Melanurus Wrasse dying

[Steve Jones]

OK. This may sound strange, but could it be possible that whatever happened to the wrasse has left him blind? I notice as he is swimming around the tank, he is bumping into things. The glass walls, the PVC pipes. The other survivors are having to get out of his way as he swims. When I wave my hand near the tank, the other two scatter - but he does not (he used to). If I tap the glass firmly or otherwise disturb the tank, the wrasse swims to the bottom where it would normally hide in the sand bed. It slides up against the PVC and "hides". Is there some sort of way to check for sure if he's lost his vision. He's hiding now so I can't see if there have been any changes to his eyes.

 

[Steve Jones]

Here's a video I just took. It sure looks like he's bumping into things and not seeing them.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Here's a video I just took. It sure looks like he's bumping into things and not seeing them.

He doesn't look blind to me. He looks super stressed and wants to bury badly. I strongly recommend adding a Tupperware container of sand for him to bury.

 

[wesamazmy]

He doesn't look blind to me. He looks super stressed and wants to bury badly. I strongly recommend adding a Tupperware container of sand for him to bury.

this is good idea

 

[Steve Jones]

He doesn't look blind to me. He looks super stressed and wants to bury badly. I strongly recommend adding a Tupperware container of sand for him to bury.

OK - torn on this. I agree that he probably wants some sand. But I thought sand and rock was bad in a hospital tank as they can possibly "house" the disease you are treating, making treatment harder or "house" the medicine if you have to dowse the tank, making the medication linger though water changes?

 

[eatbreakfast]

OK - torn on this. I agree that he probably wants some sand. But I thought sand and rock was bad in a hospital tank as they can possibly "house" the disease you are treating, making treatment harder or "house" the medicine if you have to dowse the tank, making the medication linger though water changes?

That is not a significant issue either way.

If it holds on to the medicine, than it will kill any parasites in it..

 

[Steve Jones]

But if I have to treat a fish with, say, copper in the hospital tank and there is sand and rock, then later have to treat another fish that is intolerant of copper (Flame Angel, for example) won't any copper held by the rock and sand be an issue? Or is the expectation to just break down the hospital tank after each use and toss the sand / bleach the rock and start the whole cycle over again?

 

[Steve Jones]

OK - I have no LFS that has live sand within a 2 hour drive. Will any type of sand work in this scenario? Such as playground sand from Lowes?

 

[eatbreakfast]

But if I have to treat a fish with, say, copper in the hospital tank and there is sand and rock, then later have to treat another fish that is intolerant of copper (Flame Angel, for example) won't any copper held by the rock and sand be an issue? Or is the expectation to just break down the hospital tank after each use and toss the sand / bleach the rock and start the whole cycle over again?

The sand won't release a significant amount of copper.

Copper sensitive fish can handle exposure to copper, just not at higher levels, or for extended periods of time. Also, the Tupperware of sand can always be removed.

OK - I have no LFS that has live sand within a 2 hour drive. Will any type of sand work in this scenario? Such as playground sand from Lowes?

Use sand from the dt and soak in freshwater for a few hours.

 

[Steve Jones]

The sand won't release a significant amount of copper.

Copper sensitive fish can handle exposure to copper, just not at higher levels, or for extended periods of time. Also, the Tupperware of sand can always be removed.

Use sand from the dt and soak in freshwater for a few hours.

Therein lies the problem - the DT is going fallow for 76 days due to a Brooks outbreak. I don't want to put any sand or rock or water from that into the hospital tank and risk bringing the Brooks back onto the fish. The manufacturer for the Quikcrete Play Sand states that it is OK for saltwater & freshwater aquarium use. It is pure screened and washed sand, no additives. They recommend washing the sand first to remove dust. I would never use it as an actual aquarium substrate - but it would be the fastest way to get some sand in there in a container for the wrasse. I don't need it to be live sand in this scenario.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Therein lies the problem - the DT is going fallow for 76 days due to a Brooks outbreak. I don't want to put any sand or rock or water from that into the hospital tank and risk bringing the Brooks back onto the fish. The manufacturer for the Quikcrete Play Sand states that it is OK for saltwater & freshwater aquarium use. It is pure screened and washed sand, no additives. They recommend washing the sand first to remove dust. I would never use it as an actual aquarium substrate - but it would be the fastest way to get some sand in there in a container for the wrasse. I don't need it to be live sand in this scenario.

That's why you should soak the sand in freshwater for a few hours, to kill the pathogens. Marine pathogens will die in freshwater.

 

[michellejy]

You definitely don't need live sand. I bought a $5 bag of aquarium sand from Amazon ("dead" sand).

I tend to be paranoid about what might be in sand from non-aquarium sources, especially since you are already dealing with a sick fish.

If you get a bag of sand and need to treat, it is cheap enough that you could dump it and put fresh sand in the tank afterwards.

 

[Steve Jones]

Well, when he figured out the container was safe and that it was sand, he dove in and buried himself. Just

the tip of his tail peeking out. Hope this helps him.