Wrasse went pale!

[Fishhands]

I got the wrasse a little over a week ago and is eating fine. Pellets and mysis. Other fish show no aggressiveness or fin nipping. It just went pale. Does this happen and will it go back? I was thinking I might need to add another flasher.

 

[tdileo]

Wow I have never seen a color change that dramatic. Wish I could offer some insight but just tagging along. Other than that he acts normally?

 

[Fishhands]

So normal, for a wrasse. Comes to the glass for attention (or food). Flashes at the yellow coris. Swims with the black clown. I feed plenty, skim a nice medium brown gunk. No shrimp. Shares a cave with a porcelain crab. It does like play dead as it flashes the coris. But always swims away and comes back for more. I suplement with pods and phyto.

 

[evolved]

What was your QT protocol and what are you feeding?

 

[Fishhands]

There was no qt. Gave a nice 3 hr drip aclimation tho. Told lfs to hold it for a week then got it. It eats hikari mysis and omega one marine mini pellets(with garlic). I didn't choose the garlic on purpose just some cheap pellets i've been using for a few yrs.

 

[Flippers4pups]

There was no qt. Gave a nice 3 hr drip aclimation tho. Told lfs to hold it for a week then got it. It eats hikari mysis and omega one marine mini pellets(with garlic). I didn't choose the garlic on purpose just some cheap pellets i've been using for a few yrs.

You say it "plays dead" ? Does it lay on the sand when doing this?

3 hour acclimation is way too long. Did you exchange water during this acclimation?

 

[Fishhands]

Not on the sand. In the water column. The first time i saw it, about a week ago i thought it was dead. Almost upside down floating with the current. Then when i walked up to the tank the fish acted if i ruined its sunbathing and flashed then darted into its cave. Now it only does it(plays dead) to the coris wrasse. Then swims away. I just dump out half the water when it doubles in volume then drip until it doubles again. It looked like a candy cane until i put it in the tank. Stress stripes? Then went bright like the first pic from lfs , hid for the day. Came out next last days very pale. Its been only with me a day or two over a week. Someone told me could be sex change or it lost desire to be colorful without another flasher to flash with.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Does the back half of the body drop down? It could be from a spinal injury, otherwise caused by parasites. Either way that paleness is not normal and is not from being the only wrasse. It is also skinny.

 

[nereefpat]

Does the back half of the body drop down? It could be from a spinal injury, otherwise caused by parasites. Either way that paleness is not normal and is not from being the only wrasse. It is also skinny.

Might be worth dosing prazi, even if it's in the display. Wrasses can come in with worms, flukes, etc.

You agree, TJ?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Might be worth dosing prazi, even if it's in the display. Wrasses can come in with worms, flukes, etc.

You agree, TJ?

Yes, that's definitely a possibility.

 

[evolved]

All considered, I'll place 90% odds on disease I'm afraid to say.

 

[Fishhands]

Well lets hope not. Looks like a slight recovery, the color seems to be coming back. The top half is red-ish orange and the blue stripes are back

 

[Fishhands]

So, wrasse is pale again. I ordered some prazi. Now it likes to lay on sand in front corner after it eats. Still swims around mostly. It also has this red spot on top of its head those white spots are just on the glass

 

[Fishhands]

Here just minutes after its "eating rest" swimming with the others. I dont know what to think or do.

 

[tdileo]

I’d say keep watching it and making sure it’s eating. It’s definitely strange, but if all else is okay I wouldn’t stress too much.

 

[melypr1985]

I'd say there is a parasite involved here for sure. The paleness is most likely a bacterial infection that he's been fighting off - just barely. It's taking over at this point though. I'd say his chances of fighting it off again are low. QT with antibiotics would be ideal, along with the prazipro.

 

[Fishhands]

Would a fresh water dip help or wouldnt help internally

 

[Robink]

I think a fresh water dip would put too much stress on the fish and wouldn't help internal parasites. I'd quarantine and start the antibiotics. He'll have no stress in a qt tank by himself.

 

[Fishhands]

What antibiotic should i use?

 

[melypr1985]

What antibiotic should i use?

Nitrofuricen Green Powder, Furan2, Kanaplex, Metroplex - in that order. You can also combine the last three for a very wide spectrum. It should also be noted that I totally misspelled the first. lol