Poor little wrasse

CrystalAZ · #1 01/17/2004, 01:03 AM

I ordered a pair of lineatus wrasse from LiveAquaria and got them yesterday. The female is doing well and eating and has found her place in the tank, but the male was lying on his side in the bag breathing heavily.

He is now in a hospital tank. I keep doing water changes with water from the main tank to keep his water fresh. I put in some rock for him to hide behind.

He is now sitting upright and breathing heavily, instead of lying on his side. Maybe a good sign??

I have tried putting tiny amounts of food in, but he has no interest.

I know it is silly to ask you to pray for a fish, but I really like him and want him to live... so any nice thoughts you can send to him are appreciated.

Here's a pic of him (some of his color has actually come back since I got him yesterday):

ReefGeekster · #2 01/17/2004, 01:34 AM

Take care of the little bugger and keep us posted, I will put him in my thoughts. You might want to add a airstone to your hospital tank, the more air the better.
Once he looks better add him to your main tank asap, that way there should be natural food for him, and he will better acclimate there vs. a bare bottom tank, they need to burrow in the sand.
Actually I'd add him now.

Also make sure any tank he goes into is covered, they are jumpers.

CrystalAZ · #3 01/17/2004, 02:12 AM

Well, I have 2 concerns in adding him into the main tank. One is the possibility that he may have a disease. After all, he arrived sick.

The 2nd is that my Scott's wrasse was terrorizing him and he didn't have the energy to even swim away. He just sat there and let the Scott's pick at him. I just scooped him into the net with no resistance.

So, if I do add him back in, I'll have to do it in a container so he is safe... so he still won't have sand.

Do you think that the stress of the other fish chasing him is worse than the stress of no sand? Do you think there is a risk of disease if I put him back in the main tank?

He actually swam a little tonight, but he still hasn't eaten at all. I'm hoping he will look better tomorrow. Maybe if he does, I will try putting him back in the main tank then.

I do want to get him back in the main tank. I did 3 water changes from the main tank to his tank today. I want to keep nice fresh water in there for him.

Thanks for the thoughts - and for the advice. It is very appreciated.

Crystal

PS - Yes, the hospital tank and my main tank have full canopies.

ReefGeekster · #4 01/17/2004, 02:19 AM

Is the Scott's Fairy Wrasse harassing the female? Did you add her to the main system without QT'ing her?

Worse comes to worse is to take the Scotts Fairy wasse out while the pair of new wrasses acclimates to the main tank.

If not I'd add sand to the hospital tank and still do daily water changes.

Wasses are known to be not good shippers, I have a leopard wrasse and she made it through ich and marine velvet that wiped out 90% of my fish, and still thriving.... (knock on wood)

CrystalAZ · #5 01/17/2004, 02:22 AM

The Scott's wrasse chased the female the first few hours she was there. He now pays no attention to her at all. No I didn't qt her (I know that is stupid).

Adding sand to the hospital tank is a good idea. If I don't feel he is well enough to add to the main tank tomorrow, I will do that! Do you think I should just take sand from the main tank, or rinse some SD and put that in?

Thanks again!

Crystal

ReefGeekster · #6 01/17/2004, 02:33 AM

Sand from main tank would be better, though 1/2 and 1/2 would be fine. If the wrasse bury itself and you don't see it for a day or two thats normal.

SD creates a hick of a sandstorm, but your wrasse wouldn't care.

CrystalAZ · #7 01/17/2004, 03:43 AM

Thanks again for the advice. Airstone added. I already had a little Mini-jet in there at the surface, so whatever issues he has, it definitely can't be from lack of oxygen.

Crystal

kirstenk · #8 01/17/2004, 09:44 AM

Hi Crystal,

How is the little guy this morning?

Kirsten

njmar1 · #9 01/17/2004, 12:06 PM

Hope he's doing better, Crystal.

ReefGeekster · #10 01/17/2004, 12:58 PM

did you add sand to his tank yet?

CrystalAZ · #11 01/17/2004, 04:42 PM

Well, bad news. I woke this morning to find him dead.

I feel that he was doomed from the start, but I sure had hope that he could somehow pull through.

Thanks for all the support.

Crystal

kirstenk · #12 01/17/2004, 04:53 PM

So sorry.......

Kirsten

Gerard the fish · #13 01/18/2004, 01:43 AM

Liveaquaria has a ten day money back guarntee on thier livestock.

So dont throw the little guy out just yet.

- g

CrystalAZ · #14 01/18/2004, 02:15 AM

I know. I had to send another fish back to them too.

Thanks...

Crystal

ReefGeekster · #15 01/18/2004, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gerard the fish
Liveaquaria has a ten day money back guarntee on thier livestock.

So dont throw the little guy out just yet.

- g

Unless it's one of their restricted species

ReefGeekster · #16 01/18/2004, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrystalAZ
Well, bad news. I woke this morning to find him dead.

I feel that he was doomed from the start, but I sure had hope that he could somehow pull through.

Thanks for all the support.

Crystal

Sorry for the loss, you did what you could. Wrasses are poor shippers.