Royal Gramma in Distress

[evmibo]

This fish along with all my others went through copper, and prazipro as cautionary QT before they went into the main display over a year ago.

All other fish are happy, and always pig out.

The royal gramma has always been a selective eater though. Only eating flake food and frozen mysis. I’ve never been successful with spectrum pellets with the royal gramma. It almost always hides out while other swim around (other fish are peaceful, nobody bullies one another).

So to my surprise I saw the royal gramma swimming around the water column this morning. But now it’s laying low beside some rocks on the gravel (picture). Breathing seems normal, but there is some discoloration on it’s left dorsal side where the color changes from purple to yellow. He’s also a little skinny as he hasn’t been eating too much recently.

Thoughts?

 

[Brew12]

This fish along with all my others went through copper, and prazipro as cautionary QT before they went into the main display over a year ago.

All other fish are happy, and always pig out.

The royal gramma has always been a selective eater though. Only eating flake food and frozen mysis. I’ve never been successful with spectrum pellets with the royal gramma. It almost always hides out while other swim around (other fish are peaceful, nobody bullies one another).

So to my surprise I saw the royal gramma swimming around the water column this morning. But now it’s laying low beside some rocks on the gravel (picture). Breathing seems normal, but there is some discoloration on it’s left dorsal side where the color changes from purple to yellow. He’s also a little skinny as he hasn’t been eating too much recently.

Thoughts?

Any idea how old he is? Was he full grown when you got him?

 

[pelphrey]

How big is the tank, and is there another one in the tank with him? Could he be hiding to not get picked on?

 

[Big G]

So it was never treated for "internal" parasites with Metro? Symptoms are leaning internal parasites.

 

[evmibo]

Any idea how old he is? Was he full grown when you got him?

I’m not sure how old he is. Are royal’s not long lived? He has grown some but not too much. I’ve seen larger royal grammas in smaller tanks for what it’s worth.

How big is the tank, and is there another one in the tank with him? Could he be hiding to not get picked on?

135g display and he is the only royal gramma. I plan on adding more fish but currently there’s only 4 other fish, all of which are friendly and everyone gets along. Other fish are a foxface, pink streak wrasse, and two true percs.

So it was never treated for "internal" parasites with Metro? Symptoms are leaning internal parasites.

I know I used kanaplex after copper but can’t remember if I used metro or not. This is what I was thinking too, and was waiting to see what others said before touching on it. But also, I’ve never seen white stringy poo from anyone. I’m thinking about soaking food, metroplex and focus and feeding the tank, can’t really hurt can it?

 

[Brew12]

I’m not sure how old he is. Are royal’s not long lived? He has grown some but not too much. I’ve seen larger royal grammas in smaller tanks for what it’s worth.

From what I am seeing, 3 to 5 years is fairly common but they can live up to 10. What you are describing sounds like old age to me which is why I asked.

 

[evmibo]

So soaking food in metro and focus and feeding the fishing in display is fine, right? His stomach is contracted in now, and barely ate this morning. Again though when the lights came on he was swimming in the water column up and down, not very organized, and eventually went back to the bottom to rest.

 

[Brew12]

So soaking food in metro and focus and feeding the fishing in display is fine, right? His stomach is contracted in now, and barely ate this morning. Again though when the lights came on he was swimming in the water column up and down, not very organized, and eventually went back to the bottom to rest.

Yup, that is fine. Do your best to not let any of the food land on coral or rot in the tank.

 

[evmibo]

The box of Focus says 5:1 (Focus:Medication), then the container says 1:1...? Which is recommended? Also, when soaking food with metro and focus are you all just using one scoop of metro?

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

The box of Focus says 5:1 (Focus:Medication), then the container says 1:1...? Which is recommended? Also, when soaking food with metro and focus are you all just using one scoop of metro?

Yes, one level scoop of Metro

 

[evmibo]

Yes, one level scoop of Metro

I’m wondering if others are using 1 or 5 scoops of focus.

 

[Pbh-reef]

One scoop of focus is all you need. Have you seen any poop from him?

 

[evmibo]

No I haven’t. He’s been eating, and since the original message of this thread his behavior has improved quite a bit. Strange thing is that his behavior improved before I started focus and metro. I DID notice that my female clown had white/clear stringy poop though. She has always eaten well though, but I’m sure this will help. Today was only day 2 of 5 but everyone seems good so far.

 

[ngoodermuth]

If one fish had parasites they usually all do since they eat each other’s poo [emoji1785]

Sounds like you are on the right track, but I would treat for at least 10 days