Sick Lunare Wrasse   8/18/07
I have a sick Lunare Wrasse.
I have had it for about 5 months it is about 10",
<"Egads, what a monster!">
it has been doing great, awesome fish.6 days ago I missed a feeding. then I noticed it did not come out to feed 5 days ago.
<Bad...>
I searched high and low and found it curled up in a corner behind rocks. Thinking it had died, I reached in, grabbed it, and picked it up.
It swam from my hand and when and hid under another cave. It sat upright on the sand, curled up, breathing rapidly, eyes moving, not swimming, not feeding. It has not moved in 4 days. He was eating shrimp and scallops, ate like a pig. I have a Blue Spot Puffer, Snowflake eel and a Maroon Clown in the tank with him.
Water is great:
<Are we going swimming?>
120 gallon display
pH 8.2
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 10
Temp was an issue, jumped to 84.5, but now is maxing at just over 83.
I have new fans in place, and one more going on tonight, to help keep the highs under 83. The tank low temp is around 81 every morning. I have the temp under control now, maxing at 82
<Not a worry>
I have moved the fish to a hospital tank, 20 gallons, and is being treated with Neomycin.
<For?>
it has been in the tank for 60 hours, has had 1 100% water change. So far I am seeing no improvement. The fish sits on the bottom bent 90 degrees to the left 1/2 way down his length. Temp in the hospital is 77.
The original theory was that an added fish or frag that was not in QT (Sorry, I know better) introduced a bacteria, the temp spike allowed the bacteria to bloom and the wrasse took the worst of it. A secondary thought is that the Wrasse went hypoxic.
<A possibility... of the fishes you list, the Thalassoma would be most ill-effected>
The temp spike reduced the O2 levels and the very active wrasse was burning more O2 that was available in the tank resulting in organ damage but not death (it looks like he has the bends).
Is there anything I should be doing differently (aside from QT for my frags and that fish).
<I don't think so... It may be that this fish is "just" old... cumulative genetic/replicate defects...>
That's my story, sad but true.
<And you're sticking to it... BobF>
Thanks,
-- Bryan

Lunare Wrasse with large open wound  - 05/01/07
Dear Crew:
<Carol>
We have a 5" lunare wrasse that has been extremely healthy and aggressive since we added it to our tank about 3 months ago.  We have a 60 gallon tank with a yellow tang and Volitans lion.
<Not enough room here...>
A few days ago, we noticed a wound on the top of his head and thought that maybe he had a run-in with the coral or rocks in the tank.
<The most likely scenario>
Over the next few days, it has gotten progressively worse.  It now has a large wound on its head with the flesh eaten away - there is no longer any coloration at the site, only white.  The wrasse is still eating and swimming around the tank looking fairly normal, but this evening his breathing appears a little faster.  Water quality is normal with no changes.  Do you have any suggestions??
<Mmm, yes... doing what you can to reduce the overall Total Bacteria Count... all captive systems have more microbial activity, population density than most all natural environs... but when these are coupled with an "open sore", such events as your Thalassoma is experiencing occur, persist... Using better skimming, Ozone, perhaps UV (for the O3 mostly) will help... What you/they need though is a much larger system... by about twice this volume>
We have been through your website (which is phenomenal), but have not been able to find anything similar.  Any advice is appreciated - should we isolate it, treat it, and if so with what?
<Just improved water quality... perhaps with bolstering nutrition... with Selcon soaked foods...>
Thank you for your assistance, Carol
<Welcome, Bob Fenner>

