Anthias - Balance Problem?

[Maritimer]

I hadn't planned to put anthias in my tank, but the LFS had a group of Bartlett's in last week, I fell pretty hard and brought home a pair. (Well ... two, anyway...) Both began feeding eagerly and immediately in my QT. Brilliant, elegant fish!

This afternoon as I left for work, the larger, "more masculine" of the two, who has always been a bit more reserved than the smaller one, seemed to be swimming ... oddly. Upon getting home at 11:00, he's swimming more or less sideways, maybe whirling a bit, and looking decidedly uncomfortable. He's also breathing noticeably harder than the smaller, more energetic one.

Any thoughts? 'Cause I don't even know where to begin. Inner ear? Neurological? Something I'm missing??

Currently treating with Prazi-Pro and chelated copper, but don't expect either one to have any effect on . . . whatever this is.

~Bruce

 

[melypr1985]

Any red marks? Bloating? Swollen tummy?

 

[Humblefish]

I know these are sometimes collected in deep water and not properly decompressed before being brought to the surface. So, it's possible he has developed a gas bubble in the swim bladder.

 

[Maritimer]

Any red marks? Bloating? Swollen tummy?

That's part of what's frustrating - _none_ of those things. If he wasn't swimming on his side and occasionally upside-down, and breathing in "panic mode", he'd look to be a perfect fish.

Humblefish, I know that some anthias are deep-water, but thought the Bartlett's were less so. He's not positively bouyant, still neutral-to-slightly negative, tucking away in the PVC overnight.

Thank you both.

~Bruce

 

[melypr1985]

I recently had a Bartlett's anthia at the store that started doing this. Swimming weird at first, then swimming and sorta floating with his face up at the surface. I put him in qt with antibiotics (had others in there being treated already). After a while he was floating upside down. He lasted a long time and would even eat if I spent extra time to slowly squeeze food in front of his upside down face. He died yesterday and he never had the swollen belly or any outward symptoms besides the boyancy/swimming issues.

 

[Maritimer]

I'm sorry to hear that, Meredith ... Sad for your loss, for the effort that went unrewarded.

This sounds a lot like my guy. Not hopeful, but at least honest . . .

~Bruce, fingers still crossed . . .

 

[melypr1985]

I'm sorry to hear that, Meredith ... Sad for your loss, for the effort that went unrewarded.

This sounds a lot like my guy. Not hopeful, but at least honest . . .

~Bruce, fingers still crossed . . .

Thanks, he was a trouper for sure. I hope yours doesn't end up that way. Keep us posted.

 

[Humblefish]

@Maritimer Is the fish still eating?

 

[MCooper]

Best luck with this. I have a pair and they certainly are gorgeous fish.

 

[Maritimer]

@Maritimer Is the fish still eating?

He was this morning, out active ... and uncontrolled. Just dropped some LRS in though, and he's staying tucked in a PVC corner while "she" came out to grab a bite.

Dr. Cooper, thank you.

~Bruce

 

[Humblefish]

He was this morning, out active ... and uncontrolled. Just dropped some LRS in though, and he's staying tucked in a PVC corner while "she" came out to grab a bite.

Dr. Cooper, thank you.

~Bruce

If he's still swimming oddly tomorrow, I would be tempted to dose an antibiotic (exs. Kanaplex, Furan-2, NFG) into the water.

 

[Maritimer]

I've got Furan-2 and Maracyn in house ... I'll give it a shot!

Thank you, as always.

~Bruce

 

[Maritimer]

Wanted to update this morning, but just couldn't . . .

Woke up to a cloudy grey mess in the tank, and both anthias dead on the bottom.

More heartbroken than usual.

~Bruce

 

[Sabellafella]

Wanted to update this morning, but just couldn't . . .

Woke up to a cloudy grey mess in the tank, and both anthias dead on the bottom.

More heartbroken than usual.

~Bruce

Oh no! So sorry for your loss bud its tuff. Hope everything is well

 

[4FordFamily]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[DLHDesign]

Sorry for your loss. :-(

 

[Humblefish]

@Maritimer I'm so sorry to hear this. It was likely a gram negative infection to kill so fast. Which med(s) did you dose?

 

[Maritimer]

I'd wanted to do a partial water-change before starting antibiotics, as I've had difficulty with them in the past, so didn't dose either. Whatever happened in there ... happened without Furan or Maracyn.

~Bruce

 

[melypr1985]

I'm sorry for your loss.