Tripod1404
Active Member
Okay this is odd. 3 days ago my orange sided fairy wrasse got spooked by a fast moving rabbit fish and jumped out while I was feeding the tank. It did a full flip in air and landed on the the back of its head. I gently picked it up and put it back to the tank, so it was out water for maybe 15 seconds.
When I put it into the water, the fish started to curl up and though it broke its back because its head was almost touching its tail. It just sank to the bottom and it was shakings violently as if it was having a seizure. At this point I thought it was dying. It sat there motionless (breathing oncourse) for a good 15 mins and it eventually relaxed a bit, where the spine turned into a "S" shape and eyes started to move. It swam in a very stiff and uncontrolled way while dragging its tail to under a rock, and I though this will be the last time I would see him.
Well the next morning it came out, spine still crooked but looking better. It was less active but wasn't hiding but wasn't eating either. Basically just staying in one corner and occasionally making slow loops around the tank, while still looking stiff (mainly only swimming with pectoral fins). Over the next two days, it spine straitened up and now it looks completely normal. I was really worried since fairy wrasses are prone to spinal injuries, but he is now acting and swimming normal even flashing other wrasses in the tank. But there is a catch, he stopped eating mysis shrimp and is only eating brine shrimp. He used to love mysis and now he maybe 2-3 pieces, he still eats his usual share of brine.
I am wondering what may be causing this? I am jokingly telling my wife that he lost his memory of liking Mysis, but I assume there is more to it. Initially I was thinking that he still has pain which reduces his appetite, but fish in pain tend to hide, not flash other wrasses. I am now wondering it hurt it jaw during the fall and doesn't like chewing harder mysis shrimp? The jaw looks fine externally and I saw it yawn so it can fully open it, but maybe it is sour?
@Jay Hemdal you are our local wrasse expert, do you have any idea what may be going on and if there is anything I can do to help with recovery.
When I put it into the water, the fish started to curl up and though it broke its back because its head was almost touching its tail. It just sank to the bottom and it was shakings violently as if it was having a seizure. At this point I thought it was dying. It sat there motionless (breathing oncourse) for a good 15 mins and it eventually relaxed a bit, where the spine turned into a "S" shape and eyes started to move. It swam in a very stiff and uncontrolled way while dragging its tail to under a rock, and I though this will be the last time I would see him.
Well the next morning it came out, spine still crooked but looking better. It was less active but wasn't hiding but wasn't eating either. Basically just staying in one corner and occasionally making slow loops around the tank, while still looking stiff (mainly only swimming with pectoral fins). Over the next two days, it spine straitened up and now it looks completely normal. I was really worried since fairy wrasses are prone to spinal injuries, but he is now acting and swimming normal even flashing other wrasses in the tank. But there is a catch, he stopped eating mysis shrimp and is only eating brine shrimp. He used to love mysis and now he maybe 2-3 pieces, he still eats his usual share of brine.
I am wondering what may be causing this? I am jokingly telling my wife that he lost his memory of liking Mysis, but I assume there is more to it. Initially I was thinking that he still has pain which reduces his appetite, but fish in pain tend to hide, not flash other wrasses. I am now wondering it hurt it jaw during the fall and doesn't like chewing harder mysis shrimp? The jaw looks fine externally and I saw it yawn so it can fully open it, but maybe it is sour?
@Jay Hemdal you are our local wrasse expert, do you have any idea what may be going on and if there is anything I can do to help with recovery.
