Red Coris Wrasse Question, hlth.    1/8/11
Hello crew. I am purchasing a medium, changing to adult colors, 3-4" Red Coris Wrasse, collected from the Fiji Islands. My question is concerning acclimation. I own 4 large aquariums, and 2, 40 gallon long quarantine tanks. The Wrasse is going into an 96"x 36" x 36" acrylic aquarium with a 6" DSB (fine sand), 300 pounds of live rock, dual Blueline 100 main pumps, 8, Koralia 4's for internal water movement, Aquamaxx Cone 3 skimmer, dual 20 gallon refugium's and 100 gallon sump. I was wondering if you suggest that I add Him directly to the display, since it is ideal for him with the fine sand, and large living quarters, or put him in a 40 gallon long with a bare bottom to quarantine.
<A very good question... my response: "it depends...">
The large tank, after the Red Coris, is terminally stocked with the following: 5" Queen Angelfish, 4" Miniatus Grouper, 3" Scribbled Rabbitfish, 4" Porcupine Puffer, 3" Green Bird Wrasse, 3" Pink Faced
Wrasse, 3" Huma Huma Triggerfish, Three, 3" Yellow Tangs. I would appreciate your advice on this matter.
Many thanks,
Howard
<The genus Coris (and most of the genera of Labrids) in my opinion/experience "straddle the line" in terms of whether it's better to do summary pH-adjusted freshwater (and likely Formalin and aeration in this
case) baths/dips and placement, vs. any quarantine of length... IF this/the specimen/s look "good", I'd definitely do the former... IF they looked ragged, possibly biologically diseased, I'd do the former AND quarantine. For Coris species (which don't burrow, sleep under the sand) a bare QT is fine. Bob Fenner>
Re: Red Coris Wrasse Question   1/8/11
Many thanks for your advice, and the fast response on this matter Mister Fenner.
<Certainly welcome Howard>
I always enjoy reading your marvelous site, with all of the great advice that you, and your team, continually provide to us aquarists.
<And thank you kindly for your courteous acknowledgement. Cheers, BobF>
Re: Red Coris Wrasse Question 1/12/11
Hello again crew. I wanted to update you on my new Red Coris Wrasse. He ate right out of the bag and is doing fabulous.! Many thanks once again to a group of fellow aquarists who make our hobby a lot less stressful with your help and dedication.!
Many Thanks,
Howard
<Again welcome Howard. B>

Red Coris Wrasse...Feeds, But Looking Thin -- 11/04/10
Hello, it's Jason again with another question.
<<Hey Jason>>
I purchased a Red Coris Wrasse 3 weeks ago. I have had him in qt since then and he eats ferociously.....nonstop. I do notice though, that his head is slightly bony and I can see his spine when he swims around.
<<Mmm'¦>>
I followed the normal procedures that Bob recommends i.e., keeping up good water quality, vitamin additives, food variety, and well circulated water.
<<Okay>>
If this is a nutrient deficiency can I bring him back or is it too late?
<<I have seen some pretty badly starved fishes brought 'back,' so yes, if the weight loss is from lack of proper foods/feeding before you acquired it, and not loss due to some other complaint (e.g. - damage from the collection process) there is a good chance this fish can recover with plentiful nutritious feedings in a healthy environment>>
Shall I do anything else at this point?
<<Do offer this fish some New Life Spectrum pelleted food (highly nutritious and palatable)'¦and though I'm doubtful this is a parasitic issue as in my experience all specimens stopped feeding well before displaying such weight loss as you describe, trying their 'Thera-A' formula can't hurt.
Thanks everyone.
<<Happy to share'¦ EricR>>
Re: Red Coris Wrasse...Feeds, But Looking Thin -- 11/05/10
Thanks a lot Eric.
<<Quite welcome Jason>>
Actually, I soak Mysis shrimp in Selcon and feed....is that just as good as the New Life Spectrum you were recommending?
<<On its own, no'¦ What you are doing is very good, but the wrasse needs more variety (as do all your fishes) to truly fulfill its nutritional requirements. Some would consider the NLS products an excellent food 'on their own' (have known those who successfully fed this exclusively to breeding Cichlids, large marine fishes'¦and of course, Bob's Goldfish). I prefer to use it in conjunction with other foods (offered daily), and whole-heartedly recommend any hobbyist to add it to their fish-food pantry as a nutritious and palatable offering that will increase color and health/vitality/longevity in any fish that accepts it. EricR>>
R2: Red Coris Wrasse...Feeds, But Looking Thin -- 11/07/10
Definitely not on its own
<<Ah! very good>>
but I meant to plump him up w/high protein and vitamins
<<Understood>>
but thanks so much for your help, have a good weekend.
<<And you, mate... EricR>>

