Leopard wrasse breathing hard on side in quarantine

cpschult · Jul 15, 2016

Good morning,
I have a leopard wrasse in quarantine that is on his side breathing hard. I thought I would lose him last night but he was still breathing hard on his side this morning.

Any ideas/suggestions for treatment? I did dose prazi once in this tank 3-4 weeks ago. There is another leopard in the same quarantine that appears to be doing fine.

Thanks,
Chris

Edit: They both had been eating well (mysis and LRS). The one that is doing well ate mysis yesterday.

Humblefish · Jul 15, 2016

Did you dose prazi once or twice? You have to do a second round of treatment 5-7 days after the initial dosage. Any other treatments used thus far? Copper?

cpschult · Jul 15, 2016

Dosed prazi once. My son got sick (and then I got the sickness) and I didn't have the energy or time to do the water changes. Been adding prime to tank to handle any errant ammonia. I have a filter and live rock in the tank as well.

No copper, no other treatment. Just the prazi once.

Reefrookie220 · Jul 15, 2016

Got a container of sand for these guys? IME with leopards they don't ship well at all and don't calm down very easily without somewhere to hide. .02

cpschult · Jul 15, 2016

Reefrookie220 said:
Got a container of sand for these guys? IME with leopards they don't ship well at all and don't calm down very easily without somewhere to hide. .02

After a few days without sand to acclimate to central time light schedule I placed a container of sand in the tank. They've had the sand for a few weeks now.

Humblefish · Jul 15, 2016

Is he still breathing hard/laying on his side, or have things improved?

melypr1985 · Jul 15, 2016

I would suggest getting a good water change done then getting back on the prazi train. If hes still eating and hiding in the sand at night, then you could still have time to help him.

4FordFamily · Jul 15, 2016

melypr1985 said:
I would suggest getting a good water change done then getting back on the prazi train. If hes still eating and hiding in the sand at night, then you could still have time to help him.

X2

cpschult · Jul 15, 2016

He was dead when I got home at 330. Should have asked last night. Sigh.

Humblefish · Jul 15, 2016

cpschult said:
He was dead when I got home at 330. Should have asked last night. Sigh.

Drop the body in tap water, check for flukes. Within 5 mins tiny white specks should fall out of the gills if he had flukes (see photos below). This will help determine how to proceed with the other Leopard Wrasse.

melypr1985 · Jul 15, 2016

Sorry to hear that! Definitely check for flukes before you get rid of the body!

cpschult · Jul 16, 2016

Just saw this. I'm planning on putting the remaining leopard in a 10g with fresh water and starting prazi again. That should work if it's flukes correct?

Humblefish · Jul 16, 2016

cpschult said:
Just saw this. I'm planning on putting the remaining leopard in a 10g with fresh water and starting prazi again. That should work if it's flukes correct?

Yes, do two rounds spaced 5-7 days apart.

Robink · Jul 21, 2016

@Humblefish , what are the meds not to use with wrasses? Is it copper? Going to quarantine some fairy wrasse and don't want to hurt them.

melypr1985 · Jul 21, 2016

I've kept some fairy wrasses in Coppersafe with good results. But for wrasses in general I tend to think TTM is best.

Humblefish · Jul 21, 2016

Robink said:
@Humblefish , what are the meds not to use with wrasses? Is it copper? Going to quarantine some fairy wrasse and don't want to hurt them.

Depends on the type of wrasse. I would avoid using Chloroquine phosphate on Pseudocheilinus and possibly Halichoeres genus wrasses. More testing needs to be done on Halichoeres.

Most wrasses seem to be sensitive to meds, so take care not to overdose when using Prazipro and raise copper very slowly (5-7 days) with them. There is some anecdotal evidence that wrasses handle chelated copper (exs. Coppersafe, Copper Power) better than ionic (ex. Cupramine).