Midas blenny jumped; got him back in

[AngryMike2016]

Tank is a 90 gallon red sea. I keep a cover on it. While lifting the cover all of 2 inches or so to feed today, my Midas blenny managed to jump out. He slipped under the stand. I can't say for sure, but I think it took about 2 minutes for me to be able to find him and pull him out.

Once I got him out from under the stand, I immediately put him back in the tank. He want on to a (covered) power head. Couldn't tell if he was alive or dead, so I gave him a poke. He swam around very quickly, and has settled on the sand at the front of the tank. He is breathing, rather heavily, and his stress colors are showing.

I am just sitting here watching him right now. The other fish are leaving him alone. Is there anything I can/should do to help him recover? Or just hope for the best that he gets better?

 

[AngryMike2016]

Okay, he's moved a round a little bit. Still observing.

 

[Scurvy]

If you find them quick enough they'll usually be just fine after the shock/trauma wears off.

I found my Flame Hawk on the hardwood one day fairly dry but not yet crispy and put him back in. He was swimming again in about 10/15 min.

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Okay, he's moved a round a little bit. Still observing.

Good to hear. Hopefully he will recover!

 

[KrisReef]

Grab a beer and hope for the best. Enjoy the beer and life will be better and hopefully the fish will also perk up too.

 

[AngryMike2016]

Don't drink; but a doobie doesn't sound like a bad idea...

It was just freaky how quickly everything happened. Within a second or two of squirting food under the lid he came flying out. He gets very crazy at dinner time, so I think he jumped out of excitement.

Definitely going to use some towels or something else to fill the gap between the floor and the bottom of the stand. I could have gotten him back instantly if he hadn't slid under there.

 

[AngryMike2016]

Just checked back in on him; he has found a hiding spot next to a rock on the bottom. So he's moving around and he continues to breathe. I *think* that he will be okay.

 

[KrisReef]

“Crazy-fish” needs to be commanded to “sit” before you open the lid maybe?
Glad he is still with you.

 

[AngryMike2016]

Thank you, I am very glad too! I just checked back in one more time for the night, and his adorable little face is poking out of his usual rock cave. BIG sigh of relief!

 

[Mjl714]

I had a wrasse do the same, and I’m not sure how long he was on the floor. Like you when I found it, I immediately tossed it back in tank. At first it floated around tank, did not look good. Then it hid in the sand for a couple days, and ultimately came around. After a week or so, it was back to normal. Good luck to your King.

 

[AngryMike2016]

Thank you. Before I went to bed last night, I looked at the tank and I saw his adorable little face poking out from his usual rock hole. Haven't seen him at all this morning, but thankfully there isn't the tell-tale snail/crab mob you get with a dead fish, so I'm optimistic that he's gone into hiding.

I'll update this thread when I know for sure either way.

 

[AngryMike2016]

Things are not looking good, not at all. I found him laying on his side at the bottom, breathing very heavily. I put him into an acclimation box to protect him from the CUC, but I really don't think that he is going to make it. I am heart broken.

 

[burningstarIV]

Oh no! So sorry he's not looking well. Hopefully he just has PTSD and will recover from his episode. All joking aside hopefully he recovers.

 

[AngryMike2016]

He's gone.

 

[burningstarIV]

Very sorry for your loss. I feel your pain losing a clownfish as a jumper in the past. It stinks because you were right there and it feels so preventable, but it was an unexpected thing and there's nothing you could've done.

 

[AngryMike2016]

Thank you for the kind words.

 

[Mjl714]

Bummer, i thought for sure he’d be fine, based on the short time you believe it was out of the tank.

 

[AngryMike2016]

Yeah, I saw him jump, and it took a minute or two to retrieve him from under the stand. I have to imagine that he damaged something internally when he landed.