Midas Blenny laying in sand, sideways

[Shahrum]

Hi friends,

Long-timer lurker, new account holder! A week ago we added a Midas Blenny to my Reefer 350 tank and he was an absolute delight to watch. Had his perfect rock perch and would swim around. But a couple days back he started hiding more and his breathing look labored. Today he was breathing but on the sand sideways and sometimes going belly up.
His tank mates are very friendly : a young OneSpot foxface, two banggai cardinals, two clowns, and two blue-green chromis. Everyone else is fine. Any ideas on what’s happening?

 

[blaxsun]

I can't view the video right at the moment (will try to check out in a bit), but has he been eating? My midas spends probably 23 hours of every day in his barnacle "hotel", so spending time in and around the rocks is typical behavior.

Was he quarantined prior or did he just go straight into the tank?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi friends,

Long-timer lurker, new account holder! A week ago we added a Midas Blenny to my Reefer 350 tank and he was an absolute delight to watch. Had his perfect rock perch and would swim around. But a couple days back he started hiding more and his breathing look labored. Today he was breathing but on the sand sideways and sometimes going belly up.
His tank mates are very friendly : a young OneSpot foxface, two banggai cardinals, two clowns, and two blue-green chromis. Everyone else is fine. Any ideas on what’s happening?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I didn't see any symptoms at all in the video, other than of course that the fish is what we term "moribund", unable to swim. Lots of midas blennies die from starvation, but this one is still full-bodied, so that isn't it.

Was the midas eating well for you earlier?
Do you know how long the pet store had it before you bought it?

The question then becomes: does the midas have something specific to it, or does it have a communicable disease that just hasn't spread to the other fish yet? I can't answer that, so you need to keep a close eye on the other fish - watch for increased respiration rates in them.

I wish I had something to tell you in regards to treating the midas, but with no symptoms, and it being unable to swim/eat, there really isn't anything I can suggest....sorry!

Jay

 

[Shahrum]

Hi everyone! Thanks for the quick and warm responses.

He was at my LFS (Top Shelf Aquatics in Orlando, FL) for a little over a week and doing great. I drip acclimated him and then moved him into my tank. He was doing great for several days before laying in the sand and on his side which began just today, another video here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JPDyQFLu6Fs6ygbk8

 

[Shahrum]

Hi everyone! Thanks for the quick and warm responses.

He was at my LFS (Top Shelf Aquatics) for a little over a week and doing great. I drip acclimated him and then moved him into my tank. He was doing great for several days before laying in the sand and on his side which began just today, another video here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JPDyQFLu6Fs6ygbk8

Video attachment here for ease.

 

[Shahrum]

Some updates/clarification on dates...

- Bought him on the 23rd
- Was doing well (eating, perching on rock, swimming around beautifully, etc.) up until Friday the 28th. That's when he starting laying side-ways and perching on the rock unevenly. Went downhill since then.

Here’s a clip from Friday the 28th when I noticed breathing seeming off and balance.

 

[blaxsun]

Perching among the rocks is fairly typical behaviour, although given a choice mine spends most of his waking life staring out from his lair. I tried to snag a quick video of my midas so you could compare breathing, but he fled into his barnacle hideout under protest. I didn't really see anything amiss from the video of the 28th you posted, but without seeing the behaviour prior it's hard to gleam anything that might be useful.

I've had mine for almost a year, and the only helpful thing I can offer is that they really love/need a cave to hide in. Something like this works great (and not just for blennies). Whenever mine gets stressed - in he goes.

 

[Shahrum]

Unfortunately, the poor little guy passed. He was breathing labored then really slow but was belly up most of the time. Stopped breathing altogether . All other fish are fine and healthy. He just may not have acclimated well. Thanks for the help folks!