Royal Gramma Health Concern

[mythical]

When I was feeding my royal gramma this morning, I experienced the strangest thing. Everything has been extremely normal with this fish with its eating and behavior. When I went to feed today, I put some pellets in the water, and the fish immediately darted to the corner of the tanked, and was swimming frantically in the sand bed, darted around in the water, and turned upside down with its mouth open (looked like the fish was paralyzed). All of this happened in about 3 seconds. I netted the fish, but the left the net in the tank to see if it would recover. I did a 50% water change . Over the 10 mins following this event, it slowly started coming back to normal. The fish was slowly getting back to being right side up, mouth is closed, and not breathing heavy anymore.

I left the fish netted in the tank while I went to work, and it is still alive. Appears to be normal, just seems a little lethargic, but I don’t want to take any chances. Any thoughts on what this could have been, as well as any tips to ensure the best recovery for the fish. This fish has been alone in the tank for a couple months now with no new additions.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

When I was feeding my royal gramma this morning, I experienced the strangest thing. Everything has been extremely normal with this fish with its eating and behavior. When I went to feed today, I put some pellets in the water, and the fish immediately darted to the corner of the tanked, and was swimming frantically in the sand bed, darted around in the water, and turned upside down with its mouth open (looked like the fish was paralyzed). All of this happened in about 3 seconds. I netted the fish, but the left the net in the tank to see if it would recover. I did a 50% water change . Over the 10 mins following this event, it slowly started coming back to normal. The fish was slowly getting back to being right side up, mouth is closed, and not breathing heavy anymore.

I left the fish netted in the tank while I went to work, and it is still alive. Appears to be normal, just seems a little lethargic, but I don’t want to take any chances. Any thoughts on what this could have been, as well as any tips to ensure the best recovery for the fish. This fish has been alone in the tank for a couple months now with no new additions.

I've had fish get startled and become catatonic, sometimes they outright die from it. They dart, hit something hard and sort of get "knocked out".

 

[mythical]

I've had fish get startled and become catatonic, sometimes they outright die from it. They dart, hit something hard and sort of get "knocked out".

That’s exactly how I would describe it. The fish looked like it knocked out. What concerns me now is whether or not the fish will be fully right side up after I release it from the net, which I’m planning on doing tomorrow morning

 

[vetteguy53081]

That’s exactly how I would describe it. The fish looked like it knocked out. What concerns me now is whether or not the fish will be fully right side up after I release it from the net, which I’m planning on doing tomorrow morning

Please post a short video under white light intensity

 

[mythical]

Please post a short video under white light intensity

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That’s exactly how I would describe it. The fish looked like it knocked out. What concerns me now is whether or not the fish will be fully right side up after I release it from the net, which I’m planning on doing tomorrow morning

No way to estimate its chances - keep the lights dim and when you release it, move slowly and be sure other fish in the tank don’t go after it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks peppy, and with that, place in Acclimation box both protecting it from others and allowing close observation of fish