Fire fish looks sick
- Thread starter NowGlazeIT
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nautical_nathaniel
Indecision may or may not be my problem.
It doesn't look too bad but laying on its side can be a sign for a couple of things such as fatigue, damaged swim bladder, stress, etc. Is it eating any?
OP
OP
She eats but doesn’t travel for food. I thought this whole time it was stress or being low on the hierarchy of the tank but it’s getting more suspicious as all the other fire fish adjust to there place but this one
OP
OP
Tank mates in QT are
3fire fish
1purple fire fish
1 clown
1 harptail blenny
1 Wrasse
The Wrasse is the leader but doesn’t nip or pic on others he’s all body language swimming actively everywhere the clown minds his own and the blenny is like a Labrador puppy so I don’t think it’s a hierarchy as much as maybe swim bladder
3fire fish
1purple fire fish
1 clown
1 harptail blenny
1 Wrasse
The Wrasse is the leader but doesn’t nip or pic on others he’s all body language swimming actively everywhere the clown minds his own and the blenny is like a Labrador puppy so I don’t think it’s a hierarchy as much as maybe swim bladder
nautical_nathaniel
Indecision may or may not be my problem.
Well eating is a good sign but not moving much may be problematic for the fish long term. For the time being I would expect to keep it in QT long term and let it hopefully build it's strength back.
I've only ever had a fish with swim bladder issues once and it didn't end well for it. I've heard some can "grow" out of it with good nutrition and low-stress environments. From what I've read with reef fish concerning this sort of condition, you want to maintain really good water quality, feed a variety of vitamin enriched foods, maintain a low-stress environment, and possibly treat with antibiotics (if you can get some).
Since your fish is already eating, I would try something like LRS Reeffrenzy or Rod's Food Original, or even some mysis and cyclops coated in selcon or something similar. You want to get the fish's immune system firing on all cylinders so it doesn't succumb to something else due to low mobility.
OP
OP
Okay I have selcon coming in today. I have some pe mysis, Hikari brine and vo2cyclops. Its hard feeding frozen foods because they all eat dry food and it’s easier to keep my water clean in QT I was feeding one frozen meal a day with 2-3 dry meals a day but if I don’t mass feed the purple firefish won’t eat. Ideally I need an other tank to monitor better and reduce stress but I’m doing the best with the room and budget I have. I just don’t want this fish to be in any pain. Stress is high but subsiding everyday. they all lived together for 2 months in my DT prior so I know there’s not any severe tank aggression between the few. I even noticed that my 3rd fire fish is now welcomed to swim along the paired fire fish. That was a relief and my only concern at the start of all this.
When I was taking my rock out of my tank to catch everyone the purple firefish was flapping in the rock STUCK! This didn’t last long as I placed the rock back in the water immediately after hearing the trapped fish. But this is why I fear she may be injured! I see no blemishes or signs of bruising. Thanks for chiming in tho. I am going to go ahead and insure a healthy rich diet till I see any changes
When I was taking my rock out of my tank to catch everyone the purple firefish was flapping in the rock STUCK! This didn’t last long as I placed the rock back in the water immediately after hearing the trapped fish. But this is why I fear she may be injured! I see no blemishes or signs of bruising. Thanks for chiming in tho. I am going to go ahead and insure a healthy rich diet till I see any changes
OP
OP
I hear you and that was always my first guess but the fire fish in QT are acting very different from the way they were with established territories. At night the 4 fish sleep on top of each other? Before there was a paired set and one by himself and the other a different species (purple) that also kept too herself. When I put them in QT the paired set picked on the other two and the purple fire fish would protect the 3rd fire fish. Now the 3 fire fish of the same species are swimming together and I can’t tell which are the pair anymore haha
I'm noticing that the PVC you've got in there - at least near that corner - are all pretty large. Purple firefish looks a bit nervous to me, and might want something a little smaller to hide in, where she can feel the sides around her. (In reptile keeping, they call that "touch-security".) Otherwise, the fish looks healthy from what I can see.
~Bruce
~Bruce
OP
OP
Thanks Bruce.
Yesterday I moved the pvc away from the back wall where the purple fire fish would stay hidden even during feedings so I moved them out of the way to observe the fire fish I recently put one pvc back up against the wall and the fire fish all took to it. Not inside the Pvc but instead wedged between the pvc and backwall. Kinda like touch security as you mentioned
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
"When I was taking my rock out of my tank to catch everyone the purple firefish was flapping in the rock STUCK! This didn’t last long as I placed the rock back in the water immediately after hearing the trapped fish. But this is why I fear she may be injured!"
This could be a real possibility. Damaged it's spine. Hopefully this isnt the case. If it eats, there is hope.
@Maritimer is correct in reducing stress. Use indirect lighting as well to reduce stress.
Hope it recovers.
This could be a real possibility. Damaged it's spine. Hopefully this isnt the case. If it eats, there is hope.
@Maritimer is correct in reducing stress. Use indirect lighting as well to reduce stress.
Hope it recovers.
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
To add to this, I don’t think this is a swim bladder issue. I think you have a very scared or ill firefish. It could just be on its way out due to poor collection, or have an internal injury. A low stress environment, good nutrition, and clean water are all you can for this fish, IMO
OP
OP
Okay I did switch the lighting to just 3 small leds I really hope this fish is not hurt. If stress doesn’t subside after adding more hidding areas I will just have to find away to QT this fish separate
OP
OP
I added some smaller pvc elbows and tho I don’t see the fire fish as much I do make sure she eats twice a day. Selcon came in yesterday and Everyone is eating regularly
OP
OP
UPDATE-Everyone is eating 2-3 times a day still. the purple FF won’t join the party but is not too scared to eat so until they go back to DT I’m happy with it. Just happy there wasn’t any severe wounds or trauma
I agree.
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
So it doing better? Great news!
OP
OP
Full recovery I think stress was the culprit
All these fish are going through they’re second round of prazi and I’ll be ready to put them back in the DT soon
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