Upsidedown wrasse

Whiterabbitrage

Whiterabbitrage

New member
Yestersay afternoon found wrasse upside down. At ten pm put him in HT. Noon today he is still upsidedown. He is not panting. I cannot see any external injuries. He is responsive but not eating. Last meal was breakfast yesterday, frozen mysis.

1. How old is this aquarium?
Just over two years.

2. If less than six months old, what is ammonia level?
N/A

3. What is SG of this aquarium? How measured?
1.026 by digital probe and checked with refractometer

4. When was the last fish added to this aquarium?
almost two months ago

5. Was it quarantined?
Of course
If so, how?
In QT
And how long?
One month
Was it prophylactically treated?
No.

6. If you are using a copper based medication, which one? How often do you measure level? When?
N/A

7. If you are using hyposalinity, how did you calibrate your refractometer?
N/A

8. Please describe in detail, the appearance of the fish? If there is one or more pimples, are they lumpy? What color?
Lying upside down. Excellent color, seems very alert judging by eyes ( he looks around at things just like always) his poo is white but not stingy or full of mucus. It's just a white lump. His belly is not distended. No marks on skin, no growths or excess slime.

9. Please describe the behavior of the fish as best you can. Is it acting reclusive?
No, not hiding. Just upside down on ground. Does not seem to be a balance or swim bladder issue. He is just laying on the sand, and chooses to do this upside down.
Is it always up towards the top of the aquarium? Is it avoiding light? How active is the fish?
Not secretive or avoiding light. Just laying there. Swims to new position/ area every couple hours.
10. Is the fish eating? What?
No.
 
It's a male McCoskers. I've had him two years. He was a juvenile when I bought him, so I don't think its old age or collection practices that's the problem. Yes, it's a lot of info given, but it's an odd problem.
I thought maybe he was getting malnourished. I used to feed five times a day and have cut it back to twice a day. When fed, he gets a variety of fresh and frozen food, usually from the grocery store. But I don't think this is the problem because there are a ton of pods and live mysis that live in the rocks.
I thought maybe he got an electrical shock. There is electricity loose in the tank. I have to wear rubber shoes, even to feed. I thought maybe the wrasse jumped and grounded himself and received a shock. My electrical engineer friend says no.
I thought maybe he was constipated. I usually feed live blackworms once a week, but have had to stop for a month to let the numbers build back up. I don't think this is it because his abdomen isn't swollen.
I'm really at a loss. I hope someone can help before it's too late.
 
I've seen this behavior in my McCosker's wrasses when they are stressed or sick. Keep an eye on it and treat as necessary if something pops up. The fact that he's not breathing hard is a good sign. I'd first try to get rid of the stray voltage in the tank.
 
His poop looks like eggs, white clusters of ovoids, all the same size. Seriously, looks like eggs. Any chance of intestinal worms? He's not eating. I'm treating with Prazipro since internal parasites is my only guess now.
As for getting rid of the stray voltage, even the house itself isn't grounded. The electrical is not up to code. Am in the middle of moving to a better place. The new tank is still waiting for the new sump and for R/O installation. In the meantime, he's in the hospital tank which has no stray voltage.

Thank you for your help. Seriously, if there is anything, Anything at all, that you can think of that will help, please tell me. Really, really want to save this guy.
 
Any advice for treatment? He's in Prazipro right now, and I tried giving him some cod liver oil with a pipette. There has to be something more I can do...
 
10 pm. He's still alive, still alert, still laying there. His Colors are rich and deep. His fins are up. He looks beautiful. Except that he is not eating and is laying on his side now.
What's going on?!
 
No idea on original cause, but my wrasses really didn't like prazi treatment. Got one in qt at the moment that isn't happy. Pretty sure when whatever parasites they have in their gut die it isn't a pleasant experience for the fish.
 
Metronizadole might help but I would put it in its food if you can get it too eat. I've fed food soaked for 15-30 minutes soaked in Hikari Metro+ with good results. API's General cure has metro and praziquantel in it but I would use it in a hospital tank as a bath and not to soak food. What your describing is NOT a doomed fish. Wrasses can be drama queens, so if it's not feeling well they look worse than they actually are. I'd be worried if it was breathing heavily and on its side out on the sand and in the open exposed.

I've been dealing with a pair of McCoskers with some type of infection on their skin and they act like you're describing. It's been happening for a few weeks and reoccurred after ending the first treatment but they're still kicking.
 
Thank you for the responses guys. Really nice to know I'm not alone. I looked into overnighting some Metronizadole, but every site I went to asks for a prescription.

It's after 1 am. He's still alive. Lying on his side now, instead of upside down. Is this better or worse? Somehow it seems worse to me. His breathing is still ok, and he has changed his laying spot again. I hope he'll still be around tomorrow.

Also hope you guys do ok with your wrasses. That recurring infection sounds serious, Bluecoyote. Good luck to you. And you too Sabo, with your QTed wrasse.
Good luck to all our wrasses.
 
What bluecoyote said is true, wrasses are total drama queens! This one I have in qt has been playing it from the wrasse book of drama. In acclimation on side, fins spread not moving the whole time. If not for the eyes you'd call it dead. First tank of ttm eating well and swimming about flashing quite a bit. Second tank with prazi and he is acting like a different fish. Hiding all day or on his side with fins extended. Hardly eating, though he did perk up when I fed him late in the day, then back to hiding. If I hadn't put a few through this protocol I'd be worried, but its typical for these guys to be overdramatic I think. :)
 
You didn't mention it was being treated with Prazi in the first post. Wrasses do not like Prazi. They'll survive it but you'll think they're dying. Just keep the water well aerated and it will be fine. No need for metro or any other meds. Prazi only stays active for 72 hours. After that time the fish should perk up.
 
Day three. He's still alive but still refusing food.
This is day two of Prazipro. Shouldn't he be showing signs of improvement by now?
Anything else I can do?? Should I try to API General Cure?
 
Midnight. Going into day four. He still won't eat, but he is right side up now. Hope that's a good sign. In the past he's always been so nervous and flighty. Now you can set a bomb off and he doesn't care. Hope he will try eating tomorrow.

Thanks again for the advice and info guys.
 
At day 4 without food I'd ask for help from Snorvick or one of the other disease experts. You can try a different food too. All my fish LOVE fish ova. Rod's Food sells fish eggs if you can find it. I'd hesitate to offer anymore advice at this point. My wrasses never went 4 days without food. 2 no problem, but they started to come out to eat at least by then.
 
Ova, either Nutramar or Rods, frozen cyclopeeze, small planktonic type foods. Live brine shrimp, although nutritious, would be good. By the way, placid is not necessarily good.
 
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