Wrasse problems

Salt Creep · Mar 23, 2016

Every time I add a wrasse it dies. All other fish are doing fine, coral doing great... I don't get it. The ones that have lived are 2 mckosker (one in each tank), and a six line that I took out for being a bully. Out of 3 Lubbock attempts none have lived more than a week. I added a flame wrasse last weekend and found it dead last night, that was tough. I'm not adding fish too fast because there haven't been fish added for months and I'm doing one at a time. Is this just stress from shipment, or something I'm doing wrong? I am acclimating them for about 30 minutes by adding a little tank water to the floating bag every 5 minutes.

My params:

Ca 440
Alk 8.5 dKh
Mag 1350
Nitrate <5

Dan1789 · Mar 23, 2016

Most wrasse are deep water fish. There is a certain timeframe where they can die unexpectedly from the depth change.

Salt Creep · Mar 23, 2016

Dan1789 said:
Most wrasse are deep water fish. There is a certain timeframe where they can die unexpectedly from the depth change.

This is what I was thinking due to never having this issue with any other fish. Do you know what the timeframe is so I can ask next time I get one how long they have had it? A week?

eatbreakfast · Mar 23, 2016

Not all wrasses are deep water, lubbocks are actually found in relatively shallow waters., so I don't think theirs was an issue of decompression. Also, if decompression is an issue then it is pretty evident with a swim bladder infection.

Wrasses are quite susceptible to flukes, so treating for flukes using prazipro is a good idea, it also treats internal parasites.

Another issue could be bullying by one of your current tank inhabitants. Using a social acclimation box to introduce new fish often helps.

reef lover · Mar 23, 2016

Are you qt new arrivals?

Salt Creep · Mar 23, 2016

eatbreakfast said:
Another issue could be bullying by one of your current tank inhabitants. Using a social acclimation box to introduce new fish often helps.

I don't use an acclimation box... suppose I could get one. I watch the fish very closely after adding them. One of the Lubbock I could say was because my six-line, but I took the six-line out right after that and tried again later. After adding the flame wrasse I watched it very closely and no fish were bothering it. The McCoskers actually swam next to it all the time seemingly in a protective manner. The other fish I have are all peaceful.

Purple firefish
Orchid Dottyback
2 O. Clowns
blue green chromis (the most aggressive fish I have, but he keeps to himself unless a fish gets close)
McCosker's fairy wrasse

Salt Creep · Mar 23, 2016

reef lover said:
Are you qt new arrivals?

I do not have a QT set up, but I closely inspected for any disease like ich. No white spots or discoloration. The flame was swimming back and forth in the back of the tank for a couple days and then I come home and it's getting eaten by a crab on my sandbed.

Duke4Life · Mar 23, 2016

Salt Creep said:
I do not have a QT set up, but I closely inspected for any disease like ich. No white spots or discoloration. The flame was swimming back and forth in the back of the tank for a couple days and then I come home and it's getting eaten by a crab on my sandbed.

Not all diseases can be seen, some won't appear for weeks. It took 1-2 weeks for flukes 2 show when I had it,and all the fish looked and acted healthy.

Salt Creep · Mar 23, 2016

Duke4Life said:
Not all diseases can be seen, some won't appear for weeks. It took 1-2 weeks for flukes 2 show when I had it,and all the fish looked and acted healthy.

So what is the suggestion? QT for 2-3 weeks and treat with prazipro regardless if I think it is needed or not? I really want to have a few wrasse in my tank, but them dying shortly after I put them in is a little frustrating and discouraging.

Salty1962 · Mar 23, 2016

How deep is your sand bed?

eatbreakfast · Mar 23, 2016

Salt Creep said:
So what is the suggestion? QT for 2-3 weeks and treat with prazipro regardless if I think it is needed or not? I really want to have a few wrasse in my tank, but them dying shortly after I put them in is a little frustrating and discouraging.

Yes, this would be the best course.

Salty1962 said:
How deep is your sand bed?

This shouldn't matter. Fairy and flasher wrasses don't bury in the sand.

Duke4Life · Mar 23, 2016

eatbreakfast said:
Yes, this would be the best course.

+1

Salt Creep · Mar 23, 2016

Ok, thanks. I'll look into setting up a QT. I have an extra 40 breeder in the garage.

My sand bed is around 3-4 inches fwiw

Salty1962 · Mar 23, 2016

eatbreakfast said:
Yes, this would be the best course.

This shouldn't matter. Fairy and flasher wrasses don't bury in the sand.

Still learning

eatbreakfast · Mar 23, 2016

No worries, being the second largest family of fishes behind gobies there is a lot of variety in the group.

FishRForMe · Mar 23, 2016

I'm having the same issue and I do quarantine. Have you tried a fresh water dip? I've had a few that were able to jump out, 1 while I was working in the tank and the other I have no idea how it got out. I just got in 2 yesterday. They are in quarantine, but I am worried they won't make it. The LFS said he rarely sees them last more than a month. Let me know if you figure it out!

losthere · Mar 23, 2016

Are you getting these wrasses from the same lfs?
Anybody have thoughts on how these wrasses are being collected contributing to mortality rate?
Cyanide collected? Net caught?
Transport? Drop shipped?
IME wrasses seem to be very susceptible cyanide poisoning and will slowly wither away. (liver damage?)
I've learned to ask the lfs' about suppliers and only spend the big $ when I know supplier.
Also there is some debate on QT or not. I would be on the not side. I know, I know. But an acclamation box is a must with wrasses.

FishRForMe · Mar 23, 2016

Mine came from Fosters and Smith...

eatbreakfast · Mar 23, 2016

losthere said:
Are you getting these wrasses from the same lfs?
Anybody have thoughts on how these wrasses are being collected contributing to mortality rate?
Cyanide collected? Net caught?
Transport? Drop shipped?
IME wrasses seem to be very susceptible cyanide poisoning and will slowly wither away. (liver damage?)
I've learned to ask the lfs' about suppliers and only spend the big $ when I know supplier.
Also there is some debate on QT or not. I would be on the not side. I know, I know. But an acclamation box is a must with wrasses.

Most fairy and flasher wrasses should do well in captivity. I have had wrasses come in from a variety of suppliers, from a variety of locales, without much issue. The single biggest problem I have had is parasites, flukes and internal parasites, treating prazipro is a must. I have also found that having a drop of methylene blue added to the transport bag when traveling from an LFS works wonders.