Large Clown Triggerfish Owners - Please help

[dyno]

Hello, my clown triggerfish recently started banging into the aquarium glass. It’s almost like he’s trying to run from something or thinks there is another trigger in the territory from the aquarium reflection and attacks. He is big and fast, he hits the glass so hard and fast almost sounds like he cracked the glass. He hits the sides so hard during his “episodes” that he knocks himself out like he were unconcios or dead, really. I have never had this problem before in all these years. However, people have posted about this behavior but have not gotten a finite answer as to why?

Thanks

 

[Spyndera99]

Whoa, that doesn't sound safe for the fish.

 

[lion king]

What size tank is he in, exactly how big is he, and how long have you had him in this tank and what are his tank mates.

 

[dyno]

6x24x24. Again this is a “Display QT” I do 3 step prophylactic course. He is 7-8 inches.

Mates: Heniochus butterfly, Blue Angelfish, ‘Yellow & blue tang, tessalata eel.
he has been in the QT tank for about a month. However this behavior just started.

At first it seemed like I may have ick or velvet. I saw the fish cleaning each others skin. I was wondering if it maybe annoying for him and startles him. Kinda like how I freak out with mosquitos.

 

[dyno]

What size tank is he in, exactly how big is he, and how long have you had him in this tank and what are his tank mates.

6x24x24. Again this is a “Display QT” I do 3 step prophylactic course. He is 7-8 inches.

Mates: Heniochus butterfly, Blue Angelfish, ‘Yellow & blue tang, tessalata eel.
he has been in the QT tank for about a month. However this behavior just started.

At first it seemed like I may have ick or velvet. I saw the fish cleaning each others skin. I was wondering if it maybe annoying for him and startles him. Kinda like how I freak out with mosquitos.

 

[lion king]

When you say a "3 step prophylactic course", have you already treated or actively using any meds.

A clown trigger at that size can be very vol-ital, there is likely no exact answer, but these are some of the things I've seen clown triggers react to.
Triggers go blind at an usually rate: due to cyanide poisoning and extended or repeated copper treatment.
Being in too small a tank.
Having angst with another tankmate, usually because they are losing the alpha challenge, but you would see scrapes and battles.
Flukes would also not be out of the question, and especially seem to attack trigger's eyes, but you would likely see cloudy eyes.

 

[dyno]

Hello Lion King, thank you for your input.
He went through a Dip in Safety Stop, 1 round of Prazipro and now he will be possibly be treated with copper power and prazipro today. Blind? That is upsetting because he has been behaving very odd! I always thought triggers were the tanks of the sea. Why does that happen? He is too healthy to be a cyanide fish, no? Eats like a pig and constantly begs me for food when I walk by the tank. Then all of a sudden and out of nowhere he starts bolting across the tank at enormous speed. I hope he doesn't go blind he deffinitely can see descent for now.

thanks

 

[lion king]

No to the answer about cyanide, you will likely never know or be sure that the fish has suffered cyanide poisoning, until its too late and there's nothing you can do. I personally have had 5 blind triggers over 30 years, and have seen many others. Cyanide does affect the nervous system, so seizures may also be indicative, hopefully thats not whats happening. I have seen fish seize out right in front of me. If he starts to lose color during these episodes, then it may point to cyanide.

Hopefully he is just having fits due to confinement and he will calm down, triggers cover many miles of travel each day. I hope he going into at least a 300g.

 

[lion king]

I should have clarified, you cant always tell if a fish was cyanide caught. Very important though, if he is losing color during these episodes.

 

[dyno]

No to the answer about cyanide, you will likely never know or be sure that the fish has suffered cyanide poisoning, until its too late and there's nothing you can do. I personally have had 5 blind triggers over 30 years, and have seen many others. Cyanide does affect the nervous system, so seizures may also be indicative, hopefully thats not whats happening. I have seen fish seize out right in front of me. If he starts to lose color during these episodes, then it may point to cyanide.

Hopefully he is just having fits due to confinement and he will calm down, triggers cover many miles of travel each day. I hope he going into at least a 300g.

Oh no, everything you stated is happening. Seizures and loss of color. The seizures are violent, he’s my favorite fish. I should complain to the LFS, they usually have exemplary live stock. Guess everyone is taking what they can get with to current situation. Thank you I thought it was something I was doing wrong that was causing this. He begs for food, has a seizure and bolts back and forth. Goes belly up and then starts egging for food again.

 

[dyno]

No to the answer about cyanide, you will likely never know or be sure that the fish has suffered cyanide poisoning, until its too late and there's nothing you can do. I personally have had 5 blind triggers over 30 years, and have seen many others. Cyanide does affect the nervous system, so seizures may also be indicative, hopefully thats not whats happening. I have seen fish seize out right in front of me. If he starts to lose color during these episodes, then it may point to cyanide.

Hopefully he is just having fits due to confinement and he will calm down, triggers cover many miles of travel each day. I hope he going into at least a 300g.

Hi, he did go through a round of PraziPro, Kanaplex, and Metroplex. I think he is going or has gone blind. He cannot see where the glass of the aquarium is but can avoid the rock work and find his cave. What did you do with the blind fish you had to care for? Have to decide what to do now. I have been feeding him by placing krill right in front of his mouth. He has good appetite. I am lost, maybe i"ll try a fw dip. He stays in his cave all day and cannot put up with the harassment from the larger tangs and angels.

Never have seen this before in 15 years of keeping Marine tanks, he's such a beautiful fish. What do I do?

