Fairy Wrasse Strange Behavior

[kpoj9]

I purchased my first fairy wrasse from my LFS this past weekend. It’s been in QT for 5 days. The wrasse mostly lays on the bottom and sometimes does this (see picture)???? I have never owned a wrasse before. Is this normal behavior? My water parameters are good and he’s eating. Just not sure what he is doing. I’m worried he is going to die.

 

[dhanking]

Do a water change. That isn’t normal. Your fish might me diseased or poisoned.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

This is the fourth case of this I’ve heard about in the past few months (one in our own tank). I wish I knew what causes this. Make sure the wrasse has enough hiding places: 3 of the cases were just bare bottom tanks with pvc pipes to hide in. I ended if inert silica sand on the bottom would make it feel more secure?
Jay

 

[Privateye]

I had this happen with an orange-back last year. It still tried to eat, but it had lost equilibrium. I wonder if it tried to jump and hit the lid, as it didn't show symptoms in the first few hours.

It would try to swim a bit occasionally, but often at the angle yours is. He made it about 4 weeks in a 10 gallon by himself. Sorry man, hopefully yours turns around.

 

[kpoj9]

It’s QT so I have no sand. I have 2 large pvc pipes that he lays against. Fairy wrasses are not burrowers so I didn’t think it was necessary. I thinking of doing a water change.

 

[kpoj9]

Fairy wrasse is not doing well. I did an 80% water change yesterday. Added some Seachem stress guard and some stability. He is turning white near his tail. My water parameters are still good. I cant figure out what’s wrong with him. HELP!?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

It’s QT so I have no sand. I have 2 large pvc pipes that he lays against. Fairy wrasses are not burrowers so I didn’t think it was necessary. I thinking of doing a water change.

Correct, they don't burrow, but I worry that the reflection from a bare glass bottom is stressful, and PVC pipe doesn't really give them the caves they prefer to hide in.

The pic you just posted shows a pretty serious infection; bacterial or Uronema and both in combination.
What meds do you have on hand?

Jay

 

[kpoj9]

I only Cupramine and Prazi. Haven’t started any treatments yet.

 

[kpoj9]

I ran out to tonight to my local Petsmart and got some EM erythromycin. Going to LFS tomorrow to get some MetroPlex and Focus.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Be careful to monitor your ammonia level f you use the erythromycin , it can damage your biofilter.

Jay

 

[kpoj9]

will do. I’m aware it kills the beneficial bacteria.

 

[evolved]

Is this normal behavior?

No - stress coloration there, and far from upright - both not normal.

I ended if inert silica sand on the bottom would make it feel more secure?

I've never seen Cirrhilabrus pay any mind to the presence or absence of sand.

but I worry that the reflection from a bare glass bottom is stressful

But that definitely could be a contributor.
This QT looks awfully bright. Dim tanks are often better for QT.

But all that being said, the only time I've seen success stories of a wrasse in this condition is the triple Kana+Furan+Metro combo. However, most don't come back from this condition, I'm afraid to say.

I wish I knew what causes this.

Some have speculated it's neurological. But I'd love to know as well!

 

[kpoj9]

Thx for the helpful advice. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it thru the night. My LFS doesn‘t have a guarantee policy either. Makes me question if I should shop around for another supplier.

I typically don’t lose fish. But have never had a wrasse before. This really makes me wonder what I did wrong. My water was 1.025, Temp 77.5. PH 8.3, AK 10.5. No Ammonia. I setup the QT for 1.5 weeks prior using filter media from MT as well as using Seachem stability. It was a bare bottom QT and I did run lights after 48 hours. The lights ran 8 hours a day. I didn’t see any disease ie. ich/fluke. He looked healthy when I bought him. I thought it was odd that he would mostly lay on the bottom of the tank. When he started to swim vertically I started thinking he was dying.

 

[Acros]

I had the same happen to me. Got a lubbuck’s fairy wrasse. It stayed in the cave, but lying on the sand for 2 days. Came out of the cave and still stayed close to the sand bed, lying on it. Mine passed away after 3 days. All other fish I added with him and previously are doing just fine.

edit: I got the fish a week back.

 

[kpoj9]

I had the same happen to me. Got a lubbuck’s fairy wrasse. It stayed in the cave, but lying on the sand for 2 days. Came out of the cave and still stayed close to the sand bed, lying on it. Mine passed away after 3 days. All other fish I added with him and previously are doing just fine.

edit: I got the fish a week back.

Sorry you experienced the same problem. That’s odd. I’m thinking I need to stay away from buying fairy wrasses. I don‘t understand their sensitivity.

 

[Acros]

Sorry you experienced the same problem. That’s odd. I’m thinking I need to stay away from buying fairy wrasses. I don‘t understand their sensitivity.

I had a Ruby Longfin Fairy Warsse that I bought at the same time. The fish is doing just fine.