Sick Dragon Wrasse?

[Ruzoko]

Got a dragon wrasse last week, hes been in QT the last 6 days doing TTM. As of today it seems to be laying on its side and less so swimming, he ate immediately this morning per usual, been feeding frozen mysis. Moment he thinks hes being fed will swim back to the top of the tank or if he isnt happy with the bubbler current moving him will swim around and lay again. Has sand and did sleep in it first few days but now seems to sleep wedged between pvc or lay on top of the sand in the container. Cant tell if hes sick or if the behavior is usual for wrasse since this would be my first.

 

[MnFish1]

Unfortunately can't see your video. I think its fairly normal for wrasses to 'lay around' especially in new surroundings - IME - they like hiding places. so - it could be normal behavior. TTM can be stressful on fish - and basically each day - you're putting it in a new environment. (This is not to criticise TTM - only to explain possibly the behavior). Good that it is eating. Did you use anything else - like Prazipro - or even a FW dip - to check for flukes?

 

[Ruzoko]

Unfortunately can't see your video. I think its fairly normal for wrasses to 'lay around' especially in new surroundings - IME - they like hiding places. so - it could be normal behavior. TTM can be stressful on fish - and basically each day - you're putting it in a new environment. (This is not to criticise TTM - only to explain possibly the behavior). Good that it is eating. Did you use anything else - like Prazipro - or even a FW dip - to check for flukes?

Was going to treat with prazi today since would be in the ttm cycle but ill do a fw dip. Currently its laying on its side with occasional twitching, tbh idk if he will make it sadly went 0-100 in behavior overnight

 

[SaltyT]

A healthy juvi dragon wrasse will bury themselves in sand. Your wrasse is laying on its side with labored breathing which is not normal. Typically when a wrasse does this it's dying. Sorry OP it doesn't look good for your little guy.

 

[Ruzoko]

A healthy juvi dragon wrasse will bury themselves in sand. Your wrasse is laying on its side with labored breathing which is not normal. Typically when a wrasse does this it's dying. Sorry OP it doesn't look good for your little guy.

Sucks, i did a fw dip and no flukes. No ich, i honestly have no idea why he overnight just didnt do well. Did fine first 3 days, did first transfer did fine next 2 days and today hes belly up

 

[Ruzoko]

A healthy juvi dragon wrasse will bury themselves in sand. Your wrasse is laying on its side with labored breathing which is not normal. Typically when a wrasse does this it's dying. Sorry OP it doesn't look good for your little guy.

Well definitely last fish im getting from petco, not had a single one survive from them through QT, or even without QT.

 

[threebuoys]

#fishmedic

 

[Ruzoko]

Update: My dragon is alive and well shockingly, was going to ice him today since 2 days no changes and was going belly up. Woke up with that intent and hes alive! Swimming normally and immediately went to eat mysis I tossed in, devoured every piece of food plus whatever he missed that I gave friday.

 

[CryptoNautical]

Now that was a unexpected recovery. Glad to hear it worked out

 

[Ruzoko]

Now that was a unexpected recovery. Glad to hear it worked out

No joke i pulled just about everything out with thoughts of his demise yet here he is. Ima let him be and cut TTM over, give him a week to recover in this tank with a bit more sand then toss right into DT.

 

[SaltyT]

Your little guy has defied the odds, what a fighter! That's awesome news!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Update: My dragon is alive and well shockingly, was going to ice him today since 2 days no changes and was going belly up. Woke up with that intent and hes alive! Swimming normally and immediately went to eat mysis I tossed in, devoured every piece of food plus whatever he missed that I gave friday.

As I read this thread, my first thought was gill flukes. TTM doesn't help with that, and the fish was breathing pretty fast.
If I understood the timeline, you gave the fish a FW dip and it improved a few days later? If so, that sure seems like gill flukes. These are too small for you to see in the dip water without a microscope. However, a single FW dip will only knock them back, not eradicate them. You should consider prazi or hyposalinity so that the flukes don't bounce back.

Jay

 

[Ruzoko]

As I read this thread, my first thought was gill flukes. TTM doesn't help with that, and the fish was breathing pretty fast.
If I understood the timeline, you gave the fish a FW dip and it improved a few days later? If so, that sure seems like gill flukes. These are too small for you to see in the dip water without a microscope. However, a single FW dip will only knock them back, not eradicate them. You should consider prazi or hyposalinity so that the flukes don't bounce back.

Jay

Did fw dip on Friday afternoon, he stayed in that state laying/breathing heavy until Monday morning. It is possible if they were gil flukes, as is hes in his own QT for another week so I dont stress him out with anymore TTM which was for ich not flukes.

 

[Ruzoko]

As I read this thread, my first thought was gill flukes. TTM doesn't help with that, and the fish was breathing pretty fast.
If I understood the timeline, you gave the fish a FW dip and it improved a few days later? If so, that sure seems like gill flukes. These are too small for you to see in the dip water without a microscope. However, a single FW dip will only knock them back, not eradicate them. You should consider prazi or hyposalinity so that the flukes don't bounce back.

Jay

I do plan to treat with prazi after hes got a few days to just chill since I was told it was a possible effect of stress from doing TTM

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I do plan to treat with prazi after hes got a few days to just chill since I was told it was a possible effect of stress from doing TTM

Be sure to aerate the tank well during prazi treatments, and you should space out two treatments, nine days apart to try and break the life cycle (prazi does not kill the unhatched eggs)

Jay