Royal Gramma Basslet Transfer

cmcimino · Jan 18, 2017

I just picked up a royal gramma basslet from someone locally who is parting out their tank. The fish was in a gallon size bag, which I left in the QT tank for 30 minutes to acclimate temperature. I made sure QT water salinity matched the water in the bag, and then transferred the fish. He was swimming around fine at first, but then he freaked out and tried to jump out. Luckily I have a top on the tank, but the fish is swimming against the side of my PVC fitting, and seems to just float there until he flutters back to the underside of the PVC. I turned the lights off to create less stress on the fish. Any other ideas on what to do?

melypr1985 · Jan 18, 2017

Sounds like he's super stressed out. Is there anything visibly wrong with him or different? Breathing heavy? Is he wedging himself under the pvc so he doesn't float around or is he just trying to hide?

domination2580 · Jan 18, 2017

cmcimino said:
I just picked up a royal gramma basslet from someone locally who is parting out their tank. The fish was in a gallon size bag, which I left in the QT tank for 30 minutes to acclimate temperature. I made sure QT water salinity matched the water in the bag, and then transferred the fish. He was swimming around fine at first, but then he freaked out and tried to jump out. Luckily I have a top on the tank, but the fish is swimming against the side of my PVC fitting, and seems to just float there until he flutters back to the underside of the PVC. I turned the lights off to create less stress on the fish. Any other ideas on what to do?

I would check levels make sure there is no ammonia or nitrite. Make sure there isn't copper in the tank at least until he settles in, what is the temp? Skimmer?

cmcimino · Jan 18, 2017

I tried to get a picture of the fish. It looks like his dorsal fin may have an injury? Is it suppose to have the fold in it mid way down?

cmcimino · Jan 18, 2017

melypr1985 said:
Sounds like he's super stressed out. Is there anything visibly wrong with him or different? Breathing heavy? Is he wedging himself under the pvc so he doesn't float around or is he just trying to hide?

No heavy breathing, but it looks like he wedges himself in there so he doesn't float away. Uploaded a pic

melypr1985 · Jan 18, 2017

cmcimino said:
I tried to get a picture of the fish. It looks like his dorsal fin may have an injury? Is it suppose to have the fold in it mid way down?

The fins look fine. What about the large white spots I'm seeing... one just before the tail and another above the eye. Is that just me, or on the glass?

Litfury · Jan 18, 2017

I literally just put a royal gramma in quarantine this week. First two days he hunkered under a off pipe (not in it, literally nestled against it on ground). Only came up to eat. Now he is swimming around, happy, good color etc...
Can't say for sure that is what is going on cause I can't see yours. But is a possibility.

cmcimino · Jan 18, 2017

domination2580 said:
I would check levels make sure there is no ammonia or nitrite. Make sure there isn't copper in the tank at least until he settles in, what is the temp? Skimmer?

Temperature is 78, and the seachem alert is not showing any ammonia. I've been running the tank for about a month now, no fish in it, but the filter media came from my display tank. Should not have any copper in it.

domination2580 · Jan 18, 2017

What melypr said....is that your glass or the royal gramma?

cmcimino · Jan 18, 2017

melypr1985 said:
The fins look fine. What about the large white spots I'm seeing... one just before the tail and another above the eye. Is that just me, or on the glass?

Just salt on the glass, good eye though!

melypr1985 · Jan 18, 2017

cmcimino said:
Just salt on the glass, good eye though!

Alrighty. He looks fine, just a little stressed in the new tank. Give him some time and concentrate on keeping stress low and getting him to eat. Keep a close eye on him while he's in QT though, so you are aware if anything pops up you will need to take care of.

domination2580 · Jan 18, 2017

If you can get some better pics it might help. @melypr1985 you sure the dorsal is fine? I just got one in amd nothing like it on his dorsal...could be wrong....could it have gotten bent when trying to hide?

cmcimino · Jan 18, 2017

melypr1985 said:
Alrighty. He looks fine, just a little stressed in the new tank. Give him some time and concentrate on keeping stress low and getting him to eat. Keep a close eye on him while he's in QT though, so you are aware if anything pops up you will need to take care of.

Thanks! I figured I'll treat with prazipro after hes eating for a couple of days, and watch over him for 2 weeks. He had been in the old owners tank for a couple of years.

melypr1985 · Jan 18, 2017

domination2580 said:
If you can get some better pics it might help. @melypr1985 you sure the dorsal is fine? I just got one in amd nothing like it on his dorsal...could be wrong....could it have gotten bent when trying to hide?

I suspect it's pressed against that pipe and making it curl against itself a bit. The fish as a whole, looks fine to me.

cmcimino · Jan 18, 2017

domination2580 said:
If you can get some better pics it might help. @melypr1985 you sure the dorsal is fine? I just got one in amd nothing like it on his dorsal...could be wrong....could it have gotten bent when trying to hide?

He did jump pretty hard against the eggcrate. I does look slightly bent, but he's also sitting against the pipe, and is stressed.

domination2580 · Jan 18, 2017

cmcimino said:
He did jump pretty hard against the eggcrate. I does look slightly bent, but he's also sitting against the pipe, and is stressed.

As far as qt, I believe the best amount of time to qt is 30 days, or at least that's what I'm going to do with mine....@melypr1985 ?

melypr1985 · Jan 18, 2017

cmcimino said:
He did jump pretty hard against the eggcrate. I does look slightly bent, but he's also sitting against the pipe, and is stressed.

Could have been caused by that as well. Either way, time and good nutrition will be what that needs to heal.

domination2580 said:
As far as qt, I believe the best amount of time to qt is 30 days, or at least that's what I'm going to do with mine.... @melypr1985 ?

Yes. Even if you are only going to treat wtih Prazipro, you would still want to observe carefully for the full 30 days to ensure he's not bringing anything else into the display. I would advise treating for ick (at a minimum) with either copper or TTM along with the prazi.

cmcimino · Jan 18, 2017

melypr1985 said:
Could have been caused by that as well. Either way, time and good nutrition will be what that needs to heal.

Yes. Even if you are only going to treat wtih Prazipro, you would still want to observe carefully for the full 30 days to ensure he's not bringing anything else into the display. I would advise treating for ick (at a minimum) with either copper or TTM along with the prazi.

What's your opinion on using 5 gallon buckets with an air stone for TTM? Water isn't an issue for me because I have access to filtered sea water.

melypr1985 · Jan 18, 2017

cmcimino said:
What's your opinion on using 5 gallon buckets with an air stone for TTM? Water isn't an issue for me because I have access to filtered sea water.

Using 5 gallon buckets is totally doable. It can be problematic because you won't be able to observe the fish for other symptoms except from above. Other than that, it's fine. I do prefer clear sided (glass) tanks for any QT situation, but the buckets are better than nothing for sure!

cmcimino · Jan 19, 2017

So I took a look at this fish this morning and it's moved from underneath the pipe to the side of the tank. It looks like it's struggling to swim at all, and I'm starting to think it may have injured itself. The dorsal fin is definitely folded in that one spot. I was not able to get a picture, but I will try to get one during lunch.