Please Help Emergency Lunare Wrasse in Distress   3/3/07
<Hi Ivy, Mich here.>
A few days ago I was replied to very promptly by your staff, All Thanks.  
<Good to hear!>
My Fimbriated moray attacked my lunare wrasse.  
<Yipe! Yipe! Yipe!>
I was instructed to separate them if possible.  
<Gotta keep'em separated.>
I did.  
<Good.>
I took all invertebrates out of the 55-gallon reef.  I took the lunare wrasse out of a 90 gallon with 100ppm <!> of nitrate, a work in progress.  Well he was moved to a 55-gallon reef with only one other fish that does not bother with him, shrimp goby.  Anyway the 55-gallon has about 10 ppm of nitrates.  
<Much better.>
As well other parameters would be different. <!> The levels of calcium would be higher, as well as the overall salinity and the temperature would have dropped from 82F to 80 F.  Well I acclimated the wrasse for an hour, with a heater and drip line.  He lay quite still.  All last night and today he has laid still eyes move around, he looks around.  Respiration is high but not exceedingly for this fish.  He seems to always have breathed faster than some others.  
<OK.>
I put my hand in the tank today and he let me stroke his face before he swam off.  
<STOP TOUCHING HIM!!!>
He swam about half the tank and then stopped again and still isn't swimming around.  He swam without difficulty though.  He is not eating.  
<Not a good sign, but still may recover.>
Anything I can do to help him.  
<Stop touching him!  Leave him alone and stop stressing him.>
Already treating with MelaFix and the cleaner shrimp gave him a once over.  
<I would stop the MelaFix.  Better to concentrate of high water quality.>
His wound from the eel was severe.  
<I'm sorry to hear this.>
But by this time it had begun to close up, rather rapidly.  He was vivacious and active just before I moved him,. eating well.  
<So he was doing better and now is doing worse?>
He is my pet.  He has been in the tank with high nitrates for two years.  I need him to live.  The wound doesn't look bad, it looks like it is healing but it has white stuff on it, right in the crevice of the deepest wound.  Is this healing tissue or fungus?
<Hopefully healing tissue.  Don't pick it!>
Oh my god I am just terrified I will lose him.  How can I help him?
<Stop stressing him first off.  Maintain the best water quality you can, offer foods soaked in Selcon and give him time.  -Mich>
Concerned
Ivy

Re: Lunare Wrasse in Distress-Update   3/4/07
<Hi Ivy, Mich with you again.>
The lunare wrasse in distress in the new tank where the nitrates are significantly lower and other parameters are different is hanging on.  
<Glad to hear.>
Well last night he came out and swam briefly.  He came out again this morning for a shorter time.  He still hasn't eaten but he is still alert.  
<Give him time.>
He doesn't have that "gone" look yet.  
<Good.>
Should I be digging a grave?  
<No!  Stop it!  Think positive!>
I am just getting my hopes way up and I fear that I am going to be sorry.  
<You are wise enough to know there is potential for this not to end well, that being said, hope, hope for the best!>
Any advice?  
<Relax, inhale... exhale... slowly... deeply... maybe some yoga for you!>
He just swam again for a minute and then hid again.  
<Your stress is contagious>
Please tell me he can get better.  
<Of course he can get better and hopefully he will!>
Can he hide for three full days and still pull out all right <Yes, and he may hide for a while longer,  Let him be.  And you my friend, need to step away from the tank.  I know you're worried, but you're stressing the fish and yourself way too much.  It's not helping either of you.  Find an outlet, exercise, yoga, massage, glass of wine, talk to a sympathetic friend, something... will benefit you both!  
Hope that helps.  Please take care of yourself.  -Mich>

Re: Lunare Wrasse fungus on wound?  3/6/07
<Hi Ivy, Mich here again.>
I have one more question then I will let it go.  I have been treating the tank with MelaFix.  
<Efficacy of Melafix is questionable at best.>
The lunare wrasse is still hiding still not eating but the wound has a white fuzzy material covering it.  It has grown profusely, now it covers the wound and sloughs off when he swims.  Is this healing tissue or some kind of fungus?  
<Not sounding like healing tissue.>
Is there something in the reef tank that could be aggravating or creating the white fuzz?  
<More likely an infection secondary to the initial wound.>
It was not at all present in the wound when the fish was in the other tank.  I assume I shouldn't bother him to further inspect it but should I start treating with PimaFix also?  
<Again efficacy is questionable at best, may want to consider an antibiotic.>
Also how long can he go without eating?  
<Quite some time.>
Is there a point at which allowing him to survive is cruelty?
<Yes, but I'm not saying you are at that point yet.  -Mich>
Ivy

