(Probably emergency) flame hawk fish collapsed

[TheoneandonlyME]

My flame hawk when I came back home from school I found him collapsed on the ground and I thought he was dead. Now, I was gonna throw him out but I realised his gills were moving. I tried to pick him up to examine him and he had kind of a spasm. I bought him yesterday and the lfs had him for a couple of days. Doing the tests right now so I’ll update with parameters. I do not have any copper. There also might not be enough aeration maybe. His gills seem to be a bit red.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Did he jump or was it just laying on the sandbed?
There are a lot of variables concerning a new fish, but param tests should help rule stuff out.
Post some pics and a video of the fish if you can.
How was the fish acclimated?

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

He was just laying there. I had some chores to do so I couldn’t test right away. I’m doing ttm method and matched only the salinity and temperature because I used water that I just pumped. I’m also gonna measure his bpm

 

[Ben.QLD2]

And tell us all about your tank. How long has it been up and running? What are the tankmates? Measurements and volume. Filtration, circulation, temperature etc.

 

[Ben.QLD2]

Looks like it's in a QT, well done. To begin with it sounded like it was in a DT.

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

Ammonia is 0.25 but I was gonna transfer him to the other tank a few minutes before. It’s been running for 2 days. No tankmates, 10 gallons but only filled to the 4 gallon mark. An airstone for aeration and a normal heater that I used for extra heating on my dt but not using anymore

And tell us all about your tank. How long has it been up and running? What are the tankmates? Measurements and volume. Filtration, circulation, temperature etc.

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

It also has no filter because I’m doing tank transfer method marine velvet version

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

Whenever I interact with him he starts trying to swim but when I leave him he just stays there. I’ve been thinking of maybe putting him in my dt because I don’t have any fish in there and maybe it aerates better and the parameters are better if he doesn’t have any diseases. He doesn’t have any white spots or any white marks

 

[Sharkbait19]

TTM doesn’t work for velvet - and it isn’t perfect for ich either.
Copper is much more effective.
Imo keep him in qt - the last thing you want is to potentially introduce a disease to the dt.
Ammonia at .25 could be an artifact of an API, but otherwise is cause for concern.
Increase aeration (try adding a hob filter) and do a water change.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Is the breathing slow/labored or rapid?

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

Is the breathing slow/labored or rapid?

The breathing seems normal. I’m doing ttm because in Canada it’s really hard to get copper and we didn’t have time for the hassle. I’ll add a job and update

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

The breathing seems normal. I’m doing ttm because in Canada it’s really hard to get copper and we didn’t have time for the hassle. I’ll add a job and update

A hob. Autocorrect sucks

 

[aimed]

The breathing seems normal. I’m doing ttm because in Canada it’s really hard to get copper and we didn’t have time for the hassle. I’ll add a job and update

Idk, kind of sounds like ammonia poisoning to me. I’d dose prime to get the ammonia under control. Have to without and bio filter.

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

Idk, kind of sounds like ammonia poisoning to me. I’d dose prime to get the ammonia under control. Have to without and bio filter.

I dont have any prime with me but I can put him in a bucket with new water and a filter. I changed the water in the new tank and he’s holding himself upright and swimming a bit

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

I’m gonna keep him in the main qt tank until I get the bucket set up

 

[aimed]

I’m gonna keep him in the main qt tank until I get the bucket set up

Water change will do the same as the prime

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

Water change will do the same as the prime

Oh ok. I put him in a bucket and tested the water in there. Same salinity and 0 ammonia

 

[TheoneandonlyME]

Oh ok. I put him in a bucket and tested the water in there. Same salinity and 0 ammonia

I couldn’t find my filter though so I’ll keep him there until he gets better.

 

[Matty Ice]

I’m still confused with the on the ground part. Did the fish jump out? Hawkfish do just hangout on the bottom of the tank or sides anywhere they can perch, and if they swim will have labored breathing for a little bit once they stop.

 

[Tamberav]

Does he have anywhere to hide? Was he ever eating at all for you or at the LFS?

How often are you changing tanks?

I have done (hybrid) TTM a lot... I always give the fish something to hide in. I use some plastic freshwater decor. I have a few so I can change them out and clean/dry for a few days between transfers. Being in a bare empty tank is stressful.