Tomini Tang Strange Behavior in QT?

[atp0726]

I have had a Tomini Tang in QT for almost 2 weeks. Added him to a cycled QT with HOB filter. Fish has been eating well and appears very healthy. From the beginning noticed he had a dorsal fin twitch so kicked off a Prazi tx last Friday. On Sunday noticed he seemed to be breathing heavy but eating and acting normal otherwise, so I did a 20% WC, added carbon and a strong powerhead for more surface agitation than just the HOB filter. Yesterday fish seemed to be doing well and seemed to enjoy the increased current from the powerhead. Yesterday evening decided to clean the glass with a magnet and the tang freaked out more than expected. Wrote it off as no big deal. Just checked on him today and noticed the water was pretty cloudy and the tang was acting really distressed or uncomfortable, darting around the tank in almost a jerky manner, then hovering in the top corner.

Not sure what is going on or what I should do? Started heating up a bucket of water to do a large water change but after that at a loss.

 

[Highgrade]

How large is the QT tank?

 

[atp0726]

How large is the QT tank?

20 gallon long. The Tomini is fairly small maybe 2-2-1/2".

 

[Highgrade]

20 gallon long. The Tomini is fairly small maybe 2-2-1/2".

Cloudy water most likely is due to a bacterial disturbance. If heavy breathing is still occurring maybe add an air pump/air stone or increase surface agitation. If no other signs of infections or external parasites he may have flukes in his gills causing the heavy breathing. May want to continue prazi and do a FW dip for 3-5 min to check for flukes. Also if any lighting is on the QT you may want to discontinue using the light so the tank is dimmer to lessen stress.

 

[atp0726]

Cloudy water most likely is due to a bacterial disturbance. If heavy breathing is still occurring maybe add an air pump/air stone or increase surface agitation. If no other signs of infections or external parasites he may have flukes in his gills causing the heavy breathing. May want to continue prazi and do a FW dip for 3-5 min to check for flukes. Also if any lighting is on the QT you may want to discontinue using the light so the tank is dimmer to lessen stress.

Yes, I turned of the white light and just left the actinics on. He did still seem interested in eating, which was a relief.

Breathing as of today seems to be normal, just the nervously darting around the tank and hiding. Maybe I jumped the gun on this one, however, he was a fish that was eating mysis from tweezers a few days ago and now when he sees me he freaks out.

I will do a water change and see if that helps with the cloudy water. The decreased visibility may be freaking him out.

 

[melypr1985]

Yes, I turned of the white light and just left the actinics on. He did still seem interested in eating, which was a relief.

Breathing as of today seems to be normal, just the nervously darting around the tank and hiding. Maybe I jumped the gun on this one, however, he was a fish that was eating mysis from tweezers a few days ago and now when he sees me he freaks out.

I will do a water change and see if that helps with the cloudy water. The decreased visibility may be freaking him out.

So there's nothing physically wrong with him or different? Can you post a picture or video? The cloudy water could possibly be a bacterial bloom which does decrease oxygen in the water. You've already got the powerhead in there so that's good. As long as the prazi has been in the water for 24 hours then you can do a water change. Prazi takes about 24 hours to do its work, so after that it's not needed until the next dose.

 

[dragon99]

I had a tomini in QT that was extremely shy, to the point of not coming out of hiding when I was in the room.

 

[atp0726]

So there's nothing physically wrong with him or different? Can you post a picture or video? The cloudy water could possibly be a bacterial bloom which does decrease oxygen in the water. You've already got the powerhead in there so that's good. As long as the prazi has been in the water for 24 hours then you can do a water change. Prazi takes about 24 hours to do its work, so after that it's not needed until the next dose.

It was in for at least that and I did a water change. Still got a bloom. This seems to happen every time I use Prazi a few days after I add carbon do a water change or both. Is that normal?

 

[melypr1985]

It was in for at least that and I did a water change. Still got a bloom. This seems to happen every time I use Prazi a few days after I add carbon do a water change or both. Is that normal?

Is the carbon in there with the prazi? Are you running copper at the same time?

 

[atp0726]

I had a tomini in QT that was extremely shy, to the point of not coming out of hiding when I was in the room.

He was really social and didnt seemed bothered by me until I used an algae magnet yesterday. I had a goby that unfortunately escaped on Sunday so maybe not having the other fish in there makes him more nervous...who knows.

 

[atp0726]

Is the carbon in there with the prazi? Are you running copper at the same time?

No, I added the carbon to help remove the prazi and did a 20% WC. No copper at the moment.

 

[melypr1985]

No, I added the carbon to help remove the prazi and did a 20% WC. No copper at the moment.

OK. The prazi is only active in the water for 48 hours. A water change is really all you need, though the carbon shouldn't hurt anything. Did you rinse the carbon really well before adding it?

 

[atp0726]

OK. The prazi is only active in the water for 48 hours. A water change is really all you need, though the carbon shouldn't hurt anything. Did you rinse the carbon really well before adding it?

I thought I did. It was just with regular tap though.

 

[melypr1985]

I thought I did. It was just with regular tap though.

Using Tap for that doesn't matter. But if you didn't quite get it rinsed well enough the water can become cloudy for a while afterward. Just a thought.

 

[4FordFamily]

Sounds stressed and possibly oxygen deprived as mentioned. Make sure a powerhead is breaking the surface during QT for maximum oxygenation :)

 

[atp0726]

Thanks for all the help. Had a 1050 gph koralia in a 20 gallon pointed towards the surface but seemed a bit much in that small of a qt. Only other option currently in my graveyard of powerheads is a 200gph zoomed sweep which is in there now. Turned the power stone back on just to make sure he is getting plenty of o2. Fish still seems to be acting strangely...reclusive, swimming awkwardly, lots of short bursts and some fin twitching..Very nervous acting. Still has a good appetite. Even after a 25% wc water still pretty cloudy.

 

[atp0726]

Water is still cloudy but fish seems to be doing fine, still a little skittish but eating. Tomorrow will be day 7 since my first Prazi tx. Should I wait for the water to clear before doing the 2nd Prazi tx?

 

[Humblefish]

Water is still cloudy but fish seems to be doing fine, still a little skittish but eating. Tomorrow will be day 7 since my first Prazi tx. Should I wait for the water to clear before doing the 2nd Prazi tx?

No, but I would do a larger than usual WC (50%) beforehand.

 

[Jahalu]

Maybe try adding an air stone in addition to powerhead?

 

[Humblefish]

Maybe try adding an air stone in addition to powerhead?

Good idea