What’s up with my damsel

[Stephen8169301]

He has been acting weird not really coming out there is a little bullying in my tank from the clown and banggai territorial stuff

 

[vetteguy53081]

He has been acting weird not really coming out there is a little bullying in my tank from the clown and banggai territorial stuff

I noticed quite a bit of hair algae that can be pulled by hand. Regarding damsel, while aggression and intimidation can play a role in this behavior, there seems to be a buoyancy issue either from fish overfed/overeating or slight bladder issue, even constipation.
Have you noticed unusual color/textured feces or fish losing appetite? In video, I see what may look like white/thick feces its trying to dislodge but not sure. If the case, can be what is known as edema and is a condition related to the fish not being able to maintain its own body fluids in the tank water swimming in which can be related to kidney or liver failure but lets start with feces color and texture.
Also what foods are you feeding it?

 

[Stephen8169301]

I noticed quite a bit of hair algae that can be pulled by hand.

Thanks for the reply vette

Yeah I’m pulling the rock next week to scrub I’ve been dealing with algae issues

Regarding damsel, while aggression and intimidation can play a role in this behavior, there seems to be a buoyancy issue either from fish overfed/overeating or slight bladder issue, even constipation.

I mean i could be over feeding

Have you noticed unusual color/textured feces or fish losing appetite?

Yes fish wasn’t eating then it was i have not fed my tank today. Fish is bloated almost like it has a big air bubble in the stomach pulling him to the surface

In video, I see what may look like white/thick feces its trying to dislodge but not sure. If the case, can be what is known as edema and is a condition related to the fish not being able to maintain its own body fluids in the tank water swimming in which can be related to kidney or liver failure but lets start with feces color and texture.
Also what foods are you feeding it?

I haven’t really watched him poop or anything but it looks like that is his bottom fins
I usually feed 1 cube of mysis a day and maybe omega 3 flakes and pellets depending every so often switching back and forth

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks for the reply vette

Yeah I’m pulling the rock next week to scrub I’ve been dealing with algae issues

I mean i could be over feeding

Yes fish wasn’t eating then it was i have not fed my tank today. Fish is bloated almost like it has a big air bubble in the stomach pulling him to the surface

I haven’t really watched him poop or anything but it looks like that is his bottom fins
I usually feed 1 cube of mysis a day and maybe omega 3 flakes and pellets depending every so often switching back and forth

Mysis may be the issue as its a good protein item to feed but also heavy at time in mucus causing thick feces or constipation. Often pulling off and feeding brine shrimp will serve as a laxative type effect and then switching to flakes like prime reef or formula one and tdo pellets and frozen like LRS fish frenzy and small plankton will help

 

[Stephen8169301]

Mysis may be the issue as its a good protein item to feed but also heavy at time in mucus causing thick feces or constipation. Often pulling off and feeding brine shrimp will serve as a laxative type effect and then switching to flakes like prime reef or formula one and tdo pellets and frozen like LRS fish frenzy and small plankton will help

Okay sounds good nothing really to do for this guy other then leave him be? Ill switch the diet around and get some different foods

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

He has been acting weird not really coming out there is a little bullying in my tank from the clown and banggai territorial stuff

That fish is struggling to stay down, that means it is positive buoyant. People call that "swim bladder disease" but in this case, the fish is also bloated in the belly and I can see a bit of stringy mucus...I would say that what this is is gas in its stomach/intestines from some internal infection. The gas is causing it to float. The swimming downward motion that you see is the fish trying to stay down.

Is it still eating?
What are you feeding it?

Jay

 

[Stephen8169301]

That fish is struggling to stay down, that means it is positive buoyant. People call that "swim bladder disease" but in this case, the fish is also bloated in the belly and I can see a bit of stringy mucus...I would say that what this is is gas in its stomach/intestines from some internal infection. The gas is causing it to float. The swimming downward motion that you see is the fish trying to stay down.

Is it still eating?
What are you feeding it?

Jay

Hey Jay!

I haven’t fed today yet but will soon I feed frozen mysis cube once a day and randomly during the week dry flakes and sometimes pellets

I just fed flakes and no the fish is not

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hey Jay!

I haven’t fed today yet but will soon I feed frozen mysis cube once a day and randomly during the week dry flakes and sometimes pellets

I just fed flakes and no the fish is not

Ok, that’s a serious symptom. Internal diseases are tough to control in a fish that isn’t eating.
Can you treat it with metroplex in a treatment tank?

Jay

 

[Stephen8169301]

Ok, that’s a serious symptom. Internal diseases are tough to control in a fish that isn’t eating.
Can you treat it with metroplex in a treatment tank?

Jay

Unfortunately I don’t have a separate tank space issues in home I checked on him today before I left found him swimming in place not bouncing so I’ll post a little update when I get home and feed the tank brine shrimp and see if he bites

 

[Stephen8169301]

Much better today I’ve been feeding frozen brine and today just before tank lights go off he did eat a little bit

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Much better today I’ve been feeding frozen brine and today just before tank lights go off he did eat a little bit

Frozen brine acts as a laxative, so hopefully it will help push things through.

Jay

 

[Stephen8169301]

Just an update after feeding frozen brine shrimp
2 days later he is back to normal