but eating more mysis soaked in garlic and vitachem..

 

[Angel*Fish]

You might try treating him for worms
If he'll eat it, soak some dried food in Prazipro & feed it daily for 5 days
If not, gut load some live brine
Intestinal flagellates are very common & is one of the few "diseases" that is simple to treat. The treatment is supposed to be harmless to the fish, so it's not risky to try it

Sometimes there aren't really noticeable symptoms
Sometimes you may see an injury looking thing on/near his head area that may heal.
He may look thin or pinched along and above the lateral line
I've also noticed "skittishness" in affected fishes

I have had some recent I.F. problems in my tank, so pardon me if I'm "projecting" onto you

I also have a Lubbock's wrasse, cool fish - good luck
And seriously, you've got nothing to lose trying this treatment, you can even do it in your reef - but I wouldn't let an anemone or coral eat any food soaked in it

And if it works you should retreat in 6 weeks

 

[CeeGee]

I just happen to have a bottle of prazipro.

Got it after losing a flame wrasse to trematodes which is easily treated with prazipro as I understand it but flat out deadly if untreated. No one in my area carried it (of course) and I had to special order it after the flame wrasse had perished. That was a nice fish too

Thanks for the replies.

if anyone else wants to add anything my wrasse is listening.

 

[CeeGee]

Update.


I have been treating with the prazipro with no noticible improvement in the fish. The fish still eats but is extremely shy and I have absolutely no idea what is keeping this fish alive. It is so dang skinny.

I think I will try treating with maracyn II in a day or two. If that doesn't cure him up I don't have any other ideas.

I think the fish may have been collected with cyanide. It is very aware of its surroundings though and acts normal other than being skinny.

If anyone has any other ideas I would like to hear them.

 

[CeeGee]

Final update as if anyone cares.

The fish died either last night or this morning. The fish lasted a long long time in this condition. I am confident the fish was caught with cyanide. All the signs point to it and the fish was paper thin at the end. I can only imagine how healthy this guy would have been if caught properly as he was a trooper to last as long as it did.

I wouldn't mind knowing how that solar is doing.

 

[Bret61081]

I am sorry for your loss. It always kills me to hear of someone lossing a fish. On a good note my solor wrasse is doing great! Eating everything I put in the tank. I has been eating the spectrum with the rest of them but Ive been feeding live brine soaked in Vitachem for my Venustus angel and it LOVES them. Keep your eye out for another wrasse. They are great fish and always out and about swimming in the tank! Good Luck

 

[CeeGee]

My solar and McCoskers flasher are always out and about. They have no fear of me whatsoever. Great fish. I got them from PhishyBusiness in Columbus, Oh. I couldn't be happier with the quality and the great job they did packing those guys. I really like the lubbocks and I had a healthy one but it jumped into my return pump.

 

[ACBlinky]

I'm so sorry you lost him. I have a Lubbock's, and I'm incredibly attached; he was my first SW fish and he's still with me despite several near suicides; they can be a bit spooky and are prone to jump. IME these guys have hummingbird-like metablolisms, they like to eat several times a day if possible. They're tough as nails, probably why yours hung in so long. Do try again, they're really wonderful (and gorgeous) fish.