Fat wrasse with bent spine dying.

[Slocke]

I’m not asking for a solution as I know when a fish is on its last legs. My radiant wrasse quickly went from skinny to very fat but compared to my other wrasse of the same genus it stayed fairly small. However as it got fatter its body seemed to go more and more banana shaped. This morning it didn’t eat and I soon found it gasping on the bottom. It will swim for short periods but then returns to the bottom.

Question is what happened? Did it break its spine and just live with it for years? I did have glass lids. Could that explain stunted growth and a shortened lifespan?

Or is there some connection with it seemingly being overweight?

@Jay Hemdal @MnFish1

 

[jabberwock]

My Carpenter Wrasse seemingly bonked his head pretty good awhile back. He was in rough shape for a couple days, but was able to shake it off and is doing fine now. Hope the same for your wrasse. Notice his camo pattern in his weakened state. He needed to hide...

Bad

And better.

 

[Slocke]

My Carpenter Wrasse seemingly bonked his head pretty good awhile back. He was in rough shape for a couple days, but was able to shake it off and is doing fine now. Hope the same for your wrasse. Notice his camo pattern in his weakened state. He needed to hide...

Bad

And better.

I doubt it. Mines dying and is moribund I believe. It’s had a spent spine for a couple years. Really just wanting to ask if the bent spine is what ultimately killed it. Or if perhaps it being obese could have killed it/reduced its lifespan.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’m not asking for a solution as I know when a fish is on its last legs. My radiant wrasse quickly went from skinny to very fat but compared to my other wrasse of the same genus it stayed fairly small. However as it got fatter its body seemed to go more and more banana shaped. This morning it didn’t eat and I soon found it gasping on the bottom. It will swim for short periods but then returns to the bottom.

Question is what happened? Did it break its spine and just live with it for years? I did have glass lids. Could that explain stunted growth and a shortened lifespan?

@Jay Hemdal @MnFish1

The "Unknown Neurological Wrasse Disease", UNWD only seems to show in flasher, fairy and sometimes Halichoeres within a few weeks of importation. With a long-term captive like this, I'd look to other causes. If the symptoms showed up overnight, it *could* be strike damage, but that is pretty rare. Mycobacterium infections are more likely in this case, but again, the symptoms would develop over time.

Jay

 

[Slocke]

The "Unknown Neurological Wrasse Disease", UNWD only seems to show in flasher, fairy and sometimes Halichoeres within a few weeks of importation. With a long-term captive like this, I'd look to other causes. If the symptoms showed up overnight, it *could* be strike damage, but that is pretty rare. Mycobacterium infections are more likely in this case, but again, the symptoms would develop over time.

Jay

Thanks
Could a spinal injury stunt growth and reduce lifespan?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Stunt growth generally wont occur, but reducing lifespan is a possibility as fish may develop a weak feeding reflex and continue to thin

 

[Slocke]

Stunt growth generally wont occur, but reducing lifespan is a possibility as fish may develop a weak feeding reflex and continue to thin

Thanks
This is my most recent video and you can see it’s humpback. It always ate well and if anything was overweight.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks
This is my most recent video and you can see it’s humpback. It always ate well and if anything was overweight.

Tank looks well balanced. Too bad on the wrasse as I see the curvature. Not as bad as I pictured but its present. Seeing no sign of injury, I would assume UNWD as a cause.

 

[jabberwock]

At least you had it for awhile...
Sorry for the current situation.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks
Could a spinal injury stunt growth and reduce lifespan?

Sorry, IDK - I would think that a spine injury would be more acute, and fish wouldn’t live with it for months/years.

Jay

 

[MnFish1]

Sorry am on vacation with limited access - so - I agree with the rest of the answers. Agree a spinal injury is unlikely. BTW - Beautiful tank - and realize that wrasses may not live long lives.