Please help

[ngoodermuth]

I'm very skeptical that the palys were able to "catch" a wrasse like that. I feel like there is something else at play here.

How long have you had him? Other tankmates? Have you noticed any other symptoms- scratching, stringy poop, twitching/ head shaking, breathing heavy, swimming into the flow, etc?

 

[Tsev03]

I've had him lil over 2 months. No signs at all. He has always seemed very healthy. I watch him all the time. He is my favorite fish. His tail fin looks a lil ragged today since this happened. I've never seen any fish picking on him but it must be something. I've had the palys for ever. I will move any fish that might be bullying him. Just have to figure out who is doing it

 

[evolved]

Burrowing sand sleeper I believe.

Cirrhilabrus sleep in a mucus cocoon; never in the sand.


This is not a problem with the palys - the fish was simply hiding in them. This is either a tank mate being a bully, or disease.

What other fish are in the tank?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Cirrhilabrus sleep in a mucus cocoon; never in the sand.

Wrass newb;Sorry
Lol. Thanks for chiming in.

 

[Tsev03]

2 damsels, 3 (1 lg female 2 small males) clowns, pair of mandarins, foxface, flame angel, chromis, purple pseudo. I think that's all for fish. I'll double check when the lights come on.

 

[Tsev03]

In case I didn't say what size tank I have it's a 125 long

 

[ngoodermuth]

I've got my money on the dottyback... but you'd have to observe it to know for sure.

Otherwise, maybe a freshwater dip to check for flukes?

Freshwater Dip

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Freshwater-Dip.248898/

 

[Tsev03]

I am watching the dottyback very closely now. It is my guess too and probably one of the hardest fish I have to catch. It stays hidden so much I forget it's in there. I've never seen it be aggressive to any other fish but who knows what it may do when no one is around

 

[ngoodermuth]

I am watching the dottyback very closely now. It is my guess too and probably one of the hardest fish I have to catch. It stays hidden so much I forget it's in there. I've never seen it be aggressive to any other fish but who knows what it may do when no one is around

Watch closely at dusk, when the lights start to dim and right after lights out. They could be competing for the same sleeping area.

I have caught two dottybacks (yea, I didn't learn my lesson the first time) using the inverted bottle trap technique.

Another genius idea I've heard here but haven't had to try yet for an aggressive fish. Put a mirror in the back of a fish trap [emoji23]

 

[evolved]

I've got my money on the dottyback... but you'd have to observe it to know for sure.

The dottyback or the damsels, either could be a likely suspect.

 

[Tsev03]

he looks a lot better today. Here's a new picture But I'm worried about it happening again. Not looking forward to try to catch whichever fish is doing it

 

[Tsev03]

I've been watching the tank very close. Still haven't seen any aggression but this morning before the light came on I noticed my wrasse in the same corner where the palys were. I had moved them so he is ok but I watched as the lights came on and that dottyback came swimming out of the one rock the wrasse used to spend a lot of time in. I found someone willing to take the dottyback as soon as I catch him.

 

[Tsev03]

Yes, the vitamin will be ingested by the fish. If your in need of product you can hit the vitamin specialty store and pick up some powdered C and liquid B-12 instead of waiting 3 to 5 days. use a 1/4 teaspoon of the C and 4 drops of the b-12.

I got the selcon in yesterday. How much of it do I use?

 

[jsker]

I got the selcon in yesterday. How much of it do I use?

Looking around 4 drop should do it per week into the frozen. Soak the food for 12 hours before you feed. If you have the focus add .5 of a spoon so that it will bind better to the food.

 

[Tsev03]

Looking around 4 drop should do it per week into the frozen. Soak the food for 12 hours before you feed. If you have the focus add .5 of a spoon so that it will bind better to the food.

Ok thank u

 

[jsker]

Ok thank u

You welcome. He looks like he is recovering on his own, but the vitamins will help with his overall health and color, you will notice that your corals will perk up a bit too.

 

[Tsev03]

He is doing so much better. You can hardly see the spots now. Hopefully I'll be able to get the dottyback out today. The first 2 nights he was sick the dottyback was in the wrasses rock. Last night the wrasse had the rock back. I just hope I don't have to move a bunch of rock to catch the dottyback. I read about doing a blackout for an hour then have the net ready when u turn the lights back on. I'm going to try that

 

[mcarroll]

I'm not in disagreement with anything, but is there any chance you have a serpent star in the tank?

Rearranging the rocks a little bit (disturb everyone's territory) and leaving the fish in the tank may be a better first step since it sound like the catch might be stressful for all tankmates.

Consider getting a small fly-fishing hook and line to catch him. It's usually 100% more targeted, 99% faster and much lower stress than netting, trapping, etc. Unless you really get lucky with the net without upsetting the tank on the first or second try, then this is what I'd recommend.

BTW, that's an explosive combo of fish, even in a 72" tank. Here's my list of potential aggressors from before I read the rest of the subsequent posts:

• 2 damsels
• 3 (1 lg female 2 small males) clowns
• foxface
• flame angel
• chromis
• purple pseudo

You've got a home-reef rendition of The Usual Suspects!

Is your purple pseudo a wild or captive-bred unit?

Let me know about the serpent star.

 

[Tsev03]

I have a brittle star fish. Could the star fish be a problem?

The 2 male clowns where to give the female a choice. I'm going to take the smallest one out because she seems to have bonded to the larger male. The clowns r easy to catch even when not trying to.
The flame so pretty lol I've had him for over a year. But I like my wrasse more.

Damsels the yellow tail is very nice to everyone but the striped one I would love to get rid of

Chromis I didn't know could be a problem. He is the only one left out of the 3 I bought after tank cycled.

So rearranging the rocks will be my first thing to do but what else should I do?

 

[Tsev03]

I appreciate everyone's help. I definitely want a peaceful tank. Without any of my fish getting hurt.