Unknown Neurological Wrasse Disease (UNWD)

tbrown

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My buddy just texted me that his Exquisite Wrasse died today. I sent him this thread and after reading the first post he said that his had all the symptoms.

It really stinks. I wish we could figure out what causes it and how to ensure it stops happening.
 

Ziggy17

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I recently had bought x4 Rhomboid wrasses. unfortunately 2 had died in the bag which was DOA. But the other 2 after 2 weeks eventually looks like it developed this UNWD. Currently one of them is still swimming and eating. Would you guys say this is UNWD and are the chances of recovery slim?
Did you let know Afnan about the syndrome and the fish? He’s super good at standing behind his fish. At $500 per, that’s a lot of money in dead fish.

What a bummer. Sorry man.
 

sc50964

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So I got the new Rhmboid and this one is doing so much better. Even after a week of quarantine at the LFS. Hes eating and very colorful. No bended tail or swimming oddly. Here is a video of him at the LFS before i picked him up. Currently hes in a 20G QT tank resting.
I can’t see the video but I suspect your 20G isn’t rimless. If that’s the case, I would seriously consider taking him out carefully and giving him another tank that’s larger & rimless so he has nothing to hit when he jumps. All fairy wrasses jump upwards when spooked.
 

Ziggy17

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Like reef keeping wasn’t hard enough, now we have to deal with Zombie Wrasses. And of course it’s the best looking species that affected the most.

Perhaps it’s from a prion in the wild, like BSE, but their version.
 

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Did you let know Afnan about the syndrome and the fish? He’s super good at standing behind his fish. At $500 per, that’s a lot of money in dead fish.

What a bummer. Sorry man.
Ya he was able to give me a refund on some of them. After 4x, I coudln't take another risk with where he got the Rhomboids. I mentioned it to him that wherever he was getting the rhomboids seem to all have this issue.
 

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My buddy just texted me that his Exquisite Wrasse died today. I sent him this thread and after reading the first post he said that his had all the symptoms.

It really stinks. I wish we could figure out what causes it and how to ensure it stops happening.
That is a bummer. I just saw a picture of it now. I have never seen that wrasse before. It looks so colorful. How much do those usually go for?
 

tbrown

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That is a bummer. I just saw a picture of it now. I have never seen that wrasse before. It looks so colorful. How much do those usually go for?
He paid $180 for it. Lasted 3 weeks. He said the last week it seemed to have a bent spine and wasn't using his tail at all to swim. Lethargic but trying to eat.
 

felda001

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1000003736.jpg
Add another fatality to this disease. Lost my pintail this morning
 

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He paid $180 for it. Lasted 3 weeks. He said the last week it seemed to have a bent spine and wasn't using his tail at all to swim. Lethargic but trying to eat.
Ah sorry to hear man. For some reason wrasses are so finicky. I feel that most of these wrasses these days are super weak. Like if they get harrased or tail bent. It has almost no chance of recovery.
 
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Jay Hemdal

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Hey Jay, Has any of the wrasses you had or experinced this ever recovered?
I’m still waiting to hear of a case. I had one wrasse that I kept alive for a month by feeding it by hand, but my staff finally had me euthanize it because they felt it was cruel to keep it going like that.
 

Liquidsnakes

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I’m still waiting to hear of a case. I had one wrasse that I kept alive for a month by feeding it by hand, but my staff finally had me euthanize it because they felt it was cruel to keep it going like that.
Ah bummer. I wish we can find out what causes this and how we can fix it. Is it only the Lineatus and Rhomboids that experience this the most?
 

i cant think

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Ah bummer. I wish we can find out what causes this and how we can fix it. Is it only the Lineatus and Rhomboids that experience this the most?
It’s mostly:
Lineatus, Rhomboid, Laboutei, Madagascan Half Bar, Naoko’s and a couple others which face this disease commonly.
 

steveschuerger

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Funny running into this thread now. I had a Red Velvet that developed the same symptoms after a few months. Glad I have some closure on what happened to the poor thing.
 
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Jay Hemdal

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Ah bummer. I wish we can find out what causes this and how we can fix it. Is it only the Lineatus and Rhomboids that experience this the most?
I’ve seen a few cases here with Halichoeres wrasses. Then, most of the fairy and some flashers will show it. Nobody has done a statistical analysis of affected species yet.
 

Liquidsnakes

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I’ve seen a few cases here with Halichoeres wrasses. Then, most of the fairy and some flashers will show it. Nobody has done a statistical analysis of affected species yet.
Interesting, because I know you mentioned that this had happened back in 2008. I know Polo Reef has alot of type of fish. I wonder if he collects wrasse and has experienced this before. It seems like just a small amount of stress can bring that symptom up for these wrasses.

Also is there a difference in having the spinal injury compare to UNWD? Can the wrasse recover from Spinal Injury?
 

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It’s mostly:
Lineatus, Rhomboid, Laboutei, Madagascan Half Bar, Naoko’s and a couple others which face this disease commonly.
Man I know the super male Lineatus wrasse looks beautiful and they cost just as much as the Rhomboids. I would like to try a Lineatus one day. Seems all the bottom dweller fairy wrasses are exposed to this.
 

i cant think

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Man I know the super male Lineatus wrasse looks beautiful and they cost just as much as the Rhomboids. I would like to try a Lineatus one day. Seems all the bottom dweller fairy wrasses are exposed to this.
Honestly, don’t fall for the “supermale” trap - go with some gorgeous females and watch the transition!
 

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Interesting, because I know you mentioned that this had happened back in 2008. I know Polo Reef has alot of type of fish. I wonder if he collects wrasse and has experienced this before. It seems like just a small amount of stress can bring that symptom up for these wrasses.

Also is there a difference in having the spinal injury compare to UNWD? Can the wrasse recover from Spinal Injury?
Wrasse can’t recover from spinal injuries but they can survive and thrive with minor injuries. Major injuries will often result in fish that are likely to be dead.
 
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