Re: Lunare Wrasse with crater in bottom  3/6/07
<Hi Ivy, Mich here.>
Well I got some kind of strong powder that is supposed to be an antibiotic, antifungal.  
<Vague.>
I don't know but the LFS said it was what they used and could be of real use.  
<Possibly>
When I took him out to apply the medicine I found that what had been a clean puncture wound by the eels tooth had become a jagged edged crater.  It is huge.  The flesh in and around it smells awful and is hard, lumpy and kind of brown.  It bled slightly from underneath the wound when I applied the powder.  
<A little bleeding is ok and will promote granulation.>
But it is a crater.  This must have been that the puncture hole became infected?  Does that sound like infection to you?  
<Yes, it does sound like an antibiotic may be in order here.>
And is euthanasia now the most humane thing?  
<Maybe, but not necessarily.>
still hasn't eaten although there is a lot of feeder shrimp and a cleaner gone that he may have snacked on.  
<Give him time.>
I mean fish have internal organs but if they were affected would he have lasted two weeks?  
<Maybe, maybe not.  Rx: Time...patience...high water quality and an efficacious antibiotic, which hopefully the powder you are using falls into that category.  -Mich>

Re: Lunare Wrasse with crater in bottom... Hypochondria   3/7/07
I treated the wound with kanomycin.
<Kanamycin... how treated?>
This, kanomycin, would supposedly treat the wound well.  It seems very unusual to me that no one. none of my local fish resources have any knowledge or information about the treatment of an open wound or physical injury.  They all are very knowledgeable about fish disease or pathology or treatment for parasites or anything.  So I cannot tell if the wound is infected or is healing.  The white tissue covers the whole wound, which is now about a 1/2" wide and 1/4" deep with the white tissue growing in it.  The puncture hole on the bottom now is just white, the brown crusty tissue seems to be receding and the hole does look smaller, but should it be filled with white jelly-like tissue?  What does a normal gaping wound look like?
<Better that it is emarginated... evidence of reaction... healing... worst is to see obvious muscle tissue>
  What is the appearance of healing tissue versus infected?  is it, can it be white?  Also he hasn't closed his mouth since I moved him.  Could this be a sign of internal injury?  Or just stress?  Let me know.
  Thanks
<Likely stress... I would leave this animal be. BobF>

Bloated lunar wrasse
Hi Bob:
I just found your site. After reading several pages of very interesting info. I would like to ask 2 questions.
I have had a spotted and a figure 8 puffer a cinnamon clown and a lunar wrasse for about 7 years. About 2 weeks ago my figure 8 puffer got what looks like a bloated area on his left side by his fin. I netted him and burped him and felt the area. It felt like rock or coral, which he eats quite often. He was only able to swim on him side and stayed near the top of the tank.
<Good work, observation, relating>
He seems to be getting better now. He swims to the bottom and the area seems to be smaller.
<Yes, fishes "do shrink" when sick, not eating...>
Now my lunar wrasse appears bloated on both sides and appears to be gasping. My wrasse has always been an aggressive eater and would hardly eat today.
I have never experienced anything like this with any tank.
I love my fish and hope you can help me to help them.
Thank you for any info. you have.
Shamie
<Sounds like manifestations of "old age", environmental degradation (do you have water quality tests? Am interested particularly in alkalinity), and/or nutritional deficiency of some sort... Would try improving their world by adding a bit of live rock, supplementing their foods, water with a vitamin, iodide and HUFA prep. (something like Selcon). Bob Fenner>

Wrasse Ailment? Thalassoma in a tiny world... temporarily   3/25/06
Hello, love the website.
I've got a 30 gallon FOWLR setup that's rather sparsely inhabited right now, a pair of tiny blue chromis, a flame angel (Currently with  
a reflection fixation) and a Lunar Wrasse
<These last two species need much more room>
that I rescued from a PetCo. The wrasse is by far the most active outgoing fish I've ever seen and so far has gotten along great with all his tankmates. The other day though I was watching him and noticed an odd sort of bump about midway down his back. Curious I moved some rock and netted him to examine the dump. It doesn't resemble ich at all, or a piece of his small dorsal that's been pulled loose.
<Very likely resultant from a physical injury...>
It looks like a piece of blue lint. Figuring it was just something that had gotten stuck to him. I tried to brush it off. To my surprise it seemed to be attached to his back. Stumped, I released him back into the tank. After a few minutes of sulking I coaxed him back out with some Formula One pellets and now he's happily swimming around again. Near as I can tell it isn't bothering him. Any ideas?
<The world's primary troubles are due to overly bloated large civil servant bases (including militaries... civil servants with guns)... The way out of this particular predicament is to do away with career, lifetime, free retirements...>
And while I'm writing, is a 65 watt PC light fixture enough to do some photosynthetic corals and anemones? Or should I go for the 2x65?  
The tank is 18 inches deep. And don't say Metal Halide, between bulb, fixture and power costs I just can't afford it in the long or short  
term.
<Posted... on WWM>
Thanks
Eric Jackson.
<Please read re these species "Systems" needs... on WWM... Thalassoma wrasses should not be kept in under 100 gallon systems... Bob Fenner>