Hey crew.....    10/14/10
How are you?
<Ok, thanks>
I recently purchased a 3.5 inch Red Coris Wrasse and noticed that he has a swollen belly, not huge, but definitely a little bloated. Is this normal?
<Is not abnormal. This species, most of the genus are avid eaters... In fact, the family name "Labridae", is sometimes cited as coming from the Greek word "labros", meaning "greedy">
He was eating with gusto at the store but in QT he mostly hides in the sand and when he comes out, I can see his bloated stomach. His feces are not white or stringy at all but rather thick and lumpy light gray/brown colored. It almost looks like a worm but a little less than a quarter of an inch thick. I was kind of surprised that feces this big came out of a fish this small. I was thinking of picking up Metronidazole considering it's most likely an internal parasite/bacterial infection. I wanted your input on this.......thanks a lot.
Chris
<I would definitely not treat this fish, or use Metronidazole/Flagyl lightly period. Do just wait here... likely the "bulge" in your Coris will diminish of its own accord. Bob Fenner>
Re: Hey crew..... Coris  10/15/10
OK, sounds good, thank you. I was just under the impression that a bloated stomach from a lot of eating would diminish after one day........it's been three now.
<Depends on what was consumed... might be non-organic... these "things" often take time. I urge patience here. BobF>
Re: Hey crew..... Coris gaimard hlth., beh.    10/16/10
Oh absolutely! I learned that the hard way the first TWO times lol. While I have you, let me ask you one more question. Your literature states that this Coris Wrasse does hide in the sand but unfortunately mine hasn't come out since I purchased him four days ago. He was eating great in the store and swimming around after being there for a week, so I am quite optimistic and hopeful for survival. Is four days too long.
<Mmm, no; not too long... after a week I might use the opposite end of a net to slowly trace through the substrate>
Thanks again, If it weren't for you and your website/book, a lot of us "hobbyists" probably wouldn't get half as far as we do. GREATLY appreciated!
<Welcome Jas. BobF>

Red Coris Wrasse injury - 5/12/2006 I'm sorry to keep bothering you guys, but I have another one for you.   In one of my tanks, a 90 gallon FOWLR, I have an adult Red Coris Wrasse. Given Mr. Fenner's affinity for them from what I read, hopefully a wealth of helpful information exists here.    <Am out where I most enjoy Coris gaimard... in HI> I noticed today that on his abdomen, just above the anus, he is swollen on both sides of the body.  On one side, there is just a "tad" of swelling, swelling you can only see from the bottom or top.  On the other side, it is more swollen, creating slightly white areas.  It almost appears as though my snowflake more or less took a chomp at him (I've seen him chase the Wrasse, mouth open).  There appears to be a very slight amount of white feces coming out of the anus, but only about 1/16 of an inch, not really enough to be sure of anything.   Behaviorally, if you didn't see the swollen spot, you'd never know there is a problem.  The fish is swimming actively, eating voraciously, taking mouthfuls of Mysis (even from my hand) and repeatedly spitting them out and eating them a few at a time until eventually he keeps them all down, an eating behavior he has always had.   <And something that I've observed many times in this species in the wild as well> I am inclined to leave this fish completely alone and see what happens. <This is what I would do> If the eel did injure him, I figure he'll heal on his own without my ... Uhh... "help."  However if it's a bacterial issue, I obviously want to address it as soon as possible.  I certainly don't want to mis-medicate. Thanks again, Dave <Bob Fenner>
Re: Red Coris Wrasse  5/14/06 Hi All, <Dave> Thanks for your quick reply.  The Wrasse problem I described below is getting worse.  I am now confident that it's not injury, as he has begun getting white sores/discolored spots on his scales along the top of his body just below the fins.  The fin areas directly above the spots are somewhat frayed, but not bad.  He seems to be gaining one or two sores per day, and the abdominal swelling is not improving.   This problem has still not begun to affect his behavior, but it's clearly progressing. Thanks once again in advance, Dave <... could still be resultant, tied to a/the physical trauma... What are you going to try? Vitamin administration to the water, foods? Lacing these with antibiotics? Bob Fenner>

