New flasher wrasse looking rough

[jadedog]

This was my first time ever ordering a fish online i usally pick up locally. The flasher wrasse looked pretty rough in the bucket when I was acclimating him so I currently have him in a observation tank with sand and rock hes the only fish in there. He has hardly moved for 8hours hes just sitting in the sand. I have a towel half way over the display with the lights off so he feels calm. Is this normal behavior for a fish that is shipped? When he was in the bucket he was having a hard time keeping himself upright so im kinda worried. Ive been trying not to bother him is there anything else I can do? Also there was a ton of waste in the bag he came in so im wondering if he was dealing with high ammonia.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

This was my first time ever ordering a fish online i usally pick up locally. The flasher wrasse looked pretty rough in the bucket when I was acclimating him so I currently have him in a observation tank with sand and rock hes the only fish in there. He has hardly moved for 8hours hes just sitting in the sand. I have a towel half way over the display with the lights off so he feels calm. Is this normal behavior for a fish that is shipped? When he was in the bucket he was having a hard time keeping himself upright so im kinda worried. Ive been trying not to bother him is there anything else I can do? Also there was a ton of waste in the bag he came in so im wondering if he was dealing with high ammonia.

Do you know the salinity of the shipping water versus your tank? Any major rise in salinity, even if acclimated, can cause that issue. Another issue is with shipped fish - the ammonia in the bag becomes elevated, but the pH drops due to carbon dioxide given off by the fish. That makes the ammonia less toxic, but during acclimation, the pH rises faster than the ammonia is diluted, and that makes it more toxic and the fish suffers....

This article discusses that issue:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/acclimation-methods.903/

 

[jadedog]

Do you know the salinity of the shipping water versus your tank? Any major rise in salinity, even if acclimated, can cause that issue. Another issue is with shipped fish - the ammonia in the bag becomes elevated, but the pH drops due to carbon dioxide given off by the fish. That makes the ammonia less toxic, but during acclimation, the pH rises faster than the ammonia is diluted, and that makes it more toxic and the fish suffers....

This article discusses that issue:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/acclimation-methods.903/

Yes it was 1.019 when I opened it I got him up to 1.024. He was having trouble controlling himself as soon as I cut the bag open. Im guessing I just leave him be and see what happens. I think your right about the ammonia his bag had a ton of poop

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes it was 1.019 when I opened it I got him up to 1.024. He was having trouble controlling himself as soon as I cut the bag open. Im guessing I just leave him be and see what happens. I think your right about the ammonia his bag had a ton of poop

How does it look this morning?

That could have been due to the ammonia, the salinity rise, or shock in general.

There is also this issue:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/unknown-neurological-wrasse-disease-unwd.901856/

 

[jadedog]

How does it look this morning?

That could have been due to the ammonia, the salinity rise, or shock in general.

There is also this issue:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/unknown-neurological-wrasse-disease-unwd.901856/

I took the towel off the tank and hour ago. He had slightly repositioned himself but he still is laying on the sand. He makes eye contact when I look at him. I guess im going to attempt to feed him I'll have to give that article a read

 

[jadedog]

He ate some food and now he is swimming around slowly.