Lemonpeel Angel getting "stuck"?

[JayM]

Twice in the past 2 days I've gone to routinely feed the fish mid-day, and both times noticed my Lemonpeel not coming out to eat, and both times found her seemingly stuck underneath the same rock. Lying sideways on the sand. Yesterday I was able to coax her out by using a baster to squirt some water at her. She was in the same spot today, but appeared actually stuck. I had to lift the rock just a hair, as the baster trick didn't work. Both times she went about her business as usual swimming about and pecking at the rockwork, and both times ate normally in the evening. No physical or behavioral symptoms (other than getting "stuck") that would lead me to believe there's any sort of illness.

I'm not 100% convinced that she's actually unable to move as all of my rockwork was solidly placed before adding substrate, so I can't imagine anything would settle on her, and I know my Hippo Tang sleeps on her side in the sand, so it's not a stretch to think the Lemonpeel does the same, though I've never seen either of my Dwarf Angels do that before in the roughly 8 months that I've had them.

Parameters I test for are all ok. Salinity at 35, Ca 420, PO4 .07, NO3 28, Alk 9.2, temp 78°F, Ph 8.1 and the most recent additions were a few urchins about a month after the Dwarf Angels, and I have not witnessed any aggression from any of the tankmates.

Could this be some sort of lateral line issue with no visible physical symptoms? Or am I just overthinking the situation?
Or something else altogether?

 

[MnFish1]

My strong guess - and I have a huge vendetta against these fish (long story) - If a fish goes into a rock - leave it - it's where they want to be. If, of course, a fish is stuck they show distress - and of course move the rock (carefully). That said - I would close off that area (I.e. move the rock so there is no access) - and I wonder if there is a sponge or something else there that the lemon peel wants. Because - lemon peels eat what they want... whether it's coral or etc.

 

[JayM]

My strong guess - and I have a huge vendetta against these fish (long story) - If a fish goes into a rock - leave it - it's where they want to be. If, of course, a fish is stuck they show distress - and of course move the rock (carefully). That said - I would close off that area (I.e. move the rock so there is no access) - and I wonder if there is a sponge or something else there that the lemon peel wants. Because - lemon peels eat what they want... whether it's coral or etc.

There very well may be sponges there. I've noticed some in the same general vicinity. I really couldn't tell if there was any distress. It was just shy of a miracle that I was able to spot where it was in the first place.

I really do feel the need to hear the vendetta story. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:
Though I am aware that they can flip at any given moment, both of my Angels truly are angels and don't eat anything I don't want them to. I'm guessing yours weren't and did.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Twice in the past 2 days I've gone to routinely feed the fish mid-day, and both times noticed my Lemonpeel not coming out to eat, and both times found her seemingly stuck underneath the same rock. Lying sideways on the sand. Yesterday I was able to coax her out by using a baster to squirt some water at her. She was in the same spot today, but appeared actually stuck. I had to lift the rock just a hair, as the baster trick didn't work. Both times she went about her business as usual swimming about and pecking at the rockwork, and both times ate normally in the evening. No physical or behavioral symptoms (other than getting "stuck") that would lead me to believe there's any sort of illness.

I'm not 100% convinced that she's actually unable to move as all of my rockwork was solidly placed before adding substrate, so I can't imagine anything would settle on her, and I know my Hippo Tang sleeps on her side in the sand, so it's not a stretch to think the Lemonpeel does the same, though I've never seen either of my Dwarf Angels do that before in the roughly 8 months that I've had them.

Parameters I test for are all ok. Salinity at 35, Ca 420, PO4 .07, NO3 28, Alk 9.2, temp 78°F, Ph 8.1 and the most recent additions were a few urchins about a month after the Dwarf Angels, and I have not witnessed any aggression from any of the tankmates.

Could this be some sort of lateral line issue with no visible physical symptoms? Or am I just overthinking the situation?
Or something else altogether?

Please post a video of at least 20 seconds under bright white lights
Is fish breathing normal or labored?

 

[MnFish1]

There very well may be sponges there. I've noticed some in the same general vicinity. I really couldn't tell if there was any distress. It was just shy of a miracle that I was able to spot where it was in the first place.

I really do feel the need to hear the vendetta story. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:
Though I am aware that they can flip at any given moment, both of my Angels truly are angels and don't eat anything I don't want them to. I'm guessing yours weren't and did.

Not 'Angels' Lemonpeel Angel - ate about 500$ worth of coral in 3 days - all the while I was thinking I had some disease - instead it was nip, nip, nip, nip.

 

[JayM]

Please post a video of at least 20 seconds under bright white lights
Is fish breathing normal or labored?

Fish is 100% normal when not under the rock, and impossible to film anything useful when it is.
No labored breathing, flashing, spots, lesions, swimming into flow, etc.

I’m beginning to think I’m just being overly cautious about the whole situation, but I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on everything for the next week or so.

 

[JayM]

Not 'Angels' Lemonpeel Angel - ate about 500$ worth of coral in 3 days - all the while I was thinking I had some disease - instead it was nip, nip, nip, nip.

Ouch! That’s definitely vendetta worthy.

 

[MnFish1]

Ouch! That’s definitely vendetta worthy.

I think you may be over cautious - however fish do hide like this when they are sick as well

 

[JayM]

I think you may be over cautious - however fish do hide like this when they are sick as well

That’s my concern, but with no physical or behavioral symptoms (other than the hiding), I don’t have any way to be sure.

I’m just concerned because there was some mystery “stuff” on her during QT back in April. It all resolved quickly with nothing eventful.

Video for the “mystery stuff” is around post #18.
Link

Just finished this evenings feeding and she ate as voraciously as ever.

 

[littlefoxx]

My zebra eel gets stuck sometimes. Yeah I know, eel being stuck is weird but she did the same thing and would show stress until I went and got her out

 

[vetteguy53081]

Fish is 100% normal when not under the rock, and impossible to film anything useful when it is.
No labored breathing, flashing, spots, lesions, swimming into flow, etc.

I’m beginning to think I’m just being overly cautious about the whole situation, but I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on everything for the next week or so.

Sounds like skittish or intimidation occurring in the tank as they can be shy

 

[JayM]

Quick update:
It seems I was seriously overthinking the situation. Lemonpeel hasn't got herself "stuck" since the second time, and behaving completely normal.