Carpenter Wrasse Help

Miketc17 · Jun 30, 2015

I purchased a carpenter wrasse a couple days ago and he's been acting strange. This is my first time with this fish so I don't exactly know what to expect. He hasn't eaten and is always on the sand bed. When he does come out, it seems like he's struggling to swim. Right now, he is on his side on the sand bed up against a rock. It doesn't look like he's going to make it and I really don't know what it could be. Here is a picture from last night and another from right now:

AlexG · Jun 30, 2015

What other fish do you have in your tank? Other wrasses? I have seen them take a few days to get comfortable before comming out and they can be shy at times. Biggest concern I have is are any other fish in the tank causing a problem. Have you tried any live foods as a lure?

RavenSF · Jun 30, 2015

I'm not sure what's going on with your wrasse, but they are notorious for having internal parasites. Every fish I get starts out in a small QT where they get a day or two to settle and then receive 1-2 rounds of PraziPro. If he doesn't look better in a couple of days you might consider treating your tank with PraziPro.

Miketc17 · Jun 30, 2015

AlexG said:
What other fish do you have in your tank? Other wrasses? I have seen them take a few days to get comfortable before comming out and they can be shy at times. Biggest concern I have is are any other fish in the tank causing a problem. Have you tried any live foods as a lure?

I have 2 snowflake clowns, tomini tang, midas blenny, hawkfish, and a firefish. My tank is very peaceful and I haven't seen anyone going at the wrasse. I'm going to try frozen mysis in a little, but he looks like he's going to croak very soon.

RavenSF said:
I'm not sure what's going on with your wrasse, but they are notorious for having internal parasites. Every fish I get starts out in a small QT where they get a day or two to settle and then receive 1-2 rounds of PraziPro. If he doesn't look better in a couple of days you might consider treating your tank with PraziPro.

I've never had an issue like this so I don't have the slightest clue what it could be. Is PraziPro safe with my corals and inverts? Do you think I should just set up a 20G Hospital tank or will that just stress him out even more?

Miketc17 · Jun 30, 2015

Update: I just fed frozen mysis and he ate it with out a problem. However, I did notice a strange little white patch above his eye.

AlexG · Jun 30, 2015

How long was this fish in the store before you got him?

Miketc17 · Jun 30, 2015

AlexG said:
How long was this fish in the store before you got him?

They had him since 6/9.

RavenSF · Jun 30, 2015

If you decide to use PraziPro, it is safe for corals and most inverts. I don't know about it being safe for anemones or all inverts. It didn't do anything to my corals, shrimp or snails though. If you treat with it, you might as well treat in your display because by introducing the fish to the display without quarantining, if you have introduced any parasites they carried with them.

If he's eating that's a good sign and I'd keep feeding him several times per day. Fish stop eating the first few days on praise so it'd be good to let him eat a bit and see how he does before trying Prazi. I don't know what your course of action should be at this point though.

4FordFamily · Jun 30, 2015

Honestly I struggled with flasher and fairy wrasses for awhile. Meanwhile I was able to keep numerous expert level fish successfully.

When added singly, they did as you describe and eventually died. However, when I added 2-4 at a time, I almost never lost any. I've done this since with great success.

I tried single flashers and fairies probably 6-7 times with little success.

Could be completely coincidental, but I am a believer. I keep 11 total leopard wrasses, 8 fairy wrasses, one flasher, four halichoeres, a red coris and a banana now.

I might also add that I have run prazi pro in every reef tank i have owned more than once without losing a single coral or invert.

Miketc17 · Jun 30, 2015

Very good to know. Thanks you all for the information and advice. Hopefully he makes it. We will see.

kevin32 · Jul 12, 2015

Any update on the fish.

reefndude · Jul 13, 2015

Every wrasse I have has done that. Add to qt and looked like it wouldn't make it. Couple days in and would start acting normal.
Add to dt and would do it all over again.
Actually added a hooded wrasse to dt this past Saturday night. She just kind of hung by waterline limp looking.
By Sunday night she is all over the tank

Miketc17 · Jul 14, 2015

kevin32 said:
Any update on the fish.

He ended up dying the following morning. I'm not entirely sure what the deal was with him, maybe he just didn't take to acclimating too well. I picked up a gorgeous angular wrasse yesterday and she seems to be doing great. She's been swimming all over the place and eating well.