Midas blenny slapping ground/itching tail *video attached

[PhamousPhish]

I've had this blenny for about 4 months (second fish to go in after clowns) he has been slapping the ground and scratching his tail as shown in video. More slapping ground than scratching tail. He also has been nibbling occasionally on the clowns. What could be happening if anything?
Everything in tank seems normal EXCEPT the following-
I had a helfrichi firefish for about 3 months and everything seemed ok until one day he looked very pale and almost "dry" looking. He just laid on the sand and seemed very weak; i could tell something was wrong. Later the fish started to chase and pick on him. He seemed weak and a few hours later I found him dead in my mp10 wavemaker. Must have been too weak to swim away from it.
Next day put in a beautiful new helfrichi which seemed super healthy and then 48 hrs later couldn't find him. Moved rock work after a week of no sighting even during feedings and presumed him dead so now I'm on my third helfrichi and as of now day 2 he seems happy...what do you guys think? All water parameters seem normal according to LFS and fish and coral seem ok too...

 

[PhamousPhish]

Current livestock-
2 clowns
Midas blenny
Royal gramma
Helfrichi firefish
Yellow watchman/pistol shrimp
Melanurus wrasse
+ cuc

 

[christinna77]

To me it looks like flukes, especially the twitching. That wouldn't be happening, imo, if it was just being territorial. Please reupload the video to YouTube, as some members have trouble viewing them.

#fishmedic to confirm.

 

[BobTheBlenney]

From what I've read on this site and others, this is fairly common behavior for a Midas. I've seen a Midas do this in the LFS as well. I don't know if anyone has a good idea why they do it, however.

As for the firefish, I wouldn't be surprised if the clowns, or the Midas, or even the wrasse were attacking them while you aren't looking. For all their cuteness, clowns can be really mean.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Current livestock-
2 clowns
Midas blenny
Royal gramma
Helfrichi firefish
Yellow watchman/pistol shrimp
Melanurus wrasse
+ cuc

Any scratching in the royal gramma? They are very prone to flukes.

I can’t speak to the tail biting, but the sand diving is a strong indication of gill flukes.

Praziquantel is a reef safe treatment:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dosing-praziquantel-pzq.1105700/

 

[PhamousPhish]

Any scratching in the royal gramma? They are very prone to flukes.

I can’t speak to the tail biting, but the sand diving is a strong indication of gill flukes.

Praziquantel is a reef safe treatment:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dosing-praziquantel-pzq.1105700/

Yes my royal gramma occasionally slaps the sandbed as well...as well as on the rocks occasionally....what do I do if its flukes and how do I for sure know? My first helfrichi started to do this slapping also before it died. Can't say if it were right after another but he did start to do it occasionally

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes my royal gramma occasionally slaps the sandbed as well...as well as on the rocks occasionally....what do I do if its flukes and how do I for sure know? My first helfrichi started to do this slapping also before it died. Can't say if it were right after another but he did start to do it occasionally

You can treat the tank with praziquantel as I outline in the post I linked for you above......

 

[PhamousPhish]

You can treat the tank with praziquantel as I outline in the post I linked for you above......

If its not flukes will it harm anything by dosing this? Any precautions you have?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

If its not flukes will it harm anything by dosing this? Any precautions you have?

Little harm in trying it, other than the cost.

 

[PhamousPhish]

Im not a pro at all but...i feel the royal gramma is scratching its gills when he dives into rock or sand...

 

[W31Olds]

I have a gramma and I have never seen mine dive into sand and scratch against rocks in the year and a half I've had him. He loves to hide in rocks because that's what they do. And after looking at that wrasse, I agree with Jay that you probably got Flukes.

 

[PhamousPhish]

Here's the gramma who is also scratching what seems his gills
So what do I do? Telling me to dose that...do I just drop it in tank and thats it?

 

[W31Olds]

Hard to tell if this is flukes but very likely. Can you adjust your Tanks lights to white and shoot another video of your Gramma?

 

[PhamousPhish]

Hard to tell if this is flukes but very likely. Can you adjust your Tanks lights to white and shoot another video of your Gramma?

Gramma is chilling now but ya i feel like it is too. They keep slapping there bodies on sand and blenny seems stressed. Not to mention the helfrichi dying 2 weeks ago. Very confused on what to do...

 

[The Wannabe Reefer]

Here's the gramma who is also scratching what seems his gills
So what do I do? Telling me to dose that...do I just drop it in tank and thats it?

.06-.08 of the video, the gramma looks like it has ick.

 

[W31Olds]

The scratching and flashing are more of a sign of Flukes. Also still eating if they are. Ragged fins are also a sign of Flukes. I would stop by your LFS and get Prazipro.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Here's the gramma who is also scratching what seems his gills
So what do I do? Telling me to dose that...do I just drop it in tank and thats it?

Yes, that's a classic sign of flukes.

The most commonly used product that has Praziquantel in it is Prazipro. This post explains the proper use for this, as well as other products: I prefer Prazicleanse, but it may not be available in all areas.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dosing-praziquantel-pzq.1105700/

 

[higher99]

Looks like they’re flashing.