Help, pretty sure my dartfish is dead shortly

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Attached video of fish swimming like ****. Doesn't seem to have strength to swim well and was moreso laying on the ground/rock.

Couldn't get that in this video.

Sorry, it really is in a bad way. I can’t rule out aggression, so moving it to an isolation tank is the only advice I can offer….
Jay

 

[TheReefDiary]

Sorry, it really is in a bad way. I can’t rule out aggression, so moving it to an isolation tank is the only advice I can offer….
Jay

Yeah he's still alive I'm at work. Going to move him to an isolation tank when I get home if he's still alive. Definitely was aggression because I just don't see how it would be disease in such a short amount of time.

Hopefully he survives in an isolation tank for a few days and can mend. But I'm not expecting the best with how he was this morning.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

firefish is a cave dwelling fish, its natural instinct is to hide in the rocks, but seems no little caves in your tank from what we see in the video. Stress level will increase if it has no hiding spots.

 

[TheReefDiary]

firefish is a cave dwelling fish, its natural instinct is to hide in the rocks, but seems no little caves in your tank from what we see in the video. Stress level will increase if it has no hiding spots.

He has a great hiding spot where he sleeps. Pretty sure the gramma thought it was a great spot as well and fought him for it.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

firefish is not a fighter, if anything shows aggression towards it, it will dart away.

Do you have a lid on your tank? They might be injuries from bouncing off the lid.

 

[Reab]

That’s what I was thinking, a scratch like that could have been from a chase and hitting the side of some rock. Generally peaceful doesn’t mean always. Especially with this hobby anything can happen.
I would rearrange the rockwork too, help reset the playing field and I would try and capture the gramma in the box so the fire fish can establish territory first

 

[TheReefDiary]

firefish is a cave dwelling fish, its natural instinct is to hide in the rocks, but seems no little caves in your tank from what we see in the video. Stress level will increase if it has no hiding spots.

I didn't know the gramma was cave dwelling as well. I thought moreso just bottom dwelling.

That’s what I was thinking, a scratch like that could have been from a chase and hitting the side of some rock. Generally peaceful doesn’t mean always. Especially with this hobby anything can happen.
I would rearrange the rockwork too, help reset the playing field and I would try and capture the gramma in the box so the fire fish can establish territory first

The firefish already had the territory. My guess is the gramma wanted it and the firefish hit something and scratched himself up badly in the process. The gramma is almost impossible to catch at this point. So going to have to get the dart fish out and let him chill for a bit while I try to make another dugout for him that way they each have a spot.

That is his he survives. Currently still alive according to my wife.

 

[TheReefDiary]

firefish is not a fighter, if anything shows aggression towards it, it will dart away.

Do you have a lid on your tank? They might be injuries from bouncing off the lid.

Yes I have a lid on the tank. My guess it the scratches are from hitting the rock work underneath the rock he hides.

 

[Reab]

Sounds like a good plan, another thing is to make sure you’re feeding enough so that food aggression isn’t an issue. Don’t need to add anymore stress when an extra food and water change solves that one.

 

[TheReefDiary]

Sounds like a good plan, another thing is to make sure you’re feeding enough so that food aggression isn’t an issue. Don’t need to add anymore stress when an extra food and water change solves that one.

So update from the wife is he is not looking good. Very slow breathing at this point and he's barely moving only every once and a while. Leaving work to try and save him with the little tank I have. Just don't want him to die and me have no tried to at least save him. Feel bad especially since he was living life before the gramma was put in.

 

[TheReefDiary]

Sounds like a good plan, another thing is to make sure you’re feeding enough so that food aggression isn’t an issue. Don’t need to add anymore stress when an extra food and water change solves that one.

If I end up saving him by some miracle would you even put him back in after that? I love the dartfish, was probably my favorite fish in there but don't want that to happen again

 

[Sharkbait19]

This sounds more like a one time incident with the gramma. That said, your clown will eventually make life hard for all inhabitants in the tank.
For it to go downhill this fast though it sounds like there might be more than aggression happening here.

 

[Reab]

Agreed, unless he smacked himself super hard. I really wouldn’t expect you to have this large of an issue with them though. I’ve not had a territory issue like this before. Just watched your video, i feel like your rockwork should be fine. For what you have. A full tank shot would be helpful. What size is the tank?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Agreed, unless he smacked himself super hard. I really wouldn’t expect you to have this large of an issue with them though. I’ve not had a territory issue like this before. Just watched your video, i feel like your rockwork should be fine. For what you have. A full tank shot would be helpful. What size is the tank?

Looks like a 13.5 gallon.
Also looks like enough hiding spaces (especially considering these fish will dig their own cave).

 

[TheReefDiary]

Looks like a 13.5 gallon.
Also looks like enough hiding spaces (especially considering these fish will dig their own cave).

Yeah there should be plenty of spaces I have a lot of rockwork for the tank size. But the fish are also all juvenile so plenty of space for them.

Don't think this guys going to make it unfortunately. Just made it home and he's not looking good.

 

[Reab]

I’m leaning towards something else going on/fluke accident.

 

[Reab]

If it was territorial this bad the fins would be bitten up, the gramma or clown would be on him especially in his current state.

 

[TheReefDiary]

Looks like a 13.5 gallon.
Also looks like enough hiding spaces (especially considering these fish will dig their own cave).

Looks to have a ton of internal damage now that's more prevelant than this morning.

 

[TheReefDiary]

If it was territorial this bad the fins would be bitten up, the gramma or clown would be on him especially in his current state.

I just don't get what happened over night. His body looks like it took a beating. Essentially looks like he has internal bleeding at the moment. He's still breathing but can barely swim. He's now in a small holding tank.

Don't think he's going to make it.

Just really not sure what happened.

 

[Reab]

Unfortunately we probably never will know