Flame Hawkfish Dying!!! Need Help!!!

[paxton.rock]

My flame hawkfish has always swam normal. He like to sit on top of my return nozzle. He was fine yesterday swimming about. But today he sat under a rock all day and never came out. I just pushed him out from under the rock to find out that he can NOT swim upwards. If I lift him up, he just falls right down to the sand. He keeps tipping over on his side and catching himself to stand himself back up. He keeps doing this repeatedly. This happened overnight. What is wrong with him?!?!

Pic below

 

[CoralB]

Is he missing a tail fin ? And is this a relatively new tank setup ? Did it cycle properly ? Have you checked for ammonia?

 

[paxton.rock]

Is he missing a tail fin ? And is this a relatively new tank setup ? Did it cycle properly ? Have you checked for ammonia?

All levels are good! He looks perfectly normal appearance wise. And no. My tank is almost 9 months since my cycle finished.

 

[ReeferTang44]

Could have a swim bladder problem
Is he eating

 

[KrisReef]

How long have you had this fish, and has it been eating? Kind of looks pinched in the middle, like cyanide captured.

Edit: sorry that it’s not well.

 

[paxton.rock]

How long have you had this fish, and has it been eating? Kind of looks pinched in the middle, like cyanide captured.

Edit: sorry that it’s not well.

He has this one white spot near his tail.

 

[ReeferTang44]

What other fish do you have in the tank?

 

[ReeferTang44]

And not sure when and what order the pictures here taken but it looks like he is more red in the one with his tail

 

[paxton.rock]

What other fish do you have in the tank?

Niger trigger (VERY nice fish) even lets me pet him. I’ve never seen him pick in anyone. Pink skunk clown, yellow diamond sand goby, cardinal fish, sea hare, horseshoe crab, turbo snail

 

[paxton.rock]

And not sure when and what order the pictures here taken but it looks like he is more red in the one with his tail

The pic of him looking pale was 10 min before the other pic

 

[KrisReef]

He has this one white spot near his tail.

Let’s get the drs
@vetteguy53081
@Humblefish
@ReefSquad

 

[FOWLROOKIE]

Set up a QT Tank ASAP! What meds u have in hand?

 

[ReeferTang44]

The pic of him looking pale was 10 min before the other pic

I’m hoping he should be ok if he is already that more colored up

 

[paxton.rock]

I’m hoping he should be ok if he is already that more colored up

He’s been looking a little pale for a week now. And he got more red within minutes of adding my air stone. You think he just needs more oxygen than the other guys?

 

[FOWLROOKIE]

He’s been looking a little pale for a week now. And he got more red within minutes of adding my air stone. You think he just needs more oxygen than the other guys?

A methylene blue bath might help but let’s see what the pros say @Humblefish etc….

 

[vetteguy53081]

A methylene blue bath might help but let’s see what the pros say @Humblefish etc….

Humblefish is not on here and I see in one pic an injury but not one that contributes to the behavior described. In the first pic, the fish appears to be quite weak.
A video under white intensity will be more helpful in assessment. methylene blue not the best choice while it can treat wounds and no medication should be given until proper assessment is made.
Is fish eating or attempting to?
Is it breathing normal or labored?
Again . . . . a video will be more helpful to properly assess the condition of the flame

 

[paxton.rock]

Humblefish is not on here and I see in one pic an injury but not one that contributes to the behavior described. In the first pic, the fish appears to be quite weak.
A video under white intensity will be more helpful in assessment. methylene blue not the best choice while it can treat wounds and no medication should be given until proper assessment is made.
Is fish eating or attempting to?
Is it breathing normal or labored?
Again . . . . a video will be more helpful to properly assess the condition of the flame

Seems to be breathing normal, maybe even a little better since I added the air stone in my tank. As you can see in the video, he’s trying to prop himself up and prevent himself from tipping over slowly as seen in the video. Also, he has always eaten normally. He was eating fine yesterday. But he didn’t really come out to eat today. I tried to direct feed him a little while ago, but he showed no interest. Also, not sure if this matters… but regularly, he is ALWAYS moving his eyes back and forth looking around. I have not seen his eyes move a muscle one time today.

 

[paxton.rock]

Seems to be breathing normal, maybe even a little better since I added the air stone in my tank. As you can see in the video, he’s trying to prop himself up and prevent himself from tipping over slowly as seen in the video. Also, he has always eaten normally. He was eating fine yesterday. But he didn’t really come out to eat today. I tried to direct feed him a little while ago, but he showed no interest. Also, not sure if this matters… but regularly, he is ALWAYS moving his eyes back and forth looking around. I have not seen his eyes move a muscle

 

[paxton.rock]

Humblefish is not on here and I see in one pic an injury but not one that contributes to the behavior described. In the first pic, the fish appears to be quite weak.
A video under white intensity will be more helpful in assessment. methylene blue not the best choice while it can treat wounds and no medication should be given until proper assessment is made.
Is fish eating or attempting to?
Is it breathing normal or labored?
Again . . . . a video will be more helpful to properly assess the condition of the flame

Figured out the video

 

[vetteguy53081]

Figured out the video

I counted 55 breaths in the 24 seconds of video suggesting over 100 breaths. The fish seems to be lethargic and is balancing in the current and I hate to say but appears to be becoming moribund in which it likely will not eat or swim normally and continue to weaken. Air stone was a good addition and often many ask about chance of recovery. There has been a Low percentile of fish that recover but you will know in morning if its hanging in there yet.
As for any medication or supplement, there is nothing that can be recommended to boost its energy.
Possible causes are the injury itself, flukes, crashing into object as examples