6-Line Wrasse in Trouble - Help!

[Rubberdam604]

Hi y'all,

My 6-line wrasse is suffering from a swim bladder issue; lying on it's side, often floating in a vertical position with its head oriented up, the whole shebang. The wrasse is pretty mobile and still tries to eat, but he is having issues and his stomach appears distended.

Assuming water quality and infection are the issues, what are the chances that the fish recovers? I've done some water changes and I think that's had an improvement on his demeanor, but he really can't control his swimming. He's clearly hungry but is unable to be stable. Have any of you had fish with swim bladder issues that have returned from the brink?

Any advice is always appreciated! I have had him in the tank for 2+ years and he's about 3-4 inches, very brightly coloured.

 

[Rubberdam604]

@Jay Hemdal do you think this could be another instance of the unknown neurological wrasse disease (UNWD)? This wrasse has been in my tank for 2 years and has never had such symptoms, but your description is frighteningly on point! You often see this in 6-line wrasse?

 

[threebuoys]

Are the wrasse's tailfin and pectoral fins intact or damaged? I can't tell from the video.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

@Jay Hemdal do you think this could be another instance of the unknown neurological wrasse disease (UNWD)? This wrasse has been in my tank for 2 years and has never had such symptoms, but your description is frighteningly on point! You often see this in 6-line wrasse?

While that sure looks like UNWD, the one big difference is that I've only seen that in newly acquired wrasses. Also, that is mostly confined to flasher and fairy wrasses, and sometimes Halichoeres wrasse. I don't recall hearing of a sixline with it.

Is the fish still feeding?

Jay