Royal gramma sideways, heavy breathing, not eating.

[Soey]

Hello, my royal gramma, which ive had for 2 years has started to act differently for the past couple weeks. He doesnt come out to eat and is hiding all day. Today he cant even seem to swim and is just laying sideways in the corner of the tank.

I did a 5 min freshwater dip today, but i didn't really notice much of a difference in behavior or in how he looks.
I also attached 2 videos, one of before the dip and one of after the dip.

Before:
After:

I also attached 2 photos of the gramma during the dip.

Any advice on diagnosing or treating this fish would be appreciated.

 

[cdemoss01]

#fishdoctors

 

[Jekyl]

Some Helpful Hints When Posting or Responding to Threads in the Fish Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Section

Aquarium Fish Disease Problem Solving Determining the best course of action for a problem with your aquarium can be a difficult task. Even advanced aquarists will often need to seek the help of others for complicated or unique issues. Our intent here on Reef 2 Reef is to offer expert advice...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello, my royal gramma, which ive had for 2 years has started to act differently for the past couple weeks. He doesnt come out to eat and is hiding all day. Today he cant even seem to swim and is just laying sideways in the corner of the tank.

I did a 5 min freshwater dip today, but i didn't really notice much of a difference in behavior or in how he looks.
I also attached 2 videos, one of before the dip and one of after the dip.

Before:
After:

I also attached 2 photos of the gramma during the dip.

Any advice on diagnosing or treating this fish would be appreciated.

Poor guy looks rough. I dont see video but can say these fish are susceptible to flukes which may be the case and will be followed by elevated breathing, loss of appetite, hiding, sudden darting as examples
What other fish are in tank as the scaling may be from bullying

 

[Jekyl]

Poor guy looks rough. I dont see video but can say these fish are susceptible to flukes which may be the case and will be followed by elevated breathing, loss of appetite, hiding, sudden darting as examples

I couldn't be sure but are there signs of aggression here? Fins are a little tattered

 

[Soey]

Poor guy looks rough. I dont see video but can say these fish are susceptible to flukes which may be the case and will be followed by elevated breathing, loss of appetite, hiding, sudden darting as examples
What other fish are in tank as the scaling may be from bullying

Other fish in the tank are:
One spot foxface
Tomini tang
Scopas tang
Flame anglefish
Blue damsel

 

[Dom]

Other fish in the tank are:
One spot foxface
Tomini tang
Scopas tang
Flame anglefish
Blue damsel

And of these fish, which was added recently?

A new addition to the tank can bring in disease or the new addition may be bullying the royal.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Other fish in the tank are:
One spot foxface
Tomini tang
Scopas tang
Flame anglefish
Blue damsel

Blue damsel is my suspect and one to keep an eye on. Gramma needs to be isolated for best chance of recovery

 

[Soey]

And of these fish, which was added recently?

A new addition to the tank can bring in disease or the new addition may be bullying the royal.

The most recent was tomini and flame, but i added them over a year ago.

Blue damsel is my suspect and one to keep an eye on. Gramma needs to be isolated for best chance of recovery

Ok. i was thinking of doing prazipro treatment in a separate qt tank.

 

[Uncle99]

Lost the fight!
Very common.

 

[Soey]

Ok I isolated the gramma in a box. I think I will just remove the damsel as long as the gramma lives.

 

[WvAquatics]

Damsels are pretty! But reading the forums the bighes ***** is clowns in tanks. Guess what damsel. From my knowledge damslels and dottyback are for aggresive tanks only. They will become terros in a mixed tank.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I agree, looks more like aggression. Flukes are possible, but with no new fish added in a year, that is less likely.

 

[Soey]

.

 

[Soey]

I agree, looks more like aggression. Flukes are possible, but with no new fish added in a year, that is less likely.

Alright, thanks for the input.

 

[Soey]

An update - the fish is doing much better and is eating food again. I'm going to remove the blue damsel, it was definitely the one bullying.