Blue Jaw Trigger acting sick

BMMMW · Dec 13, 2016

So I came home and noticed that my sump socks were overflowing. I had just bought new ones and forgot to rinse them and switched them out before rinsing them. As soon as I put them in my skimmer went crazy and has been doing so for 4 days. No idea why. My question is, my trigger is acting very weird since and hiding under a rock for 5 days straight now, is she ok? Is it possible she is pregnant since there is a male in the tank with her? She has not eaten since.

I did add new carbon and did a 30 gallon change on a 150 gallon system.

Thanks

melypr1985 · Dec 13, 2016

how long have you had her? What was the last wet thing you added to the tank?

BMMMW · Dec 13, 2016

I have had her about 14 months. All I feed is frozen foods.

melypr1985 · Dec 13, 2016

So what was the last wet thing you added to the tank and when? Fish, invert, coral ect.??

BMMMW · Dec 13, 2016

I added a blue face angel. My purple tang killed it over night. That was 10 days ago and I did a 30 gallon water change after that as well. No visible signs of anything on her exterior. She does look a bit bloated. All other fish are fine. Sorry, misunderstood question.

melypr1985 · Dec 13, 2016

BMMMW said:
I added a blue face angel. My purple tang killed it over night. That was 10 days ago and I did a 30 gallon water change after that as well. No visible signs of anything on her exterior. She does look a bit bloated. All other fish are fine. Sorry, misunderstood question.

Are you sure the purple tang killed the angel? Were any of these fish qt'd?

BMMMW · Dec 13, 2016

I am not sure who killed the angel. The only one nipping at him was the purple tang. Then around 5 am I saw my harry knuckle crab eating him.

BMMMW · Dec 13, 2016

No fish were quarantined.

melypr1985 · Dec 13, 2016

BMMMW said:
No visible signs of anything on her exterior. She does look a bit bloated

OK. So is she breathing heavy? has she been eating for you at all? Sorry for all the questions... just trying to narrow down the possibilities. I'm going to call in @eatbreakfast @evolved about the possible pregnancy of the trigger. I'm not sure if they spawn in captivity at all or how that works.

BMMMW · Dec 13, 2016

No heavy breathing and not eating at all. She does switch from laying on her side to upright, but very controlled, not floating as if dying. She also can and will move if forces.

Humblefish · Dec 13, 2016

FWIW; I believe triggers are egg layers. Most build nests, some scatter their eggs; so if the former is true I would expect them to be aggressively defending one spot in the tank.

BMMMW · Dec 13, 2016

The only behavior I saw was the male chasing the female a bit.

BMMMW · Dec 15, 2016

Update. My female has not touched any food in 6 days or so. She does not seem thin or tired. She is still staying in the cave where she is most comfortable. She swims out for 3 to 5 seconds and goes back in. Her swimming is controlled and there are no signs of anything besides she is not swimming normally out and about as she used to.

melypr1985 · Dec 15, 2016

Let's try this again. @eatbreakfast we could use some insight into the behaviors of triggers if you could please

BMMMW · Dec 15, 2016

Thanks melypr1985! I will just keep providing updates as I see changes.

melypr1985 · Dec 15, 2016

BMMMW said:
Thanks melypr1985! I will just keep providing updates as I see changes.

Remember to watch for any symptoms that I can help with. Dusty or dirty appearance, heavy breathing, swimming into the flow of a powerhead ect.

BMMMW · Dec 15, 2016

Ok, I will, thanks!

BMMMW · Dec 18, 2016

Current update. She switched sides of the tank yesterday. Male didnt like that at all. She is back to her original cave and now eating again after a week. Any new ideas?