6-line wrasse dead - poisoned by flatworms?

SBGRAD24 · 12/16/2009, 11:37 PM

I just found my sixline wrasse dead. He had been in my tank for about 6 months and was doing fine when I saw him yesterday. There's no visible damage to his body. All other tankmates appear fine.

All levels are normal. Temp: 77, SG: 1.025, Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: ~10.

I often see him picking red planaria off the rocks, is it possible that he ate so many and was poisoned by them? I can't think of anything else that may have killed him.

iwishtofish · 12/17/2009, 08:32 AM

I'm sorry to hear about your wrasse, SBGRAD24. I have never heard of them being poisoned by flatworms. Sometimes it is really hard to pinpoint the exact cause of a fish death, though.

How big was the wrasse? Might there have been a conflict with another fish?

jerryz · 12/17/2009, 09:50 AM

considering the planaria are right up their food alley its doubtful they 'poisoned' him. Its highly more likely he died of something else unknown.

SBGRAD24 · 12/17/2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwishtofish

I'm sorry to hear about your wrasse, SBGRAD24. I have never heard of them being poisoned by flatworms. Sometimes it is really hard to pinpoint the exact cause of a fish death, though.

How big was the wrasse? Might there have been a conflict with another fish?

The wrasse was fairly small, only about 2.5". He was in a very lightly stocked 90 gallon, along with 2 Ocellaris clowns, 2 Firefish and a Flame Angel. I never saw any signs of aggression between any of the fish.

I rarely ever lose fish and take it personally when I do. I truly feel bad that something died in my care. It sucks not knowing if I did something wrong or if it just died of natural causes.

luther1200 · 12/17/2009, 07:31 PM

I doubt thats what happened. I have had mine for 3 years and at 1 point I had quite a large number of FW's and he mowed them down all the time. I still have a very few, but they are known to eat them so I serioudly doubt they poisoned him.

My guess would be natural causes, like a stroke or something. I had the same thing happen with a Flame Angle a few months back. He was totally healthy 1 day, dead the next. We probably will never kinow what happens.

darb85 · 12/17/2009, 07:36 PM

Was it eating anything other than flat worms? If not, Is it possible he wasnt getting enough(doing to good of a job on the flatworms?)

SBGRAD24 · 12/17/2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darb85

Was it eating anything other than flat worms? If not, Is it possible he wasnt getting enough(doing to good of a job on the flatworms?)

He ate plenty of mysis, cyclopeeze and Marine Fusion.

DJREEF · 12/17/2009, 08:16 PM

Any longspine urchins (Diadema sp) that he may have accidently darted into? If not the u may have a mantis shrimp in there that caught him by surprise. If not then it is a clear case of S.F.D.S.

DJ

kingfisher62 · 12/17/2009, 10:52 PM

If it was a mantis, I doubt there would be much left of him.

DJREEF · 12/18/2009, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingfisher62

If it was a mantis, I doubt there would be much left of him.

That depends entirely upon the timing of the incident, were said incident actually to have occurred on the night in question.

DJ

kingfisher62 · 12/18/2009, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJREEF

That depends entirely upon the timing of the incident, were said incident actually to have occurred on the night in question.

DJ

LOL

BeanMachine · 12/18/2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJREEF

That depends entirely upon the timing of the incident, were said incident actually to have occurred on the night in question.

DJ

Huh? You lost me.

I've seen plenty of vids of mantis shrimps in attack mode in broad daylight. There wouldn't be anything left of your six line. Especially if no wound at all.

So a Mantis scared the six line to death?

iamwrasseman · 12/18/2009, 07:26 PM

he could of been eating flatworm as we do popcorn at the movies ,no harm done by that .

DJREEF · 12/19/2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeanMachine

Huh? You lost me.

I've seen plenty of vids of mantis shrimps in attack mode in broad daylight. There wouldn't be anything left of your six line. Especially if no wound at all.

So a Mantis scared the six line to death?

Mantis shrimp come in all shapes and sizes. Some leave no wounds, unless the animal was autopsied for blunt trauma it's possible that the wrasse got popped a few minutes before you found him - seeing as how 6 lines make it a habit of looking for trouble, esp where shrimp are concerned, I only submit this as a possibility.

DJ

ArgonDreams · 12/19/2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJREEF

Mantis shrimp come in all shapes and sizes. Some leave no wounds, unless the animal was autopsied for blunt trauma it's possible that the wrasse got popped a few minutes before you found him - seeing as how 6 lines make it a habit of looking for trouble, esp where shrimp are concerned, I only submit this as a possibility.

DJ

It's also unlikely that an smasher would affect a sixline in anyway, give speed or type of encounter, I personally would discount a manti sin this scenerio with no visible items on the fish

12/16/2009, 11:37 PM	#1
SBGRAD24 Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 873	6-line wrasse dead - poisoned by flatworms? I just found my sixline wrasse dead. He had been in my tank for about 6 months and was doing fine when I saw him yesterday. There's no visible damage to his body. All other tankmates appear fine. All levels are normal. Temp: 77, SG: 1.025, Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: ~10. I often see him picking red planaria off the rocks, is it possible that he ate so many and was poisoned by them? I can't think of anything else that may have killed him. __________________ Those that make peaceful change impossible, make violent change inevitable. John F. Kennedy Current Tank Info: 90g reef with mostly softies. 40g Firebelly Toad terrarium.

12/17/2009, 09:50 AM	#3
jerryz Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Phoenix Posts: 953	considering the planaria are right up their food alley its doubtful they 'poisoned' him. Its highly more likely he died of something else unknown. __________________ When in doubt ride a bike. Current Tank Info: 75 Gal Freshwater Discus Tank, 20G Nano, 125 Reef

12/17/2009, 07:31 PM	#5
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	I doubt thats what happened. I have had mine for 3 years and at 1 point I had quite a large number of FW's and he mowed them down all the time. I still have a very few, but they are known to eat them so I serioudly doubt they poisoned him. My guess would be natural causes, like a stroke or something. I had the same thing happen with a Flame Angle a few months back. He was totally healthy 1 day, dead the next. We probably will never kinow what happens. __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

12/17/2009, 08:16 PM	#8
DJREEF 25 & Over Club Join Date: May 2000 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 1,737	Any longspine urchins (Diadema sp) that he may have accidently darted into? If not the u may have a mantis shrimp in there that caught him by surprise. If not then it is a clear case of S.F.D.S. DJ __________________ = 8-->{I> Current Tank Info: FOWLR&SPS

12/17/2009, 10:52 PM	#9
kingfisher62 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: massachusetts Posts: 4,972	If it was a mantis, I doubt there would be much left of him. __________________ 55g Tank - 216W T5's Foxface, tomato clown, yellow tailed damsel, Starrie Blennie, LPS and softies 29G Biocube- 120W LED's 2 percular clown, Six line Wrasse , LPS and softies Current Tank Info: 55 gl. Reef tank ,29g biocube Reef

12/17/2009, 08:32 AM	#2
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	I'm sorry to hear about your wrasse, SBGRAD24. I have never heard of them being poisoned by flatworms. Sometimes it is really hard to pinpoint the exact cause of a fish death, though. How big was the wrasse? Might there have been a conflict with another fish?

12/17/2009, 07:36 PM	#6
darb85 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Somewhere not in cyberspace Posts: 428	Was it eating anything other than flat worms? If not, Is it possible he wasnt getting enough(doing to good of a job on the flatworms?)

12/18/2009, 07:26 PM	#13
iamwrasseman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: syracuse Posts: 7,003	he could of been eating flatworm as we do popcorn at the movies ,no harm done by that .