Leopard wrasse help

Mattg023 · Nov 22, 2020

Male Leopard bipartitus was fine today. Have had him a couple months. Looked very healthy, ate well. Then Did a 10 gallon water change in my 75 gal display. Now I came back about two hours later to feed. Noticed my tomini tang acting a bit skittish, so I looked around and the leopard is laying on the sand. Not on his side, and not heavy breathing. But definitely not normal. I don’t know what could have happened. Temp : 78 deg, ammonia: 0 nitrite:0 nitrate:10-15. Water comes from my rodi unit. Other fish include melanarus wrasse, lineatus wrasse, and tomini tang all of which are acting normal and look very healthy. Any input would be appreciated

Mattg023 · Nov 22, 2020

I would take a picture but he is on the other side of my scape. He’s just laying on the sand up against a rock. Also, I do not see any injury or anything noticeable on the body

Jay Hemdal · Nov 22, 2020

The first thing to think of would be some issue with the water change. However, I presume you've done water changes like this without issues in the past? Any chance of something contaminating your water change container? Not sure how your RO/DI is set up, but could the water have been stale? What brand of salt do you use?

In reality,the water change probably isn't the sole issue, you could probably add 10 gallons of RO/DI straight to a 75 gallon and the fish wouldn't even bat an eye (well, maybe a bipartitus would - grin).

Jay

Mattg023 · Nov 22, 2020

Jay Hemdal said:
The first thing to think of would be some issue with the water change. However, I presume you've done water changes like this without issues in the past? Any chance of something contaminating your water change container? Not sure how your RO/DI is set up, but could the water have been stale? What brand of salt do you use?

In reality,the water change probably isn't the sole issue, you could probably add 10 gallons of RO/DI straight to a 75 gallon and the fish wouldn't even bat an eye (well, maybe a bipartitus would - grin).

Jay

I use IO reef crystals. Never have had any problems.. I noticed when I first saw him, he was in a cave next to my bta. The bta is recently new addition about two weeks. However, I didn't see any marks on his body.

Mattg023 · Nov 22, 2020

I think he is now buried in the sand..

Jay Hemdal · Nov 22, 2020

Mattg023 said:
I use IO reef crystals. Never have had any problems.. I noticed when I first saw him, he was in a cave next to my bta. The bta is recently new addition about two weeks. However, I didn't see any marks on his body.

Reef Crystals has trace ammonia in it, often mixes up at 0.20 ppm. However, 10 gallons out of 75 would dilute that down to next to nothing.

Next idea - the fish got spooked and tangled with the BTA. You won't see sting marks right away from that, but the fish WILL act off.

Jay

Mattg023 · Nov 22, 2020

Jay Hemdal said:
Reef Crystals has trace ammonia in it, often mixes up at 0.20 ppm. However, 10 gallons out of 75 would dilute that down to next to nothing.

Next idea - the fish got spooked and tangled with the BTA. You won't see sting marks right away from that, but the fish WILL act off.

Jay

Would that be the best case scenario here..? How potent can a sting be? I’m hoping that’s all it is and he recovers.

vetteguy53081 · Nov 22, 2020

What was the water change temperature compared to tank temperature?
What is RO TDS?
wait at least 12 hrs before testing ammonia and nitrates after a water change as you’ll likely get false readings

Mattg023 · Nov 22, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
What was the water change temperature compared to tank temperature?
What is RO TDS?
wait at least 12 hrs before testing ammonia and nitrates after a water change as you’ll likely get false readings

TDS read 0. when I did the water change tank went from 77.5 to 76.5 and quickly went to 77-78

Mattg023 · Nov 22, 2020

Side note... I siphoned my sand bed during the water change in the corner where detritus typically builds up. I do this frequently and never have a problem. Could this be a problem?

vetteguy53081 · Nov 22, 2020

Mattg023 said:
Side note... I siphoned my sand bed during the water change in the corner where detritus typically builds up. I do this frequently and never have a problem. Could this be a problem?

Possibly especially if it created a short ammonia spike

Jay Hemdal · Nov 22, 2020

Mattg023 said:
Would that be the best case scenario here..? How potent can a sting be? I’m hoping that’s all it is and he recovers.

Sorry, I can't hazard a guess about the BTA sting - depends on too many variables. I've not seen them kill and eat healthy fish though (unlike carpet anemones).

Jay