What is Wrong?

terri_ann · Aug 17, 2018

I've had these fish for years..
Melanarus wrasse and Magnificent FoxFace. They were in the same system with about 12 other fish. The Mag went blind suddenly a month ago so he's now in a hospital tank. Now here's the scoop: Both fish appear to be sleeping and then suddenly jerk as startled! the wrasse is not eating and hides all the time (in the sand, laying on the bottom of the tank next to something...swimming is very weak now staying low in the tank. The Foxface no longer has a powerhead going, just a HOB
He swims but not much and stays at the top of the water 98% of the time and literally spits water out of the tank.

I know the Foxface wouldnt live long after going blind but he does eat a little (nori & frozen but thawed[emoji6]) I keep thinking he'll be dead in the morning but not yet

The wrasse doesnt have any physical signs, etc. I'm just puzzled why both started showing the sign of appearing like they are sleeping, then startle...then swim off as best they can.

Help or ideas as I don't want to lose the other fish that were tankmates with them.

Robink · Aug 17, 2018

@Humblefish , @melypr1985 , @4FordFamily

Humblefish · Aug 17, 2018

Any corals/inverts added recently? Anything wet that could have carried a pathogen into the water?

How are all your other fish, corals, inverts looking??

HotRocks · Aug 17, 2018

The spitting water manuver is generally a fish trying to get oxygen. You might turn the powerhead back on and aim it upward to break the surface of the water.

Without physical symptoms it's hard to diagnose.

Have you added anything new lately without QT?

Have you checked all your parameters lately?

Velvet can be present without seeing white spots. I'm not saying it is. But fish afflicted with velvet can be highly irritated by light.

4FordFamily · Aug 17, 2018

Humblefish said:
Any corals/inverts added recently? Anything wet that could have carried a pathogen into the water?

How are all your other fish, corals, inverts looking??

HotRocks said:
The spitting water manuver is generally a fish trying to get oxygen. You might turn the powerhead back on and aim it upward to break the surface of the water.

Without physical symptoms it's hard to diagnose.

Have you added anything new lately without QT?

Have you checked all your parameters lately?

Velvet can be present without seeing white spots. I'm not saying it is. But fish afflicted with velvet can be highly irritated by light.

I have nothing to add to these!

terri_ann · Aug 18, 2018

No, nothing added and params fine/stable. Old reefer here.
I know its strange! Almost like a sleeping sickness. So far, other fish are fine. Yellow tang is not out swimming like it did but Foxy was its buddy... Think it misses it.
When I had the powerhead on before(just turned it off this week), the FF was still at the top and spitting water. I'll turn it back on though

Humblefish · Aug 18, 2018

terri_ann said:
No, nothing added and params fine/stable. Old reefer here.
I know its strange! Almost like a sleeping sickness. So far, other fish are fine. Yellow tang is not out swimming like it did but Foxy was its buddy... Think it misses it.
When I had the powerhead on before(just turned it off this week), the FF was still at the top and spitting water. I'll turn it back on though

Shot in the dark but... test your water for stray voltage.

terri_ann · Aug 18, 2018

Humblefish said:
Shot in the dark but... test your water for stray voltage.

Ok hon but I dont think so because 2 different tanks involved

Rakie · Aug 18, 2018

Did you try any new foods lately?

I know the v20 soft freeze for example has alcohols in it.. That means fish with big appetites WILL eat a ton, and in my experience, one became completely blind, one paralyzed. Someone I knew had the same experience with the same food. Another shop had the same experience with all their aggressive eaters with that food.

terri_ann · Aug 18, 2018

No new foods...Hykari shrimp and jimbo"s gumbo

Rakie · Aug 18, 2018

Well, with wrasse I tend to think spinal injury. They're so fast... One little startle in the middle of the night and they zip right into the class and break their spine. It can be that fast. I dropped a cup and the sound/vibration made one my old cardinal slam into the glass. My fish are found in all depths of water. Some of them in theory would never encounter a bird -- but when the shadow of a bird goes by my window the whole tank darts. They all know what birds are.

But that's for the wrasse, and those are my experiences. Having had a cardinal face-plant makes me think any and all fish could. So perhaps the foxface as well..

terri_ann · Aug 19, 2018

Hmm, never thought about that for the wrasse. Thanks! But, it does seem to be sleeping. It's been buried in the sand the past 2 days.

Is there a type of disease that would resemble a sleeping sickness@Humblefish/Merideth/etc?

Humblefish · Aug 19, 2018

terri_ann said:
Is there a type of disease that would resemble a sleeping sickness@Humblefish/Merideth/etc?

Many diseases will make a fish lethargic, but not a sleeping sickness per se.

terri_ann · Aug 21, 2018

Ok dear
It's crazy. The Mag is dead[emoji24]

Humblefish · Aug 21, 2018

terri_ann said:
Ok dear
It's crazy. The Mag is dead[emoji24]

terri_ann · Aug 23, 2018

I know dear, so sad
The wrasse is continuing to be buried in the sand
I get him to come out but immediately goes back in[emoji22]

Dr. Reef · Aug 23, 2018

are you using coil denitrator or sulphur denitrator?
recently stirred up sand?
does the water smell normal any smell to it?
any equipment with very slow flow rate?