 

[lion king]

Hi, he did go through a round of PraziPro, Kanaplex, and Metroplex. I think he is going or has gone blind. He cannot see where the glass of the aquarium is but can avoid the rock work and find his cave. What did you do with the blind fish you had to care for? Have to decide what to do now. I have been feeding him by placing krill right in front of his mouth. He has good appetite. I am lost, maybe i"ll try a fw dip. He stays in his cave all day and cannot put up with the harassment from the larger tangs and angels.

Never have seen this before in 15 years of keeping Marine tanks, he's such a beautiful fish. What do I do?

Is he in the dt now or in the observation tank. Under no circumstance move him, if want to try and keep him.
Some fish i have been able to stick feed, I kept a pink tail trigger for 2 years after he started going blind. Use a feeding stick and offer him a variety of chunky meat; scallop, shrimp, silversides, squid, and limited amount of krill. If he already has a favorite cave, that would be a good place to start feeding him. If you get him accustomed to the stick before he loses too much of his eyesight, you'll have a chance to keep him for a while. I know this may sound like a pita, but I loved that pink tail. When I fed the tank, he would pop up in his spot, and I would stick feed him. He was beautiful and robust, from all I could tell he was as happy as you could you could tell, one way or another.

I've also lost them when they just retreated behind the rocks and died. I had to euthanize a niger because I couldn't get him to stick feed. I just couldn't watch him starve.

Fw dip will do nothing. Triggers handle the meds you used just fine. From all my experience and research the root cause was likely cyanide and/or copper.

Pinktail Trigger blind?

Maybe someone here can give me some ideas on how to take care of fish that has apparently lost most of his eyesight. My pinktail was the king of the tank, a 210 fowlr, for 2 years. Then one day he disappeared behind the rocks, no apparent fighting and as best I could; I could not find any...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[dyno]

Is he in the dt now or in the observation tank. Under no circumstance move him, if want to try and keep him.
Some fish i have been able to stick feed, I kept a pink tail trigger for 2 years after he started going blind. Use a feeding stick and offer him a variety of chunky meat; scallop, shrimp, silversides, squid, and limited amount of krill. If he already has a favorite cave, that would be a good place to start feeding him. If you get him accustomed to the stick before he loses too much of his eyesight, you'll have a chance to keep him for a while. I know this may sound like a pita, but I loved that pink tail. When I fed the tank, he would pop up in his spot, and I would stick feed him. He was beautiful and robust, from all I could tell he was as happy as you could you could tell, one way or another.

I've also lost them when they just retreated behind the rocks and died. I had to euthanize a niger because I couldn't get him to stick feed. I just couldn't watch him starve.

Fw dip will do nothing. Triggers handle the meds you used just fine. From all my experience and research the root cause was likely cyanide and/or copper.

Pinktail Trigger blind?

Maybe someone here can give me some ideas on how to take care of fish that has apparently lost most of his eyesight. My pinktail was the king of the tank, a 210 fowlr, for 2 years. Then one day he disappeared behind the rocks, no apparent fighting and as best I could; I could not find any...

www.reef2reef.com

Hello Lion King, he is in a tank that is a inbetween q-tank and display 100 gallons. Problem is, I have to many aggressive predatory fish and the Angels will pick on the trigger no matter if I move or leave him in place. My only other option would be to hand him over to my friend at the lfs. I am not going to euthanize him.

You said limited krill? Why is that? Just until about a few days ago I was only feeding frozen krill. He is se well trained at eating he even knows when I place a new batch of Nori in. I will miss him! I love triggers too, hope this doesn’t happen again. I will read through the thread, thanks!

 

[lion king]

I know you dont want to hear this: if he is going blind. If you move him he will become disoriented, retreat the behind the rocks, starve and die, period. If you choose, you can try and stick feed him. If he doesnt eat you can watch him starve. Or you can euthanize him. If you return him to the lfs all you do is put the responsibility on someone else, nothing is going to change from what I said. The lfs may even sell him to someone else, or just watch him starve.

 

[dyno]

I know you dont want to hear this: if he is going blind. If you move him he will become disoriented, retreat the behind the rocks, starve and die, period. If you choose, you can try and stick feed him. If he doesnt eat you can watch him starve. Or you can euthanize him. If you return him to the lfs all you do is put the responsibility on someone else, nothing is going to change from what I said. The lfs may even sell him to someone else, or just watch him starve.

I appreciate your honesty. Helped me realize I have to keep him and try the best I can. The current tank is where he is most comfortable and Knows the landscape, I will not move him. If he ends up being harassed at a level where I need to euthanize him, can you point me in the right direction. Thanks for all the input much appreciated!

 

[Silentdeath5]

I am currently also in the situation with a blind hippo tang around 3inches. I’ve moved it into a small 6x6x6 cube vase with a power head to circulate the water. I’ve found that it’s able to smell/find pellets easier in a small enclosure. Future plans are to maybe keep it in a acclimation box or something of that sort to let it live as long as it can. I’m glad you’re going to give your best for your trigger. We bought them and should have a sense of responsibility for them as we do our other pets.

 

[sfin52]

I appreciate your honesty. Helped me realize I have to keep him and try the best I can. The current tank is where he is most comfortable and Knows the landscape, I will not move him. If he ends up being harassed at a level where I need to euthanize him, can you point me in the right direction. Thanks for all the input much appreciated!

That is awful

 

[dyno]

I am currently also in the situation with a blind hippo tang around 3inches. I’ve moved it into a small 6x6x6 cube vase with a power head to circulate the water. I’ve found that it’s able to smell/find pellets easier in a small enclosure. Future plans are to maybe keep it in a acclimation box or something of that sort to let it live as long as it can. I’m glad you’re going to give your best for your trigger. We bought them and should have a sense of responsibility for them as we do our other pets.

Completely agree. Good luck with your little guy. We are completely undeserved but responsible non the less!