Wrasse looking bad. Dear WetWeb crew, << Blundell here. >> Was hoping you could help me with a bit of a mystery.  Many months back, I ordered a large Coris gaimard from Jeff's Exotic Fish (great e-supplier, btw).  Well, it arrived and it was beautiful.  A little over 6" female! << Seen lots of those fish recently, they are great. >> Did very, very well for several months.  Then in June, I had to go away for a few days and left my fish in the care of a very concerned and capable neighbor. << But is still worried you didn't it?  Don't worry it is a concern to all of us. >> When I returned, my Coris was on the bottom of the tank, curled up into a C shape.  When she did swim at all, it was in tight, looping spirals, usually upside down. << Bad nutrition or bad water quality. >> Seemed to me to be an internal infection of some sort, so I removed her to my hospital tank and treated her with Maracyn (and Melafix, just for the scraping). << Can't hurt, sounds like a good idea. >> For almost two weeks she continued this behavior, and each morning I would check on her expecting her to be dead.  Then, after being away for a day or so, I returned to find her upright and healthy, though very thin and sluggish.  She greedily took food, and after several days of recoup time I returned her to the display (which is 150 gallons--the hospital tank she was in was only a 20 gallon).  She is still alive and doing reasonably well, but rather than fattening up the way I would expect, she simply grows thinner. << Not sure what you are using for food, but I would recommend some variety and possibly live foods. >> I know there is competition for food in the tank, but I feed both ends of the tank several times a day, and I watch her eat what I would think to be an adequate amount of food.  I feed enriched brine, Mysis, bloodworms, diced tiger shrimp << Really??? >>, angel formula (mainly for my angels!), leafy greens, and two good quality flakes--one vegetable and one meaty. << Well that is great. >> Specs: 150 gallon with good water quality: 0 Ammonia and Nitrites, Nitrates run high (70-90) because of the large, sloppy eaters.  I keep them in hyposalinity (1.011) to cut down on crypts, which have always plagued my angels. Occupants: Large Volitans Lion (8") Large Maculosus Angel (7", was 1" when I got it!) Med Queen Angel (5") Small Chain Link Moray (10") Large Foxface (7") Med Sailfin Tang (3") Med Arothron manilensis (4") Med Canthigaster janthinoptera (2") Those nine fish have been the stable population of the tank for months (most for many years). Any suggestions?  Is the Coris simply overwhelmed by his tankmates? << I don't think so. >> Possible internal parasite?  Is the low salinity an issue? << Well that is way low.  I would look into that. >> Any help fattening up this beautiful fish would be appreciated. << Yeah the salinity seems super low.  Also, I wonder if having those aggressive fish is causing short term, quick to happen, ammonia spikes. >> Thanks again for all your great work. Jim Jensen <<  Blundell  >>

__Dead Red Coris wrasse__ Hi, crew of WWM, I have one concern regarding my dead red Coris.  Well, you see I think it died under my crush coral substrate and I cant seem to find it to be able to take it out.  I currently have a 180 gallon with about 150 pounds of live rock and really do not want to uplift everything to find just this dead Coris.  Is it ok if I just let it decompose in the substrate?  Or will that be a problem towards my other 9 fish that are in there?  Thank you for your help. <Just leave him there he will decompose on his own MikeH> -PHT-