Melanaurus Wrasse Sickness

[dru]

Hi everyone. My melanaurus wrasse, who I've had for about a year with no issue, has recently been acting off. As you can see from the attached video, his breathing has been rapid and labored with his mouth always ajar, he often lies on the sand for a few minutes at a time (new behavior), and at night time he seems to not be burying himself properly, as ill see him half sticking up out of the sand. I have a checkered wrasse in the tank as well, who he coexists peacefully with, and who is having no isssues. The same applies to the other fish in the system. There is no visible signs of injury or infection. I had this happen before with a large red coris wrasse after about 8 months of keeping that guy a while back, and he passed soon after behaving this way. Does anyone know what might be causing this or if there's anything I can do to help? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks all.

 

[Timfish]

THis is just a guess but is it possible it has a rock or shell lodged in it's mouth?

 

[sfin52]

Hi everyone. My melanaurus wrasse, who I've had for about a year with no issue, has recently been acting off. As you can see from the attached video, his breathing has been rapid and labored with his mouth always ajar, he often lies on the sand for a few minutes at a time (new behavior), and at night time he seems to not be burying himself properly, as ill see him half sticking up out of the sand. I have a checkered wrasse in the tank as well, who he coexists peacefully with, and who is having no isssues. The same applies to the other fish in the system. There is no visible signs of injury or infection. I had this happen before with a large red coris wrasse after about 8 months of keeping that guy a while back, and he passed soon after behaving this way. Does anyone know what might be causing this or if there's anything I can do to help? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks all.

How old is he.

Mine did this after having him for 8yrs.

 

[dru]

THis is just a guess but is it possible it has a rock or shell lodged in it's mouth?

I don't think it's this, as I don't see anything in there and its been a few days. Have you seen this before?

 

[dru]

How old is he.

Mine did this after having him for 8yrs.

I'm not sure how old he is, but he was a decent size when I got him and its been roughly a year. The other wrasse i had this happen to a while back was very large, so maybe this is a sign of old age.

 

[sfin52]

I'm not sure how old he is, but he was a decent size when I got him and its been roughly a year. The other wrasse i had this happen to a while back was very large, so maybe this is a sign of old age.

If you got him as a male no idea how old he is

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi everyone. My melanaurus wrasse, who I've had for about a year with no issue, has recently been acting off. As you can see from the attached video, his breathing has been rapid and labored with his mouth always ajar, he often lies on the sand for a few minutes at a time (new behavior), and at night time he seems to not be burying himself properly, as ill see him half sticking up out of the sand. I have a checkered wrasse in the tank as well, who he coexists peacefully with, and who is having no isssues. The same applies to the other fish in the system. There is no visible signs of injury or infection. I had this happen before with a large red coris wrasse after about 8 months of keeping that guy a while back, and he passed soon after behaving this way. Does anyone know what might be causing this or if there's anything I can do to help? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks all.

Any change in type of water used?
Rapid breathing is often a gill disease or water but with other fish acting normal, any unusual behavior such as scratching, sudden darting, yawning, gasping at surface or sudden unusual porpoise like swimming?

 

[Timfish]

I don't think it's this, as I don't see anything in there and its been a few days. Have you seen this before?

I've only known it to happen for certain twice in 4 decades so obviosly a rare occurance. Once was a clown and once was a freshwater Oscar. The fish did act similarly but it is just a guess this might be the problem with your fish.