Royal Gramma Odd Behavior?

[youclowntoomuch]

I just introduced a royal gramma into my tank today and he seems to be exhibiting odd behavior. His gills are moving but he’s laying against the glass and doing this weird motion in the video. Since putting him in he played down, then hid, and has now come out. What can be happening?

 

[youclowntoomuch]

I just introduced a royal gramma into my tank today and he seems to be exhibiting odd behavior. His gills are moving but he’s laying against the glass and doing this weird motion in the video. Since putting him in he played down, then hid, and has now come out. What can be happening?

 

[fishywishy]

Can you share your tank parameters? How did you acclimate the fish? the video isn’t working for me but it sounds like the issue could be related to water quality or a disease like flukes, or possibly velvet.

 

[youclowntoomuch]

Ammonia, nitrites are 0

Nitrates are at 5
Salinity 1.024


If the video would load you’d see what I mean.
For acclimation i used the 1/2 cup every 3 minutes method.

Can you share your tank parameters? How did you acclimate the fish? the video isn’t working for me but it sounds like the issue could be related to water quality or a disease like flukes, or possibly velvet.

 

[youclowntoomuch]

Can you share your tank parameters? How did you acclimate the fish? the video isn’t working for me but it sounds like the issue could be related to water quality or a disease like flukes, or possibly velvet.

 

[fishywishy]

Still isn’t working for me. Try posting the video on YouTube and attach the link. It’s hard to tell for sure without the video.

I don't know if that would have caused this but half a cup every 3 minutes is very fast.

 

[youclowntoomuch]

That’s the recommended method on bulk reef supplies YouTube

 

[youclowntoomuch]

Still isn’t working for me. Try posting the video on YouTube and attach the link. It’s hard to tell for sure without the video.

I don't know if that would have caused this but half a cup every 3 minutes is very fast.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Did you test the salinity of the LFS water? Always test the water, many LFS's use low salinity, in this case you need to acclimate slowly, half a cup every 3 minutes is way too fast. This looks like osmosis shock, but I'm not a fish medic so IDK

Do you have rockwork? RG should automatically go into the rocks to hide. So I wonder if you have no rocks, or if a bully stop RG from going into the rocks. A full tank pic will help, also help if you can list other fish in tank.

 

[youclowntoomuch]

I have clowns. They are completely uninterested in the RG. I’ve got very porous live rock with tons of caves and areas that are small enough for the RG to hide in.

Did you test the salinity of the LFS water? Always test the water, many LFS's use low salinity, in this case you need to acclimate slowly, half a cup every 3 minutes is way too fast. This looks like osmosis shock, but I'm not a fish medic so IDK

Do you have rockwork? RG should automatically go into the rocks to hide. So I wonder if you have no rocks, or if a bully stop RG from going into the rocks. A full tank pic will help, also help if you can list other fish in tank.

 

[youclowntoomuch]

Did you test the salinity of the LFS water? Always test the water, many LFS's use low salinity, in this case you need to acclimate slowly, half a cup every 3 minutes is way too fast. This looks like osmosis shock, but I'm not a fish medic so IDK

Do you have rockwork? RG should automatically go into the rocks to hide. So I wonder if you have no rocks, or if a bully stop RG from going into the rocks. A full tank pic will help, also help if you can list other fish in tank.

I watched this dork and followed his instructions to a T. ‍

 

[vetteguy53081]

I just introduced a royal gramma into my tank today and he seems to be exhibiting odd behavior. His gills are moving but he’s laying against the glass and doing this weird motion in the video. Since putting him in he played down, then hid, and has now come out. What can be happening?

This is likely not a parameter issue. Fish appears to be flashing fins and is susceptible to flukes. Need longer video to see this behavior
How did you acclimate fish and for how long?
If aggression, fish would be hiding and not out in the open.
What is age of tank and have you provided areas for hiding with rocks?

 

[youclowntoomuch]

This is likely not a parameter issue. Fish appears to be flashing fins and is susceptible to flukes. Need longer video to see this behavior
How did you acclimate fish and for how long?
If aggression, fish would be hiding and not out in the open.
What is age of tank and have you provided areas for hiding with rocks?

My tank is only 2 weeks old , however it has established a good cycle and all of my parameters in the green. My live rock comes from an established tank and I have made many nooks and caves for fish to hide. The fish seems to be making that jerky contraction motion every now and then. The clowns don’t even notice the gramma exists

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

How big is the tank? 3 fish in 2 weeks is very fast in this hobby, I usually don't add my first fish for 3-4 weeks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

How are you testing water?
Again, how did you acclimate fish and how long?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I just introduced a royal gramma into my tank today and he seems to be exhibiting odd behavior. His gills are moving but he’s laying against the glass and doing this weird motion in the video. Since putting him in he played down, then hid, and has now come out. What can be happening?

The fish is breathing deeply and a little fast - a sign of stress. If it wasn’t going this at the store, then something changed, most likely acclimation stress from a rise in salinity. Sometimes though, fish get hit with the net when captured at the store. I would call the store to let them know the fish isn’t doing well, and to ask what the salinity is in their tank.

 

[youclowntoomuch]

How are you testing water?
Again, how did you acclimate fish and how long?

Read my response to this very question up further

 

[youclowntoomuch]

He has now been laying against the back wall for more then 4 hours. Still breathing and somewhat alert. My salinity is 1.024 my ammonia, nitrites, nitrates are all perfect. As far as conditions go they’re ideal.

The fish is breathing deeply and a little fast - a sign of stress. If it wasn’t going this at the store, then something changed, most likely acclimation stress from a rise in salinity. Sometimes though, fish get hit with the net when captured at the store. I would call the store to let them know the fish isn’t doing well, and to ask what the salinity is in their tank

 

[vetteguy53081]

Read my response to this very question up further

1/2 cup every 3 minutes is not an answer as for how
Long and every 3 minutes will likely put this fish in osmotic shock

 

[youclowntoomuch]

Well I followed mike from bulk reef supplies YouTube video down to the T. On the positive side the fish is now doing much better