new wrasse lying down breathing fast?

f3honda4me · 02/20/2012, 10:34 AM

I just picked up a mccosker's flasher wrasse yesterday, and since I got him he's lying in the bottom of my QT. He's also breathing fast. But, he does move around, and if I feed the tank, he perks up and eats, but then goes back to his lame duck behavior.

Is this normal for a new/stressed wrasse?

For prosperity, here are my current tank stats.

ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - <5
copper cupramine (treating proactively) .30
PH is 8.2
SG 1.024

SneakyPete · 02/20/2012, 11:59 AM

My midas blenny did that for about the first week before coming out of the corner and perching on the sponge filter. He'd eat only food that came really near him. didn't swim around much, but now he's always out and about.

Are you running an airstone? If not, you might be a little low on oxygen. I always run an airstone in my QT, just in case.

But if he is moving some and eats well, I wouldn't be too worried. It's only day 2, and that little guy has gone through a lot of stress. Give him some time, but keep an eye on him. If his condition worsens (like he stops eating), then it might be time to try something.

f3honda4me · 02/20/2012, 12:04 PM

Its a 10g running a Finnex canister filter with an eheim 300 powerhead. I could add an air stone or put in an air driven sponge filter?

SneakyPete · 02/20/2012, 12:11 PM

It looks like cupramine can reduce oxygen levels (especially if you are treating with something else like formalin, not sure if you are or not, i'll assume not since you didn't mention it), and I'm not sure how much surface agitation you have. At the very least, an airstone (or sponge filter) can't hurt anything.

Out of curiosity, what are you using for your biofilter? I saw you said ammonia is at 0, I'm assuming used canister filter media?

f3honda4me · 02/20/2012, 01:16 PM

The cannister filter has ceramic rings and a sponge. I cycled the tank before using it.

SneakyPete · 02/20/2012, 01:30 PM

That sounds like it should be good. I'd just keep an eye on him for a couple more days. As long as he keeps eating, I wouldn't be too worried about it. I'd still probably add an airstone though (if you have a spare airpump).

What was the SG of the water that he was shipped in (or picked up from the LFS)? If it was significantly lower than 1.024, there may have been a bit of shock as they had to cope with more salt in the water. I only mention this because I know some fish shops save on salt and keep their fish at a lower SG.

f3honda4me · 02/20/2012, 02:10 PM

The water he was bagged in was 1.027. I purchased him locally. I did a 40 minute acclimation by slowly adding tank water to his bag water. The PH between the bag and tank was within .2

02/20/2012, 10:34 AM	#1
f3honda4me Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,218	new wrasse lying down breathing fast? I just picked up a mccosker's flasher wrasse yesterday, and since I got him he's lying in the bottom of my QT. He's also breathing fast. But, he does move around, and if I feed the tank, he perks up and eats, but then goes back to his lame duck behavior. Is this normal for a new/stressed wrasse? For prosperity, here are my current tank stats. ammonia - 0 nitrite - 0 nitrate - <5 copper cupramine (treating proactively) .30 PH is 8.2 SG 1.024

02/20/2012, 11:59 AM	#2
SneakyPete I see you Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northwestern Minnesota Posts: 513	My midas blenny did that for about the first week before coming out of the corner and perching on the sponge filter. He'd eat only food that came really near him. didn't swim around much, but now he's always out and about. Are you running an airstone? If not, you might be a little low on oxygen. I always run an airstone in my QT, just in case. But if he is moving some and eats well, I wouldn't be too worried. It's only day 2, and that little guy has gone through a lot of stress. Give him some time, but keep an eye on him. If his condition worsens (like he stops eating), then it might be time to try something. __________________ 40B in recovery mode Trumpet coral, Kenya tree, unknown Zoa Skunk Cleaner, 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Royal Gramma Current Tank Info: 40B w 29 sump. 50 lbs rock

02/20/2012, 12:11 PM	#4
SneakyPete I see you Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northwestern Minnesota Posts: 513	It looks like cupramine can reduce oxygen levels (especially if you are treating with something else like formalin, not sure if you are or not, i'll assume not since you didn't mention it), and I'm not sure how much surface agitation you have. At the very least, an airstone (or sponge filter) can't hurt anything. Out of curiosity, what are you using for your biofilter? I saw you said ammonia is at 0, I'm assuming used canister filter media? __________________ 40B in recovery mode Trumpet coral, Kenya tree, unknown Zoa Skunk Cleaner, 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Royal Gramma Current Tank Info: 40B w 29 sump. 50 lbs rock

02/20/2012, 01:30 PM	#6
SneakyPete I see you Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northwestern Minnesota Posts: 513	That sounds like it should be good. I'd just keep an eye on him for a couple more days. As long as he keeps eating, I wouldn't be too worried about it. I'd still probably add an airstone though (if you have a spare airpump). What was the SG of the water that he was shipped in (or picked up from the LFS)? If it was significantly lower than 1.024, there may have been a bit of shock as they had to cope with more salt in the water. I only mention this because I know some fish shops save on salt and keep their fish at a lower SG. __________________ 40B in recovery mode Trumpet coral, Kenya tree, unknown Zoa Skunk Cleaner, 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Royal Gramma Current Tank Info: 40B w 29 sump. 50 lbs rock

02/20/2012, 12:04 PM	#3
f3honda4me Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,218	Its a 10g running a Finnex canister filter with an eheim 300 powerhead. I could add an air stone or put in an air driven sponge filter?

02/20/2012, 01:16 PM	#5
f3honda4me Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,218	The cannister filter has ceramic rings and a sponge. I cycled the tank before using it.

02/20/2012, 02:10 PM	#7
f3honda4me Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,218	The water he was bagged in was 1.027. I purchased him locally. I did a 40 minute acclimation by slowly adding tank water to his bag water. The PH between the bag and tank was within .2