I have had some problems with the tank in the past. I want through a mini cylce about 6 months ago after adding about 10 lbs of dry rock. I also had a very bad ich outbreak about 9 months ago that ended up killing 3 fish, the trigger being on of 2 survivors.
I do use the same siphon for all of my tanks. I got a couple of juvinile triggers in a seperate tank right now that I do know have flukes and are being treated however this started happening before I got them.
I have tested the water daily for the past week with no changes in ammonia or nitrites. All read 0 and nitrates are at 5 currently. I use the api master test kit.
I have never seen either trigger near the top of the tank or in any high flow area. They sit at the bottom of the tank in 2 separate spots, one against a rock, and one in a cave. The niger was the only one breathing heavy in the entire tank. The porcupine puffer I have sometimes does but it is most always after a meal because she eats too much ( trying to fix that ).
The niger would sometimes bolt around in little quick spurts of energy. Never any scratching/ rubbing. Other than that it would sit in its spot and become active during feeds or occasionally through out the day doing little laps around the tank.
During the freshwater bath I could not see anything visually come off either trigger. I have since put the blue throat back in the display tank as he is showing no symptoms is breathing normal and started eating again when moved to qt.
The last addition to there tank was about 5 months ago when a tang was added. It just recently died about a week ago due to unknown causes. I tested my water, had it tested at my lfs, and examined the fishes body. I could find no marks or points of infection and the tang was very healthy, eating good and very active. The day before It died I noticed it at the top of the tank near the overflow and swimming around slowly near the top. I took note of it and ran the tests but wanted to wait until the next day for new symptoms. When I checked in the morning the tang was dead. Immeditalty following this is when I noticed the trigger starting to breath heavily. I too first suspected ammonia especially after a death. I saw a little jump ( 0.1ppm ) but it only lasted a day and went back down to 0.
Now in the qt tank I believe an ammonia spike is in the works. It is creeping subtly I believe due to the prazi causing a bloom of sorts. I think I want to move him back to display tank where the parameters are better. I now realize that his swim bladder could be inflammed due to the ammonia rising in qt. If I move him back to display I will discontinue all treatments for him and to protect the other fish. I am still worried for his appetite as well as this is day 3 of no food. He has always eaten very well. This is why I moved him to qt because the heavy breathing was one thing and I didnt want to stress a move especially because he was still eating but when he stopped eating I thought of the worst. I dont know what to do at this point
