Panting wrasses

[VegetarianSkunk]

I have 3 wrasses in my 22 gal tank, a pintail, a melanurus and a leopard, just added 3 days ago. All 3 of them are breathing fairly heavily, though pintail not that bad. Pintail and melanurus eating well (pellets and mysis) and leopard hasn’t started eating but showing interest.
No stress colourations
Nitrates tested at ~10ppm
Running protein skimmer
Just lost one clown (wild caught) that was transferred to qt (copper dosing) after showing early signs of brook, suspected intestinal worms as well
Another clown still in qt (no copper now) doing okay

 

[4FordFamily]

Breathing heavily is generally ammonia or disease. Any other symptoms? Ammonia?

A 22 gal isn’t large enough for any of those wrasses kept singly, they may well be very stressed.

 

[VegetarianSkunk]

they’re still rather small, pintail and melanurus ~3” and leopard ~1.5”
no other symtoms...still having a good appetite
unsure about ammonia
pulsing xenias and coral banded shrimp doing well

Breathing heavily is generally ammonia or disease. Any other symptoms? Ammonia?

A 22 gal isn’t large enough for any of those wrasses kept singly, they may well be very stressed.

 

[4FordFamily]

they’re still rather small, pintail and melanurus ~3” and leopard ~1.5”
no other symtoms...still having a good appetite
unsure about ammonia
pulsing xenias and coral banded shrimp doing well

Test ammonia, try an ammonia alert badge

 

[VegetarianSkunk]

Test ammonia, try an ammonia alert badge

the clown’s in the same water conditions as well (just did a waterchange using the water from the tank the wrasses are in) and isn’t panting at all though?

 

[4FordFamily]

the clown’s in the same water conditions as well (just did a waterchange using the water from the tank the wrasses are in) and isn’t panting at all though?

They are hardier. How long has the tank been set up?

 

[VegetarianSkunk]

They are hardier. How long has the tank been set up?

3 weeks now, dosing microbacter7

 

[4FordFamily]

3 weeks now, dosing microbacter7

That's good that you're using bacteria but you've stocked your 22 gallon as a 55 gallon and very quickly. This is likely your issue. You also likely have disease, with ammonia present and such a new tank your fish don't have the immune response to fight much of anything. My advice is to slow down, take a step back, and stock your tank according to its' size for best luck.

 

[reef lover]

+1

 

[4FordFamily]

Since I suspect ammonia hill damage, methelyn blue baths should help.