Melanurus Wrasse in bad shape

[Mattie H.]

I picked up this guy over the weekend at the LFS. He looked good in their tank, but there were obvious problems as soon as I got him into my tank. During acclimation he was very docile. Once I got him into the tank, I noticed that he wouldn't close his mouth, and immediately I thought of lock-jaw. I tried to check at the store, but I should have inquired more about his eating habits before I bought him. I also noticed he had a big bite out of both his dorsal and anal fins. Couldn't tell at the store. Here's what he looked like on Monday.

He hid in the sand for two days, and when he came out he was at first okay, but gradually got worse. Started swimming very strangely, listing to the side. Then yesterday I saw that he wasn't completely covering himself when he hid. Earlier today, he was only half way burying himself. Now he isn't even burying at all, looks like this.

My starry blenny just came by and whacked him a few times with his tail and the wrasse didn't even move. But he's still breathing. Anything I can do? Any chance at saving this guy?

I think I got bamboozled. The store had to have known this guy's jaw condition.

 

[Mattie H.]

Wow, I just noticed he's dropping scales as well.

 

[HotRocks]

There may not be alot you can do. A dying fish will often be picked at. You could section him off to be separate from others.

Does this fish have any other symptoms? It sounds as if it had some agression damage when you bought the fish.

 

[Mattie H.]

Does this fish have any other symptoms? It sounds as if it had some agression damage when you bought the fish.

He also is very pale, but that's to be expected. He looked good in the store - I couldn't see the fins because of the way these wrasse swim with the fins tucked tight. I feel stupid for not noticing the jaw.

Might this be an issue on my side, maybe from acclimating, or would this be more likely something that was already wrong at the LFS? I've never had a bad acclimation before, or a fish go so wrong so quickly.

 

[HotRocks]

He also is very pale, but that's to be expected. He looked good in the store - I couldn't see the fins because of the way these wrasse swim with the fins tucked tight. I feel stupid for not noticing the jaw.

Might this be an issue on my side, maybe from acclimating, or would this be more likely something that was already wrong at the LFS? I've never had a bad acclimation before, or a fish go so wrong so quickly.

Did your salinity and temp match?

Any possible ammonia exposure during transport or acclimation?

How did you acclimate?

 

[Mattie H.]

Did your salinity and temp match?

Any possible ammonia exposure during transport or acclimation?

How did you acclimate?

Temp def matched. Fairly certain no ammonia. Salinity not 100% sure, but I'm at 1.024 and the LFS is usually at 1.023. Used the normal float acclimation, adding small amounts of water every few minutes, draining down the bag a few times. I only drip acclimate inverts. The way I've always done it, never lost a fish before.

 

[tgrick]

I would put him alone in a treatment tank. I would treat with Trifeca as he is losing scales so hopefully it's bacterial and not some funky virus.

Furan-2, KanaPlex, and Metroplex....this is the treatment.

I see the skin scales missing on the side and I suspect bacteria. You need a small amount of sand inside the treatment tank. I usually take a gallon milk container, remove the bottom square portion leaving about an inch on the sides for sand. At least thats the way I treated my wrasse a few months ago. I now treat EVERYTHING I buy! Everything. I have yet to find a LFS without diseases...

 

[tgrick]

Oh...it might be dropsy (trifecta treatment). It's along the belly and while not bloated it might be the start...

 

[4FordFamily]

I would put him alone in a treatment tank. I would treat with Trifeca as he is losing scales so hopefully it's bacterial and not some funky virus.

Furan-2, KanaPlex, and Metroplex....this is the treatment.

I see the skin scales missing on the side and I suspect bacteria. You need a small amount of sand inside the treatment tank. I usually take a gallon milk container, remove the bottom square portion leaving about an inch on the sides for sand. At least thats the way I treated my wrasse a few months ago. I now treat EVERYTHING I buy! Everything. I have yet to find a LFS without diseases...

Agree.

Adding a fish unquarantined today is Russian roulette, unfortunately.