Blue Spot Jawfish in trouble, need help ASAP!

ScubaPrawn · 06/16/2012, 03:51 PM

All,

My BSJ seemed to be doing ok until this morning. I found him laying next to the glass and making a small burrow. He's laying in it, next to the glass, and not breathing well. His gills look large (maybe inflammed), probably b/c it's hard for him to breath.

I don't see white spots on him yet. Not sure what this could be. I did add some reef builder yesterday, but I added it slowly over time and don't think the alk/ph spike should have been too much...however I did cut off my refugium light last night so maybe that added to the problem.

Whatever it is, I need advice on what to do. I've been feeding new life spectrum pellets (thera A brand, with garlic). I added Kent garlic xtreme today with the pellets. He ate some, but he's not eating as much or as with as much energy as he was before. He's my favorite fish and I want to save him.

Please let me know what I can do to save this guy!

ScubaPrawn · 06/16/2012, 04:31 PM

BTW- I should say I have a QT up and running if necessary. But I'm not sure what to treat for and worried that I would be stressing the fish out by transferring him to the QT w/o some plan of action and knowing what to treat.

Aaarrrggg · 06/16/2012, 05:05 PM

I'm not sure what might be wrong, but I recommend feeding frozen PE Mysis instead of the pellets. Mine spits out pellets but loves selcon & garlic soaked mysis. Hope yours feels better soon!

TRENT_G · 06/16/2012, 05:28 PM

What other fish are in the tank?

ScubaPrawn · 06/16/2012, 05:51 PM

I thought new life spectrum pellets were very nutrious. Maybe that's the problem though? He's loved the pellets so far.

Other fish: some ocellaris clowns and a purple firefish

Dnastynice · 06/16/2012, 06:03 PM

some times trying to move a fish will cause more stress and is best left alone .. untill yo can figure out his problem

ScubaPrawn · 06/16/2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dnastynice

some times trying to move a fish will cause more stress and is best left alone .. untill yo can figure out his problem

I agree, which is why I'm asking for help here. I don't know what to treat for, but it seems like this is a comon porlbmes for bsj.

Aaarrrggg · 06/17/2012, 02:49 PM

They can get very stressed out if they don't have a burrow. I know mine was rather jumpy at the beginning. I made him a jawfish condo (google it and you'll see loads of examples) and he accepted it after just 1/2hr. After a week he abandoned it for an actual burrow, but it seemed to make him feel secure in the interim.

ScubaPrawn · 06/18/2012, 07:36 PM

Aaarrrggg:

I think that's what is happening with mine. I got a BUNCH of rubble for him to mess around with and he just made a new home and is eating well and seems to be breathing ok. I think he'll move eventually because he built his home righ tnext to the glass and not under LR, but for now he looks much better and I'll just keep giving him rubble so he doesn't get stressed out.

Aaarrrggg · 06/21/2012, 04:26 AM

That's great! Glad he's settling in; they sure do love rubble!

Dr Colliebreath · 06/21/2012, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScubaPrawn

I thought new life spectrum pellets were very nutrious. Maybe that's the problem though? He's loved the pellets so far.

Other fish: some ocellaris clowns and a purple firefish

The NLS pellets are fine. Make sure to offer a variety of foods, including meaty seafoods, mysis and shrimp.

06/16/2012, 03:51 PM	#1
ScubaPrawn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 244	Blue Spot Jawfish in trouble, need help ASAP! All, My BSJ seemed to be doing ok until this morning. I found him laying next to the glass and making a small burrow. He's laying in it, next to the glass, and not breathing well. His gills look large (maybe inflammed), probably b/c it's hard for him to breath. I don't see white spots on him yet. Not sure what this could be. I did add some reef builder yesterday, but I added it slowly over time and don't think the alk/ph spike should have been too much...however I did cut off my refugium light last night so maybe that added to the problem. Whatever it is, I need advice on what to do. I've been feeding new life spectrum pellets (thera A brand, with garlic). I added Kent garlic xtreme today with the pellets. He ate some, but he's not eating as much or as with as much energy as he was before. He's my favorite fish and I want to save him. Please let me know what I can do to save this guy!

06/16/2012, 05:05 PM	#3
Aaarrrggg Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 866 Blog Entries: 53	I'm not sure what might be wrong, but I recommend feeding frozen PE Mysis instead of the pellets. Mine spits out pellets but loves selcon & garlic soaked mysis. Hope yours feels better soon! __________________ Click on my homepage link to see my new 144g Half Circle Build! Current Tank Info: 144g Half Circle Oceanic (started 11/7/2011)

06/16/2012, 05:28 PM	#4
TRENT_G Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 501	What other fish are in the tank? __________________ 120 (4X2X2), 2x250 Phoenix 14k MH with 2X ATI Purple Plus T5 HO, 2x Vortech MP40 ES, 400 gallon sump system. Current Tank Info: 120 gallon SPS Tank w/ 400 gallon sump......

06/17/2012, 02:49 PM	#8
Aaarrrggg Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 866 Blog Entries: 53	They can get very stressed out if they don't have a burrow. I know mine was rather jumpy at the beginning. I made him a jawfish condo (google it and you'll see loads of examples) and he accepted it after just 1/2hr. After a week he abandoned it for an actual burrow, but it seemed to make him feel secure in the interim. __________________ Click on my homepage link to see my new 144g Half Circle Build! Current Tank Info: 144g Half Circle Oceanic (started 11/7/2011)

06/21/2012, 04:26 AM	#10
Aaarrrggg Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 866 Blog Entries: 53	That's great! Glad he's settling in; they sure do love rubble! __________________ Click on my homepage link to see my new 144g Half Circle Build! Current Tank Info: 144g Half Circle Oceanic (started 11/7/2011)

06/16/2012, 04:31 PM	#2
ScubaPrawn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 244	BTW- I should say I have a QT up and running if necessary. But I'm not sure what to treat for and worried that I would be stressing the fish out by transferring him to the QT w/o some plan of action and knowing what to treat.

06/16/2012, 05:51 PM	#5
ScubaPrawn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 244	I thought new life spectrum pellets were very nutrious. Maybe that's the problem though? He's loved the pellets so far. Other fish: some ocellaris clowns and a purple firefish

06/16/2012, 06:03 PM	#6
Dnastynice Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 33	some times trying to move a fish will cause more stress and is best left alone .. untill yo can figure out his problem

06/18/2012, 07:36 PM	#9
ScubaPrawn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 244	Aaarrrggg: I think that's what is happening with mine. I got a BUNCH of rubble for him to mess around with and he just made a new home and is eating well and seems to be breathing ok. I think he'll move eventually because he built his home righ tnext to the glass and not under LR, but for now he looks much better and I'll just keep giving him rubble so he doesn't get stressed out.