Six line wrasse

iczko · Dec 25, 2020

Hi it’s Christmas morning I woke up to see my fish like this I don’t know what’s wrong please help what can I do is it dying I don’t know it was healthy up until I came down stairs this morning

iczko · Dec 25, 2020

iczko said:
Hi it’s Christmas morning I woke up to see my fish like this I don’t know what’s wrong please help what can I do is it dying I don’t know it was healthy up until I came down stairs this morning

It also let out a long string of white poop

Zionas · Dec 25, 2020

Looks like an anal lapse. I’ll let the others weigh in.

RedReefer · Dec 25, 2020

That’s crazy I woke up with my six line wrasse dead on top of my overflow box cover this morning. I have a screen top on my tank and then inside as a center overflow with a plastic lid. Found my six line dead on top the over lid. RIP. Maybe I should leave the overflow lid off so if it happens again the fish will end up in the overflow alive. Good luck! I don’t know what to say about the fish looks like he’s having butt problems.

vetteguy53081 · Dec 25, 2020

Some causes are constipation, internal bacterial or form of dropsy. Poor water quality or diet are contributors also.
My best guess is a bladder infection, often a common problem with wrasses that burrow in the substrate. In this case maracyn 2 would be the treatment if that is what it is.

@Jay Hemdal

Jay Hemdal · Dec 25, 2020

iczko said:
Hi it’s Christmas morning I woke up to see my fish like this I don’t know what’s wrong please help what can I do is it dying I don’t know it was healthy up until I came down stairs this morning

Hi, Welcome to Reef2Reef!

That indeed looks like an anal prolapse. On small fish like this, there is nothing that can be done for them. In larger fish, I've had veterinarians put in a stitch or two to hold the opening closed a bit more, then things can heal up.

Sorry, but there is no medication for this sort of issue. So how did it come about? IDK - could be from passing eggs, or a large feces, or even from a systemic internal bacterial infection....nothing you could have done to prevent it though.

Jay