Lineatus Wrasse issue

Daimyo68 · Oct 10, 2012

I've had this wrasse in my tank for about a month now. He's always been active, ate well, and has magnificent color.

The last few days, he has been "hovering" in the water column. By hovering, I mean nose up/tail down, making his way around but in strange patterns not normal of a wrasse. I see no signs of ich, pests, or infections on him or other fish in the system, he still eats well, still has great color.
Video has been linked: M4H03150 - YouTube Sorry about the blue hue. Also some footage of him a week or so ago: http://youtu.be/5FEi5I3503Q

When I watch him swim, it's almost as if he is disoriented. He is not bumping into glass or rocks, but kind of letting the current take him where it will, and he stays out in the water column as usual. Lights do not bother him.

He's just not acting normally with the swimming, almost as if he was injured. Yet, he can scurry away into the rocks if I put my hand into the tank.

The signs that he is showing are classic of Cyanide Poisoning.

Tank parameters as of tonight:

pH - 8.21-8.34
Salinity -
1.025
Ammonia - 0.00
Cal - 420 ppm
Alk- 9.5 dKh
Mag -
1340
Nitrite - 0.00
Nitrate - 0.00
Phos - 0.00
Temp 78.2-78.9

Mike&Terry · Oct 10, 2012

That is a swim bladder issue. You can try to treat him with erythromycin in a hospital/QT tank (it is a 10 day treatment). I have saved a couple of my fairy wrasses with this medication, but I recognized the symptoms early and started treatment right away.

-Terry

Daimyo68 · Oct 11, 2012

Started treatment in Qt this afternoon using Maracyn (400mg erythromycin) per packet, /20g, per day. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for your input!

Mike&Terry · Oct 11, 2012

Good luck and keep us posted.

Daimyo68 · Oct 13, 2012

Well, 3 days in and not much change. He's looking a little worse, but I'm hoping the med's will take effect over the 10 days. I've been adding the maracyn daily, did a WC today. I'm going on vaca this weekend for a week, have the LFS/Personal friend coming to take care of my tanks and the Lineatus. Hopefully when I get back, he's doing better.

HaleMoana · Oct 15, 2012

Good luck man.
Are Lineatus typically subject to this? A Lineatus is next on my list.

Pappy · Oct 15, 2012

The same thing happened to mine

sorry to hear this and gl they are my favorite wrasse for sure!

Daimyo68 · Oct 28, 2012

Sad to report that this fish did not make it. I started treatment before I went on vacation, and my good friend (from Oceans Below in Palm Beach) continued the treatment until this past Saturday, at which time the fish was not eating, and could barely move.

Sadly, he was put down instead of left to die a slow death.

Thanks for the help though, it is much appreciated.

ingtar_shinowa · Oct 29, 2012

I hear about this with alot Lineatus and Rhomboid. Sorry to hear for your loss, its such a cool fish too. You did what you could this just happens sometime.