Treating a wounded Naoko wrasse

Daniel@R2R · Mar 20, 2017

I have a wounded naoko wrasse. He and his tank mates have gotten along "swimmingly" for over a month, but then I noticed my Naoko looking a little roughed up. I initially didn't think much of it since I hadn't noticed any in-tank aggression beyond occasional flashing among my 3 flasher wrasses, so I just assumed he had had a brush with a rock. However, this past Tuesday I was walking past the tank just in time to see my crescent tail wrasse (who is currently transitioning from juvenile to male) and my blue flasher wrasse "torpedo" the naoko broadside. They hit him so hard I thought it might have killed him at first as I watched him drift back toward the MP40, but he managed to swim away and ended up sideways on the sand bed (where he was promptly hit again by the crescent tail wrasse). I quickly reached in and was able to scoop him out by hand (he didn't fight at all).

I moved him to my sump (removed the skimmer so he could have the whole skimmer chamber). I figured the lower flow of the sump with the dark and isolation would provide an environment where I could nurse him back to health, but that didn't work out well either as he kept ending up in the bubble trap (where it seemed he was not fairing well and being pressed against the sponge there). So I've now moved him back to the display in a DIY social acclimation box for observation and care.

He is eating quite well and a bit feistier than a few days ago, but he still seems like he has a ways to go before he's "ok" again. He currently swims sideways a bit and ends up upside down and sideways on the bottom of the acclimation box quite a bit. He can and does swim right side up as well a fair portion of the time...but the sideways and upside down swimming/thrashing would seem to indicate an injury (although I can't see any). Can you guys help? What are some things I can do to help him recover (besides just feeding him).

Here's a couple of videos of him from this afternoon.

Daniel@R2R · Mar 20, 2017

Also, it's not evident in the video, but his underside is grayish/splotchy rather than the usual white. Injury?

melypr1985 · Mar 20, 2017

It does appear to have been injured. Internal injuries are difficult to spot sometimes. Is he getting vitamins in his food? This is the wrasse we spoke about previously right?

Daniel@R2R · Mar 20, 2017

melypr1985 said:
It does appear to have been injured. Internal injuries are difficult to spot sometimes. Is he getting vitamins in his food? This is the wrasse we spoke about previously right?

This is the one. I've been feeding him OVA primarily along with LRS Fish Frenzy soaked in selcon. Should I add more vitamins? What else should I add?

He originally had marks all over the red upper portion of his body as well that looked like abrasions, but those have healed.

melypr1985 · Mar 20, 2017

mdbannister said:
This is the one. I've been feeding him OVA primarily along with LRS Fish Frenzy soaked in selcon. Should I add more vitamins? What else should I add?

He originally had marks all over the red upper portion of his body as well that looked like abrasions, but those have healed.

I don't think you need to add more vitamins, but I do believe we need to call in the wrasse guys just to be safe here. @evolved @eatbreakfast

Humblefish · Mar 20, 2017

A MB bath might help heal any external injuries: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/methylene-blue.257467/

A day or so later an acriflavine bath can help ward off infection: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/acriflavine.282887/

But if an infection sets in, you'll need to treat with antibiotics in a QT: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/antibiotics.283711/

Food soaking Kanaplex will help treat any internal infections.

evolved · Mar 21, 2017

^ My concern and observation would definitely be focused on infection at this point as well. Provided you keep any infection at bay, there's not much else you can do it help it's potential recovery. :/

Daniel@R2R · Mar 21, 2017

Thanks! I'm assuming soaking food in kanaplex is reef safe? Or do I need to move him to a QT setup? I was leaving him in the reef to avoid needing to maintain an extra tank since the reef params are on point.

Humblefish · Mar 21, 2017

mdbannister said:
Thanks! I'm assuming soaking food in kanaplex is reef safe? Or do I need to move him to a QT setup? I was leaving him in the reef to avoid needing to maintain an extra tank since the reef params are on point.

You need to use Focus to bind the medication to the food, making it reef safe: http://www.seachem.com/focus.php

Running carbon isn't a bad idea either, just in case a little medication leaches out.

Mike&Terry · Mar 21, 2017

He is definitely having difficulty swimming - not normal to turn sideways to eat food off the bottom. It's also not normal to roll like that and he keeps going vertical (head up, tail down). I would venture to say that his tank mates sensed his weakness and then went into attack mode. Glad to see you have him separated.

seaplane · Mar 21, 2017

That's so sad to watch, sure hope he pulls through.

Daniel@R2R · Mar 22, 2017

Thanks everyone. He is actually noticeably stronger yesterday and this morning. He is spending more time upright. His color on his underside is also returning to normal (still some recovery to go). I believe he's headed in the right direction. Continuing to feed him and watch. I'll keep you all posted.

revhtree · Mar 22, 2017

Hope he recovers man!

Tom Blevins · Mar 22, 2017

Sorry to hear,
Ours is a daredevil and flairs up and swims very fast at the top of the waterline and then jumps out
of the water and ping pongs off our canopy and back in the water, I fear he will break something
some day :(

Daniel@R2R · Mar 24, 2017

Update! Someone is feeling a lot better! :D

Always Reefin' · Mar 24, 2017

That's GREAT!

And I really like the acclimation box you made.

melypr1985 · Mar 24, 2017

great news!

Daniel@R2R · Mar 31, 2017

So the Naoko seems to be at 100% again. He whips around in the acclimation box quite well. The crescent tail seems to be ignoring him in the social acclimation box at this point. I'm wondering if it's worth trying to release him back into the reef, or should I just move him to the frag tank at this point?

Reefrookie220 · Mar 31, 2017

If you decide to add him back to the DT, catch the other wrasse and pull the ole switcheroo on him with the acclimation box, then turn out the lights for 10-15 minutes.

When I had aggression issues with my wrasses I did this a few times. Removed the bully and introduced the bullied into a dark tank.

Then again I'm not one of the wrasse PhD guys lol!

Daniel@R2R · Mar 31, 2017

Reefrookie220 said:
If you decide to add him back to the DT, catch the other wrasse and pull the ole switcheroo on him with the acclimation box, then turn out the lights for 10-15 minutes.

When I had aggression issues with my wrasses I did this a few times. Removed the bully and introduced the bullied into a dark tank.

Then again I'm not one of the wrasse PhD guys lol!

I could try. It might be a little difficult to catch the crescent tail.