Wrasse Swimming Upside Down

sawdonkey · Feb 15, 2016

Humblefish said:
I think it's very likely to be a swim bladder issue. Cosmetus wrasses are found anywhere from 6-100 feet according to what I'm reading online, so it's possible yours was collected in deep water and not properly decompressed.

However, before you go try something as invasive as needling why not feed him a peeled boiled pea since he is still eating? Nothing to lose by trying that first.

Alright, Do you think edamame would work? Don't have any peas around right now.

Thanks for the help by the way.

eatbreakfast · Feb 16, 2016

I would agree that it is a swim bladder issue. I can't speak to the efficacy of boiled peas, but I have heard of it as a treatment. I have pinned fish, and that is effective.

sawdonkey · Feb 16, 2016

eatbreakfast said:
I would agree that it is a swim bladder issue. I can't speak to the efficacy of boiled peas, but I have heard of it as a treatment. I have pinned fish, and that is effective.

So, by pin, do you just mean sticking him with a pin, or do you suggest sticking him with a syringe and actually sucking air out? Just not sure how to get my hands on a syringe.

Also, could someone familiar with fish take one of the pics I posted and put a dot on it where I should stick this fish. I worried about hitting organs other than the swim bladder.

sawdonkey · Feb 16, 2016

Ok, the surgery is happening tonight. My local CVS donated an insulin syringe towards the cause (not without looking at me like I'm crazy).

Any last words of advice?

melypr1985 · Feb 16, 2016

sawdonkey said:
Ok, the surgery is happening tonight. My local CVS donated an insulin syringe towards the cause (not without looking at me like I'm crazy).

Any last words of advice?

Make sure you watch the video in the stickie about this procedure. Its an excellent walk through.

Humblefish · Feb 16, 2016

sawdonkey said:
Ok, the surgery is happening tonight. My local CVS donated an insulin syringe towards the cause (not without looking at me like I'm crazy).

Any last words of advice?

I would read this and watch the video: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/venting-a-swim-bladder-black-cap-basslet.219954/

Also, PM @Bmwm235i to ask for any words of advice as he has the most recent experience doing this.

RMS18 · Feb 16, 2016

Watch my video and go over my step by step process. Run the process through your head a few times before you do it. Remember to make sure you do not pull out to much air, be sure you know what your fish is suppose to look like with a healthy swim bladder. Wrasses stress very easily, he will look like he is dead. Leave him be alone in a qt, and be sure to have some meds on hand for bacterial infections.

I have done this 3 times now, once for me and twice for a lfs.

RMS18 · Feb 16, 2016

Be sure to have the right set up before doing this, you don't want to have to do it again because you rushed it.

sawdonkey · Feb 16, 2016

Thanks for all of the advice guys. I've done my research, read the thread, and watched the video. However, surgery is now postponed. I just got home from work/gym/errands, and he is swimming much more upright and was much more able to control his swimming. He ate a bunch of mysis too. Hopefully this will right itself with time, so I'm not going to jab him yet.

omykiss001 · Feb 17, 2016

sawdonkey said:
Thanks for all of the advice guys. I've done my research, read the thread, and watched the video. However, surgery is now postponed. I just got home from work/gym/errands, and he is swimming much more upright and was much more able to control his swimming. He ate a bunch of mysis too. Hopefully this will right itself with time, so I'm not going to jab him yet.

That's super good news! I agree if he is eating and swimming better I would wait and watch as long as there is continued improvement I would hold off. Good thing is you are now prepared if the need arises!

sawdonkey · Feb 25, 2016

Well, he croaked a few days ago. He actually started to swim better and never stopped eating. Once his swim blather became normal sized, he was super skinny. Found him dead one morning.

melypr1985 · Feb 25, 2016

I'm sorry for your loss. I wonder if he had intestinal worms sucking the nutrition out of him and we just didn't notice because of the swim bladder issue.

Humblefish · Feb 25, 2016

That sucks

sawdonkey · Feb 25, 2016

melypr1985 said:
I'm sorry for your loss. I wonder if he had intestinal worms sucking the nutrition out of him and we just didn't notice because of the swim bladder issue.

Yeah, my expectations were pretty low from the start. The swim bladder didn't go crazy until I ran Prazipro. Maybe he had some type of worms that it upset and somehow infected the swim bladder? No idea. Oh well. The six line I had in QT with him is doing fine so I've at least one new fish.

Thank you for the advice everyone.

melypr1985 · Feb 25, 2016

sawdonkey said:
Yeah, my expectations were pretty low from the start. The swim bladder didn't go crazy until I ran Prazipro. Maybe he had some type of worms that it upset and somehow infected the swim bladder? No idea. Oh well. The six line I had in QT with him is doing fine so I've at least one new fish.

Thank you for the advice everyone.

Sorry about that sweetie. Sometimes you do everything you can and it still doesn't work out

Plyr58 · Feb 29, 2016

sawdonkey said:
Yeah, my expectations were pretty low from the start. The swim bladder didn't go crazy until I ran Prazipro. Maybe he had some type of worms that it upset and somehow infected the swim bladder? No idea. Oh well. The six line I had in QT with him is doing fine so I've at least one new fish.

Thank you for the advice everyone.

Out of curiosity, did you treat with copper or just Prazi?