Potters Wrasse Laying On Side, Breathing Fast

[RMS18]

Hey, I just got home from work to find my female Potter's wrasse that's been with me for a tad over 3 years laying on her side breathing fast. She was fine yesterday eating and swimming like normal.

Not sure what to do I know we don't always know the age of these fish. All the fish in my tank were quarantined and there's no diseases. I don't see any discoloration or injury just a beautiful fish laying on its side breathing fast.

Any suggestions?

 

[Tamberav]

Methylene blue bath is probably the only thing I would attempt to try and aid it's breathing. It doesn't look good. Perhaps you could check its underside if you remove it for a bath for any obstruction or swelling.

 

[RMS18]

Methylene blue bath is probably the only thing I would attempt to try and aid it's breathing. It doesn't look good. Perhaps you could check its underside if you remove it for a bath for any obstruction or swelling.

Here's a few more pictures, I don't see any swelling, she looks imo just as she always does.

 

[RMS18]

She flipped over. Pictures of her other side.

 

[RMS18]

This may sound weird, but where the fish poops from it keeps opening and closing like she's maybe trying to push something out?

@Jay Hemdal

 

[RMS18]

Unfortunately she passed. I don't see any issues, she was so colorful even dead and out of the water. Curious to know if anyone sees any signs of a infection or issue with her.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Unfortunately she passed. I don't see any issues, she was so colorful even dead and out of the water. Curious to know if anyone sees any signs of a infection or issue with her.

Sorry to see that. That happened so suddenly, I missed you first post. Not much to see post-mortem - usually a skin and gill scrape is required to identify any active disease issues. The fish's mouth isn't gaping, so that rules out most gill diseases.

My first thought is to damage control - are all other fish in the tank asymptomatic? You need to watch them VERY closely for any issues.

My second thought is - Wow! - you did great with a having a Potter's wrasse for three years! I stopped acquiring them decades ago (40+ years) because they would always just die on me....

Jay

 

[RMS18]

Sorry to see that. That happened so suddenly, I missed you first post. Not much to see post-mortem - usually a skin and gill scrape is required to identify any active disease issues. The fish's mouth isn't gaping, so that rules out most gill diseases.

My first thought is to damage control - are all other fish in the tank asymptomatic? You need to watch them VERY closely for any issues.

My second thought is - Wow! - you did great with a having a Potter's wrasse for three years! I stopped acquiring them decades ago (40+ years) because they would always just die on me....

Jay

Thank you Jay. Yes the sudden quick death worries me for sure. I have not lost a fish from this tank in over a year. Last fish I lost was a 4 year old male blue star leopard. All other fish look fine, outside being a bit skidish today. Maybe it was related to a fish dying in the system, then them seeing me remove the fish. I'll keep an eye out on the rest of them. Any particular signs to keep an eye out for?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thank you Jay. Yes the sudden quick death worries me for sure. I have not lost a fish from this tank in over a year. Last fish I lost was a 4 year old male blue star leopard. All other fish look fine, outside being a bit skidish today. Maybe it was related to a fish dying in the system, then them seeing me remove the fish. I'll keep an eye out on the rest of them. Any particular signs to keep an eye out for?

Things to watch for:

Change in behavior
Not feeding well
Rapid breathing
Any external lesions

Jay

 

[czoolander]

@Jay Hemdal @RMS18

Is 3 years a full life for this particular fish>? I have been researching wrasses to add to my tank and Potters wrasse is one of my top 5 right now but I might be crossing this off my list if they are short lived and hard to keep.

They are beautiful fish and I am sorry for your loss RMS18