FOX FACE RABBIT FISH LAYING ON BOTTOM

[Kelsey Fletcher]

I got a fox face last week and hes on the bottom barely breathing!!! What should I do??? He's in a 55 gallon tank and i have already done a chemical check and everything is as it should be. The only thing is that the water level was a little low in the tank. PLEASE HELP!!!

 

[EmdeReef]

Can you post pics? Are you sure there’s no ammonia, or any toxin in the water? How old is the tank? Any other fish?

Any spots, discoloration, wounds?

Can you move him to a bucket or a smaller tank with freshly mixed water?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Water level was a little low? How low and what are you topping off with? What are you exact parameters, salinity, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, phosphate? Pictures of the fish in question would help as well

 

[Kelsey Fletcher]

the tank is about a year old and there is only a beauty coral angel fish in there. there are no visible wounds. he looks great but seems to be struggling to breathe. yes i will post pics

 

[Isaac Alves]

What are your parameters? Alk, Ammonia, Nitrate...etc.

What is the salinity? Very high spike over 1.030 can cause some discomfort to your animals, especially if she's already sick. Your corals would be dead.

The water is clear, not cloudy? Bacterial bloom can quickly pull oxygen from water.

Is there any visible signs on the animal of a parasite?

Had the animal been eating regularly?

 

[Kelsey Fletcher]

 

[Kelsey Fletcher]

That’s what he looks like right now. He’s only a week old so he’s only eaten about three times. My corals are doing wonderful so it’s not a bacterial thing. My ATO is ro water directly added by jar. I don’t have an ato system yet.

 

[Kelsey Fletcher]

Will send parameters soon. Just need to get him in a new bucket of water quickly

 

[Isaac Alves]

Wow. He's young. Maybe he's not getting enough fatty foods with vitamins? Could also be stress. And, the breathing hard can also be a sign, but not necessarily, parasites in the gills. I don't see any obvious visible signs of white spots or wounds from the pic.

 

[Isaac Alves]

I think I would do what you're doing. Putting him in a smaller 5-gallon tank or similar container with fresh saltwater and heavily aerated with a pump. Give him a PVC pipe to hide in. I would also get some seaweed sheets, garlic extract or some flavor enhancer, and some Selcon or another vitamin enhancer with omega fatty acids. Also, try fresh lettuce -- I've heard at times they'll go for lettuce over seaweed.

 

[Kelsey Fletcher]

What are your parameters? Alk, Ammonia, Nitrate...etc.

What is the salinity? Very high spike over 1.030 can cause some discomfort to your animals, especially if she's already sick. Your corals would be dead.

The water is clear, not cloudy? Bacterial bloom can quickly pull oxygen from water.

Is there any visible signs on the animal of a parasite?

Had the animal been eating regularly?

ammonia-0ppm
nitrite-0ppm
nitrate-0ppm
ph-8.2
i have fed him frozen mysis and some regular saltwater food and the new angel i have seems to be taking it very well but maybe it is nutrition depravation.

 

[Isaac Alves]

Could be dietary. Mysis shrimp can be high in fat but I've only read about piscine energetics to be proven to have a high fat and protein content. Make sure you have Hikari SeaWeed Extreme Small Pellet on hand as well - https://www.amazon.com/Hikari-Usa-A..._rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=2R21K1AM34TFC08VSAGE

You can soak the pellets in the selcon and garlic extract.

Keep your water aerated with an air pump to allow circulation and oxygen. Make sure you have a heater in there as well and keep your temp close to what your tank has been. Once the water in the container is acclimated close to the temp in your tank I'd move him in there. Be sure to have a thermometer. Good luck.

 

[ReeferBean]

They turn black when they are stressed. It could really be anything. I would recommend setting up a quarantine tank and treating the fish but it may be too late. Did you pull him out of the tank and put it into that little Tupperware for the picture?

 

[Kelsey Fletcher]

They turn black when they are stressed. It could really be anything. I would recommend setting up a quarantine tank and treating the fish but it may be too late. Did you pull him out of the tank and put it into that little Tupperware for the picture?

yes but he was then moved to an aerated 5 gallon bucket with fresh saltwater. I was thinking of setting up a QT tank for him to get him through the next week or two. would that be the wisest plan of action right now? or do you think a 5 gallon bucket will do because hes so small?

 

[Kelsey Fletcher]

L

I think I would do what you're doing. Putting him in a smaller 5-gallon tank or similar container with fresh saltwater and heavily aerated with a pump. Give him a PVC pipe to hide in. I would also get some seaweed sheets, garlic extract or some flavor enhancer, and some Selcon or another vitamin enhancer with omega fatty acids. Also, try fresh lettuce -- I've heard at times they'll go for lettuce over seaweed.

Lettuce? like put bits of lettuce in the bucket? or put a big piece and let him bite off of it?

 

[Isaac Alves]

A small QT is best. You can more easily observe him. Also get the standards like an ammonia badge.

 

[Kelsey Fletcher]

A small QT is best. You can more easily observe him. Also get the standards like an ammonia badge.

Do you think hes on death road? or do you think he can come back from this? he still lays on the bottom whenever nothings moving but when i tap the bucket he starts running around a little bit.

 

[Isaac Alves]

L

Lettuce? like put bits of lettuce in the bucket? or put a big piece and let him bite off of it?

Only if he doesn't take actual seaweed. Treat the lettuce like you would seaweed. Wrap on a PVC pipe and hold down with a rubber band. I would put a small 2"x2" square of lettuce and seaweed. Let him pick at it. Remove it after 12-24 hours so it doesn't start rotting.

 

[Isaac Alves]

Do you think hes on death road? or do you think he can come back from this? he still lays on the bottom whenever nothings moving but when i tap the bucket he starts running around a little bit.

He's definitely stressed like another poster mentioned -- the coloration shows signs of distress. I wouldn't stress him further. Get a QT setup.

 

[WVNed]

I got one a few days ago and he does an excellent impression of a dead fish if he is startled. He lays on his side and turns a mottled grey all over.