Kamohara Blenny swimming upside down

[LittleRed]

My Kamohara blenny is likely on its way out, but hoping maybe could pin down what is wrong with it.

The DT is 6 years old and the Blenny has been in the DT for approximately 4-6 months with no issues, and he was fine yesterday. Today, he was found hiding under a coral and not swimming. I fished him out and put him in QT to give him a look over.

He has absolutely no white spots indicative of ich, no wounds. His tail fin is torn, so I originally assumed he had gotten hurt somehow but now he is swimming upside down. He is still alive, but he rests and swims completely upside down.

Is this some sort of swim bladder problem? He’s had literally no issues for the months I’ve had him. He eats like a champ and is quite the sassy little guy.

I’ve provided a photo, but he is NOT dead. He is visibly breathing and struggles to swim every few minutes.

All other fish in DT are healthy and I’ve never seen evidence of anyone picking on him.

NH3/NH4: 0 ppm
NO2-: 0 ppm
NO3-: 5 ppm

 

[LittleRed]

Folks in another forum think malnutrition. I feed LRF and mysis daily so the current consensus is a parasite.

 

[Maritimer]

A parasite is certainly possible, malnutrition from some cause or other almost certain. His belly has the classic "pinched" look, and there's very little flesh covering his skeleton - he's much more slender than a kamohara that length should be.

If he's still eating, you could try adding API's "General Cure" (Metronidazole for flagellate & protozoan parasites & Praziquantel for worms) with Seachem's "Focus" to bind it, mixed into his food. Given the fact that fish will eat one another's poop, transferring parasites 'round the community, using that stuff (one "Seachem" measure each of GC and Focus to one tablespoon of food) to feed your tank for about 10-14 days might be a good idea. When bound to food with Focus, the medication's pretty reef-safe.

~Bruce

 

[LittleRed]

A parasite is certainly possible, malnutrition from some cause or other almost certain. His belly has the classic "pinched" look, and there's very little flesh covering his skeleton - he's much more slender than a kamohara that length should be.

If he's still eating, you could try adding API's "General Cure" (Metronidazole for flagellate & protozoan parasites & Praziquantel for worms) with Seachem's "Focus" to bind it, mixed into his food. Given the fact that fish will eat one another's poop, transferring parasites 'round the community, using that stuff (one "Seachem" measure each of GC and Focus to one tablespoon of food) to feed your tank for about 10-14 days might be a good idea. When bound to food with Focus, the medication's pretty reef-safe.

~Bruce

Thank you!