Decompression Illness

[Kmst80]

I went to a local Lfs today to acquire a genicanthus bellus. As I am fully aware of the part of the ocean they live in and the possible collection impact of retrieving the fish from deeper waters, I watched the fish for a while. I saw a fish swimming in a jaggered way, not smooth, head was tilted slightly downwards and the fish would surface infrequently. This led me to the assumption of decompression illness.
The fish has been 4 weeks in that tank and looked a bit thin too, lfs said she is eating.

If it is decompression sickness, is it treatable, is the fish doomed, should there be still signs after at least 4 weeks.

I walked away from it today coz it has a hefty price tag of nearly 500 bucks.

Any insight welcome.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Decompression is up to the fish. Thet tend to swim a little head-downwards but a video will help confirm if normal or not. Please use white lighting, No blue with video

 

[Kmst80]

Decompression is up to the fish. Thet tend to swim a little head-downwards but a video will help confirm if normal or not. Please use white lighting, No blue with video

I might visit the Lfs in a couple weeks again and see how she is doing. To far away to drive over to take a video now.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I went to a local Lfs today to acquire a genicanthus bellus. As I am fully aware of the part of the ocean they live in and the possible collection impact of retrieving the fish from deeper waters, I watched the fish for a while. I saw a fish swimming in a jaggered way, not smooth, head was tilted slightly downwards and the fish would surface infrequently. This led me to the assumption of decompression illness.
The fish has been 4 weeks in that tank and looked a bit thin too, lfs said she is eating.

If it is decompression sickness, is it treatable, is the fish doomed, should there be still signs after at least 4 weeks.

I walked away from it today coz it has a hefty price tag of nearly 500 bucks.

Any insight welcome.

I’d pass on that fish - let the store try to bring it back around. A little bobbing is common in this genus of fish due to how they are collected, but that combined with the fish having lost weight, you should pass on it.