Dead Blenny

[Chessmanmark]

I bought this Bicolor Blenny on Thursday along with a Wrasse. I kept it in a 10 gallon QT tank for observation only. I put a few pieces of live rock in the tank. The Blenny stayed hidden in the rock and darted out for food. An hour ago it was pushed out of the rock by the current. It was facing the back of the tank then it looked like it was coughing. It jumped up and came down upside down. It must of had a heart attack.

Does anyone have an idea what this is? Now that I see the fish the belly looks pinched. Could this be internal parasites and should Ibe concerned about the wrasse?

 

[vetteguy53081]

the body cavity appears to have a chunk missing and makes me wonder if this is a result of aggression from the wrasse or if there is a hitchhiker within the rock that got to it?
getting pushed out of the current notates a weak fish that had no energy to remain hiding.

 

[Roosterjack]

What kind of wrasse?

 

[Chessmanmark]

Thanks for the reply.

The rock is pretty bare. I’ve had it in a holding tank for years.
The other fish is a Melunaris that stays under the sand in a tub most of the time. I didn’t see any aggression and I’ve been home watching the tank since I bought them.

 

[Roosterjack]

I have the same wrasse and he is good sized but a huge coward. I doubt it is the wrasse. Did you examine the deceased for physical injury? If indeed a chunk is missing there must be an explanation. Any exposed powerheads or filers?

 

[Chessmanmark]

 

[Chessmanmark]

Never went near the power head. It stayed mostly upside down under a rock.

 

[ScubaFish802]

It looked like that right after you saw it alive last? I would agree something’s in the rock.

possibly something that was smaller in the past but has since grown? (Not causing issues till now)

 

[Chessmanmark]

It died 2 hours ago. The rock is man made. It’s really clean. It’s been in a holding tank for years.