HELP!! Whats wrong with my Wrasse?

[Cassian]

I have a Golden Rhomboid Wrasse that I just added to my display yesterday. She has been in quarantine for almost 20 days with two rounds of prazipro. Yesterday and this morning she was doing great. Eating well, cruising around the tank, etc. I got home today and half of her tail is bitten off and she goes belly up and flips over everyone and then. She is still eating well and swimming. I suspect either my large watchman goby or my Cinnamon clown female is picking on her. Should I remove the wrasse and put her back in quarantine? I thought about this, but wouldn't the same thing happen again when I put her back in? (assuming this is from aggression) Could it be swim bladder problems?

 

[Lukas75]

I have a Golden Rhomboid Wrasse that I just added to my display yesterday. She has been in quarantine for almost 20 days with two rounds of prazipro. Yesterday and this morning she was doing great. Eating well, cruising around the tank, etc. I got home today and half of her tail is bitten off and she goes belly up and flips over everyone and then. She is still eating well and swimming. I suspect either my large watchman goby or my Cinnamon clown female is picking on her. Should I remove the wrasse and put her back in quarantine? I thought about this, but wouldn't the same thing happen again when I put her back in? (assuming this is from aggression) Could it be swim bladder problems?

With the tail gone something went at her that or a SUPER aggressive bacterial infection. I'd get her back out and treat with anti-biotics against secondary infections or primary, but my money is on the cinnamon clown causing the problem.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Sounds like the Cinnamon would be the likely culprit. They can be quite aggressive to docile wrasses. Time to make a decision.

What size tank?

 

[BestMomEver]

Back into QT for her! Your other option would be an acclimation box. QT first to treat for possible infection. Then box. The clown will forget abt her after a while. Good luck!

 

[Cassian]

Sounds like the Cinnamon would be the likely culprit. They can be quite aggressive to docile wrasses. Time to make a decision.

What size tank?

65 gallon tall. 3 foot length

 

[Cassian]

so if its aggression, can that cause the awkward swimming? this just happened all of a sudden. Ive been watching them for a while now. no sign of aggression from the clown (but that doesn't mean anything) and saw the goby go at her once (during feeding time though)

also, when I mean half of the tail, I mean tattered fins, not any damage to her body. Just wanted to clarify that

EDIT: just saw clown nip her tail

 

[Lukas75]

so if its aggression, can that cause the awkward swimming? this just happened all of a sudden. Ive been watching them for a while now. no sign of aggression from the clown (but that doesn't mean anything) and saw the goby go at her once (during feeding time though)

also, when I mean half of the tail, I mean tattered fins, not any damage to her body. Just wanted to clarify that

EDIT: just saw clown nip her tail

It's possible that the aggression was initially far worse. It always happens when you aren't home. There may have been internal damage done or just stunned and caused the erratic swimming.

 

[Cassian]

It's possible that the aggression was initially far worse. It always happens when you aren't home. There may have been internal damage done or just stunned and caused the erratic swimming.

ok, thanks! would it be better to remove the wrasse or the clown? maybe removing the clown would make it reestablish its territory and not be so aggressive?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Cinnamon's, Tomatoe's, Maroon's are can be very aggressive to new additions.

Time to make a decision. Keep the clown and re-home the wrasse or the other way around. Unfortunately.

 

[Lukas75]

ok, thanks! would it be better to remove the wrasse or the clown? maybe removing the clown would make it reestablish its territory and not be so aggressive?

That could work. Do you think she will be fine to stay in there? It sounds like the tail is not as bad as I had originally thought. I had originally thought the tail was gone.

 

[Cassian]

Cinnamon's, Tomatoe's, Maroon's are can be very aggressive to new additions.

Time to make a decision. Keep the clown and re-home the wrasse or the other way around. Unfortunately.

Thanks for the info.. haven't seen any aggression so far, but she is getting bigger. Wrasse will definitely be staying

 

[Cassian]

That could work. Do you think she will be fine to stay in there? It sounds like the tail is not as bad as I had originally thought. I had originally thought the tail was gone.

IMHO, I think she will be fine. my reasoning for removing the clown is not to stress the wrasse even more. She can still swim upright, just gets flipped over when she swims past the water input. But would a pic or video help?

 

[WMR]

Sounds like the Cinnamon would be the likely culprit. They can be quite aggressive to docile wrasses. Time to make a decision.

What size tank?

Definitely the cinnamon, they get pretty nasty sometimes

 

[Lukas75]

IMHO, I think she will be fine. my reasoning for removing the clown is not to stress the wrasse even more. She can still swim upright, just gets flipped over when she swims past the water input. But would a pic or video help?

Picks can never hurt. The more I think about it, the more I tend to agree that it may be time for a decision as to which to keep

 

[Cassian]

should I possibly leave them in for one more day to see if the aggression goes away or is that really risky? I also added 3 filefish along with the wrasse and no sign of aggression with them. I tried netting the clown and the wrasse perked up when she saw that net. Her swimming isn't too bad.

 

[Lukas75]

I would remove one or the other.

 

[Cassian]

here are some pics. sorry for bad quality, lights are really blue right now. showed partial full tank shot so you can see size of clown compared to the wrasse

 

[Cassian]

So ive decided to remove the pair of cinnamon clowns (who wants a free pair of cinnamon clowns? ) should I still quarantine the wrasse and treat with antibiotics or evaluate that in the morning?

 

[Lukas75]

So ive decided to remove the pair of cinnamon clowns (who wants a free pair of cinnamon clowns? ) should I still quarantine the wrasse and treat with antibiotics or evaluate that in the morning?

It's hard to tell, but the back fin doesn't look that bad. I had originally thought we were talking down to a nub and possibly bleeding. Just by looking at the pictures though it kind of looks like the clown is keeping the wrasse in the top corner of the tank. If that is accurate then my experience is that if they stay in it won't end well. I'm hesitant to say no because I would hate to be wrong! Maybe some others can give some more insight here.

 

[Cassian]

It's hard to tell, but the back fin doesn't look that bad. I had originally thought we were talking down to a nub and possibly bleeding. Just by looking at the pictures though it kind of looks like the clown is keeping the wrasse in the top corner of the tank. If that is accurate then my experience is that if they stay in it won't end well. I'm hesitant to say no because I would hate to be wrong! Maybe some others can give some more insight here.

The clown is not pinning her in the corner, just happened to be there when I got pics. the wrasse has been cruising all around the tank. I do have about 5 torch and hammer corals on the sand baed which the clown is VERY protective of. When the wrasse swims to close to these, the clown goes after her, other wise the clown just watches her. If anything, I think I will take out the clown and let the wrasse heal and get settled in. Then I can put the clown back in and see how it goes.