McCosker's Flasher Wrasse acting funny

TexanTrail · Oct 2, 2016

I got a pair of McCosker's Flasher Wrasses (male and female) a little over a month ago. After about 3-4 weeks, the female started swimming funny. Just a little at first then progressively worse. Swimming upside down, backwards, doing pinwheels on her tail, etc. Seems disoriented/equilibrium wrong, something. About a week ago I caught her and put her in a qt tank, fully not expecting her to survive the night. But she is still eating mysis and still swimming funky. Anybody have any clues as to what is happening? What I can do?

Humblefish · Oct 2, 2016

Any abdominal swelling? That would indicate a gas bubble in the swim bladder.

Also, do you have a lid over the tank? Sometimes they will jump, hit that and suffer a spinal injury.

steve&mari · Oct 2, 2016

@evolved @Humblefish they would probably know best. I know most females turn male in aquarium life. Is the dominant male around it when it's acting strange or always. Could be swim batter issues be my guess. Or if only when others near maybe submitted to it ?

TexanTrail · Oct 2, 2016

Humblefish said:
Any abdominal swelling? That would indicate a gas bubble in the swim bladder.

Also, do you have a lid over the tank? Sometimes they will jump, hit that and suffer a spinal injury.

I have not noticed any swelling, if anything, she's lost some weight. And yes, it does have a lid.

steve&mari · Oct 2, 2016

Well he beat me lol

TexanTrail · Oct 2, 2016

steve&mari said:
@evolved @Humblefish they would probably know best. I know most females turn male in aquarium life. Is the dominant male around it when it's acting strange or always. Could be swim batter issues be my guess. Or if only when others near maybe submitted to it ?

Swims like that all the time, not just when other fish are around.

Humblefish · Oct 2, 2016

Also @eatbreakfast

TexanTrail · Oct 2, 2016

Anything to help the swim bladder/gas bubble?

Humblefish · Oct 2, 2016

TexanTrail said:
Anything to help the swim bladder/gas bubble?

Click here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/venting-a-swim-bladder-black-cap-basslet.219954/

BUT I would only attempt that if you saw a gas bubble.

TexanTrail · Oct 2, 2016

Humblefish said:
Click here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/venting-a-swim-bladder-black-cap-basslet.219954/

BUT I would only attempt that if you saw a gas bubble.

Just looking at the first picture on that thread and there is nothing distended on the wrasse like the basslet. I just walked in on her and she was swimming around a little better that she has been. But then it looked like she got tired and started swimming funny again. She has no problem with being over bouyant. She has been sleeping/resting on the bottom of the tank.

BTW, nice write up on the procedure and the followup...

evolved · Oct 3, 2016

Based on the description ("Swimming upside down, backwards, doing pinwheels on her tail, etc. Seems disoriented/equilibrium wrong"), it sounds like a damaged swim bladder to me. In which case, there is little chance of improvement; sorry.

TexanTrail · Oct 4, 2016

evolved said:
Based on the description ("Swimming upside down, backwards, doing pinwheels on her tail, etc. Seems disoriented/equilibrium wrong"), it sounds like a damaged swim bladder to me. In which case, there is little chance of improvement; sorry.

Do you know what may have caused this? She did so well for about the first 3-4 weeks.

evolved · Oct 4, 2016

TexanTrail said:
Do you know what may have caused this? She did so well for about the first 3-4 weeks.

Usually it stems from a collection issue, and then takes about 4 weeks to manifest.

TexanTrail · Oct 4, 2016

evolved said:
Usually it stems from a collection issue, and then takes about 4 weeks to manifest.

That's about the right timeline. Hate to see this happen. That's the male in my avatar. He hasn't done much flashing since I took her out of the display tank. Do you think I could get one or two more females and put them in the DT? I have 3 bangaii cardinals, 1 clown, 3 blue/green chromis, 1 long nosed butterfly. And the male wrasse

evolved · Oct 4, 2016

If you want more flashers, I would only consider single males of different species.

TexanTrail · Oct 4, 2016

Ok Thanks @evolved Do you have any recommendations I can research?

evolved · Oct 4, 2016

TexanTrail said:
Ok Thanks @evolved Do you have any recommendations I can research?

If you want flashers, really all of the species are compatible. However, I would tend to avoid P. octotaenia (eightline) as they are a bit bigger and pushier than their cousins.