What's up with this fish?

[Instigate]

I have a tailspot blenny that has been in QT for almost a month. I started feeding him general cure/focus 12 days ago because of stringy poop held together with a tiny strand. I was thinking I would switch back to regular food but I'm noticing he has some wrinkles on his belly area and not sure what to make of it. I have also noticed him breathing faster than normal at times but it seems to come and go. Can a fish get "winded" from swimming around a bunch? Most of the time his breathing is normal. In looking at the fish disease index I was leaning toward brook because it mentions skin sagging and scratching. Although the example pictures look nothing like what he has going on, also if he had brook wouldn't he be dead by now? Or maybe not because I've been feeding him the GC? I have seen him maybe once or twice rub his side on the PVC but just slightly and it's pretty rare. I work from home and am able to observe him quite a bit. So I'm not really sure if he's actually trying to rub or if he just got close to the pipe while swimming away. Other than his belly area he looks great, very colorful and seems to have settled in and is quite active.

I don't see any long stringy poop anymore, well some stringy poop but not like before. Before feeding the GC it was like clumps connected by a thin strand. What I see now looks normal I think and doesn't stay attached for long. Other than the breathing fast on and off as well as the stomach issue.

Here are some cell phone videos of him, I've been meaning to get the real camera out and take some decent video but haven't yet.

 

[Instigate]

At the 33 second mark on the second video, he is breathing abnormally fast right?

 

[Katrina71]

He looks just like ours. Ours does the same thing breathing. I was also alarmed at first. I think they are like hyper puppies and spaz/pant a little. I'm new, so if someone contradicts...just my own observation.

 

[Instigate]

He looks just like ours. Ours does the same thing breathing. I was also alarmed at first. I think they are like hyper puppies and spaz/pant a little. I'm new, so if someone contradicts...just my own observation.

Oh that's encouraging!
It seems like he only does it after being active. If he's been perched for a while his breathing is normal.

 

[MamaLovesHerReefTank]

Oh that's encouraging!
It seems like he only does it after being active. If he's been perched for a while his breathing is normal.

Ours does the same thing after swimming around for a bit.

 

[Instigate]

Nevermind on the poop not being stringy anymore. I just saw her, I think it's a female now(no streamers on the tail fin), with a very long one that was clumps held together with a tiny strand. But it is much less thick, maybe because I'm not overfeeding as much now. I never got a definite yes or no on what the poop clumps held together with a tiny strand means if anything, other than possible intestinal irritation.

So it seems that the breathing is normal for this fish. But I'm still concerned with the possible scratching and does the belly area look normal? I'm thinking I'm being a bit paranoid and the fish is actually just fine. But I'm new to this and want to do the best I can for this fish. Would things like velvet, brook and ick presumably show up in this time span? Or would a round of copper be called for? I want to be diligent in my QT efforts.

 

[Humblefish]

The scratching/heavy breathing are indicators of ectoparasites. I personally would run this fish through copper for good measure.

 

[4FordFamily]

The scratching/heavy breathing are indicators of ectoparasites. I personally would run this fish through copper for good measure.

Agree. Any ammonia present, op?

 

[Instigate]

Agree. Any ammonia present, op?

Nope. Tank is cycled. But it's a 10 gallon I wanted to use for invert/coral qt once the blenny is out. But if I'm going to do copper I need another 10 gallon I think. I'll have to grab a used one asap.

 

[4FordFamily]

Nope. Tank is cycled. But it's a 10 gallon I wanted to use for invert/coral qt once the blenny is out. But if I'm going to do copper I need another 10 gallon I think. I'll have to grab a used one asap.

Watch for ammonia in new one

Get the ammonia alert badge by seachem, as other tests show false positives with copper.

 

[Instigate]

Watch for ammonia in new one

Get the ammonia alert badge by seachem

I've got one. I'm thinking I'll move the filter with cycled filter floss over to the new one to avoid waiting for another cycle. And monitor for a few days before adding copper. I really don't want to be doing daily water changes while trying to maintain the copper level. Since I'm only seeing behavioural symptoms I don't think it's an emergency situation.

 

[4FordFamily]

I've got one. I'm thinking I'll move the filter with cycled filter floss over to the new one to avoid waiting for another cycle. And monitor for a few days before adding copper. I really don't want to be doing daily water changes while trying to maintain the copper level. Since I'm only seeing behavioural symptoms I don't think it's an emergency situation.

If scratching its pretty critical.

 

[4FordFamily]

I've got one. I'm thinking I'll move the filter with cycled filter floss over to the new one to avoid waiting for another cycle. And monitor for a few days before adding copper. I really don't want to be doing daily water changes while trying to maintain the copper level. Since I'm only seeing behavioural symptoms I don't think it's an emergency situation.

If scratching its pretty critical.

 

[Instigate]

If scratching its pretty critical.

Critical as in treat asap?

I'm not really sure if it's actually scratching. I only saw what I thought was possible scratching twice. He rubbed his side on the smooth curve of a piece of pvc while swimming away from it. Not really a place I would expect to see him trying to scratch. But might as well be safe and do the copper I think.

 

[4FordFamily]

Critical as in treat asap?

I'm not really sure if it's actually scratching. I only saw what I thought was possible scratching twice. He rubbed his side on the smooth curve of a piece of pvc while swimming away from it. Not really a place I would expect to see him trying to scratch. But might as well be safe and do the copper I think.

Yeah, that's probably a good sign that copper is needed.

 

[Instigate]

Yeah, that's probably a good sign that copper is needed.

I have a 20 gallon that is only a week into cycle that is 10ft from the 10 gallon and 10ft from the dt. I think im just going to do the copper in the 20 gallon. And I wont bother with another tank. I'll have to change the water in the 20 because it still has .08ppm ammonia from the initial dose to start the cycle. Then move the already cycled filter and ammonia badge to the 20. And hopefully I can avoid the daily WC to keep ammonia at bay.

I only have ionic copper on hand is that OK for a blenny? Doesnt mention blennys on the chart.

 

[4FordFamily]

I have a 20 gallon that is only a week into cycle that is 10ft from the 10 gallon and 10ft from the dt. I think im just going to do the copper in the 20 gallon. And I wont bother with another tank. I'll have to change the water in the 20 because it still has .08ppm ammonia from the initial dose to start the cycle. Then move the already cycled filter and ammonia badge to the 20. And hopefully I can avoid the daily WC to keep ammonia at bay.

I only have ionic copper on hand is that OK for a blenny? Doesnt mention blennys on the chart.

Yeah it should be fine.

 

[Instigate]

Yeah it should be fine.

Already working on it! Thanks for the advice!