Lawnmover blenny breathing fast

chipchipbro · Jan 8, 2023

hey guys

my lawnmover blenny is breathing fast (almost always) and maybe its due to he is so fat (looks almost pregnant)

Bit somehow I thought I gotta ask if thats normal behaviour.

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Jay Hemdal · Jan 8, 2023

That species does tend to respire more quickly than many other fish of the same size, but this one is breathing faster than even that.

I can't get a clear view of its belly, but abdominal swelling can be caused by issues that could also affect respiration rate. Rapid breathing is a symptom of a number of different issues though. Can you help us rule those out by posting additional background info? This post explains all that:

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Aquarium Fish Disease Problem Solving Determining the best course of action for a problem with your aquarium can be a difficult task. Even advanced aquarists will often need to seek the help of others for complicated or unique issues. Our intent here on Reef 2 Reef is to offer expert advice...

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Jay

chipchipbro · Jan 8, 2023

I will try to take a picture of this fat boy :‘) thanks Jay!

vetteguy53081 · Jan 8, 2023

Not elevated for a lawnmower blenny but It is not as fat as a normal healthy lawnmower.
What is fish being fed?
What is Ammonia and nitrate level?

chipchipbro · Jan 8, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Not elevated for a lawnmower blenny but It is not as fat as a normal healthy lawnmower.
What is fish being fed?
What is Ammonia and nitrate level?

well, this guy is pretty fat.. I try to snap a pic..
I feed alot and also algae pellets, nori, brine, mysis, krill, ocean nutrition prime flakes, formula one and two pellets, sometimes massstick

ammonia is not present.. all other fish are healthy and happy

Magic031707 · Jan 8, 2023

Is he being chased by another fish?

chipchipbro · Jan 8, 2023

Magic031707 said:
Is he being chased by another fish?

no not really.. but he is pretty big himself..
no chasing from others..

chipchipbro · Jan 9, 2023

ok here he is..
he is acting weird and did swim into the rocks without getting it.. pretty looks like he is passing away.. can it be his age?

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vetteguy53081 · Jan 9, 2023

chipchipmofo said:
ok here he is..
he is acting weird and did swim into the rocks without getting it.. pretty looks like he is passing away.. can it be his age?

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While age is a factor, it is based on true age and life span

chipchipbro · Jan 9, 2023

yeah well.. i got him from a friend a few months ago.. he was eating like a pig and got fat in my tank.. now I am not sure as this guy was also pretty big already.. maybe 10cm or so

chipchipbro · Jan 9, 2023

maybe @Jay Hemdal has an idea if its just age?

water params are all ok

Weeb · Jan 9, 2023

Have you seen this fish 'poop' recently? When?

I ask because of possible constipation. A fish doesn't store fat in the area we think/call the belly. Fat is stored higher up. Looking down on a truly fat fish, the top would be thick.

chipchipbro · Jan 9, 2023

Weeb said:
Have you seen this fish 'poop' recently? When?

I ask because of possible constipation. A fish doesn't store fat in the area we think/call the belly. Fat is stored higher up. Looking down on a truly fat fish, the top would be thick.

Well I saw him poop often before.. But dont know when last. He usually pooped very very fat „sausages“?? I mean like forreal!

Jay Hemdal · Jan 9, 2023

chipchipmofo said:
maybe @Jay Hemdal has an idea if its just age?

water params are all ok

The history of this fish isn't clear to me - was it feeding well and then stopped eating? If so, for how long?

Jay

chipchipbro · Jan 9, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
The history of this fish isn't clear to me - was it feeding well and then stopped eating? If so, for how long?

Jay

Hey Jay
Yes, the fish was eating like a pig. Id say he stopped eating now for 2 days.

Usually he was swimming and hiding in his fav. spots and watching everything.

Now he can barley hold his own in the flow and just breaths fast and hangs around in corners.

Jay Hemdal · Jan 9, 2023

chipchipmofo said:
Hey Jay
Yes, the fish was eating like a pig. Id say he stopped eating now for 2 days.

Usually he was swimming and hiding in his fav. spots and watching everything.

Now he can barley hold his own in the flow and just breaths fast and hangs around in corners.

O.K., I was under the assumption it was still feeding.

Suddenly not eating, with other fish in the tank still doing fine tends to be caused by something specific to this fish - in this case, some unidentified internal issue. Could be blockage/constipation (but these fish eat a lot of algae).

The behavior you are describing is called "moribund" or close to death. I'm not sure of any treatment that would work in this case, sorry!

Jay

chipchipbro · Jan 9, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
O.K., I was under the assumption it was still feeding.

Suddenly not eating, with other fish in the tank still doing fine tends to be caused by something specific to this fish - in this case, some unidentified internal issue. Could be blockage/constipation (but these fish eat a lot of algae).

The behavior you are describing is called "moribund" or close to death. I'm not sure of any treatment that would work in this case, sorry!

Jay

thanks for your help Jay. I appreciate it alot!
So, I think the best would be to euthanize the fish, correct?

Eric Cohen · Jan 9, 2023

Might as well try to "scare the poop out of him" which sometimes actually works for a fish with a gas bubble or constipation.....see if you can get him to lurch forward or away from you.....a sudden burst of energy sometimes gets things moving

.

Jay Hemdal · Jan 9, 2023

chipchipmofo said:
thanks for your help Jay. I appreciate it alot!
So, I think the best would be to euthanize the fish, correct?

See Eric's post above - I've seen that help. Giving it a FW dip works even better - not only is there the mechanics of catching the fish, but the FW can help purge things.

Jay

chipchipbro · Jan 9, 2023

ok guys..
that guy was really on his last breath..

I could easily catch him as he even didnt move.. Then he tried to swim and got caught by a power head. Then he swam away and hit another powerhead (wow)

So I net him and saw a huuuuge belly. I think that was a swim bladder or a crazy constipation. I always thought he is just fat… He had a big belly for a long time now. Now it looks that he almost exploded :O

Tried a FW dip but that guy only made some crazy moves and then died

Im sorry I couldnt help him - but maybe it better for this fish to rest in peace now.

thanks for your help guys!