A Lunar Phase?
Hi there.
<Good morning! Scott F. here!>
I have a quick question for you, that I didn't find any info on your site about.  I set up a 209G tank several months ago and is now home to a couple of baby triggers (3 inch Niger, 2 inch Queen, and 4 inch Blue line), "true" Black Volitans Lion (pitch black!), and a Arothron manilensis puff.
<Wow! That's a lot of fish that get HUGE in one tank, even a large one. These are pretty messy eaters, too, and can degrade water quality in no time if you don't stay on top of things (but I know that YOU will, right?) You may need to move everyone around for the long term in order for this community to work. The Queen Trigger is absolutely one of the nastiest fishes around...do keep an eye on the interactions in this tank as the fishes mature..>
Today at a LFS I work at a guy brought in a 4 inch Lunare or Moon Wrasse.  I bought him from him for only 5 dollars since he has HLLE (didn't know wrasses could get it, but I guess anything is possible).
<Yep- just about any fish can contract this malady>
I know how to cure it and the 209 tank gets Formula One, Formula Two, Brine Shrimp Plus, Prime Reef, VHP Formula, Angel Formula, and Spirulina Formula all in the Variety Pack made by Ocean Nutrition.
<All great foods- good choices! remember, water quality is also thought to play a role in HLLE, so be sure to keep on top of water changes and other maintenance relentlessly!>
I figure this should cure it in no time.  But the question is my boss said it is possible to keep a male female pair together in a large tank (Scott W. Michael also states this in his Marine Fish book).
<Yes- I've seen it done before>
We just got a 1.5inch baby Lunare in at my store.  So if I were to add the smaller one would they pair up or would they fight?
<Wow- really hard to say...could work, or could be a problem, due to the size disparity. also- there is the outside possibility that this little one could become "trigger food" in this tank...Personally, I'd think long term (particularly about how 3-4 fishes that can potentially reach 15-20 inches will live in this situation), and really avoid adding any more fishes to this tank. What a great excuse to set up another large tank! :). Seriously, you seem like a keen observer and fish lover, so I hope that you'll take this long-term view and make good decisions>
Sadly, our store has not had good luck with the Lunare's
but the one I got today is doing great.  He is very active and is like a sky blue neon kinda color.  Thanks for any help provided.  Kim
<Once again, Kim-I'd hold off on the purchase. Enjoy the fishes that you have now...Think about another tank in the future. Best of luck! Scott F.>

Sick Lunare Wrasse 07/01/05
Hi Guys
<And the divine goddesses here...>
As you have helped me out in the past thought I might try again. I have a very sick Lunare wrasse. Have had him for some time now around 8 months and he has always had a bit of a belly Recently it started getting larger and he had a few white patches develop around the swelling. He is in a five foot x2x4 tank all by himself and the water quality is good. I thought it was possibly a bacterial infection
So have treated him with the relevant LFS treatments, he has not responded and has become worse. I have been to the vets who also think it is bacterial and have given me some stronger antibiotics which I am now treating him with in a separate hospital tank. They have said if this does not work then they can inject however the mortality rate is high so am trying to avoid this. As he does not appear to be responding to the antibiotics is there anything else this could possibly be?
<My first and best guess... as you state the fish has always had a belly... is an internal parasite... I would try (in succession) an anthelminthic (like Praziquantel) and Metronidazole (in foods)...>
I have also notice a small hole developing behind his gills however it looks only skin deep at this stage? As the water is okay wondered if I am not feeding him the correct diet, have been feeding a mix of cockles and small mussels (rarely) is there anything better I could be feeding him?
<A wider mix of meaty, marine-originating foods. Fresh or frozen/defrosted, home-made or store bought>
Thanks any advice would be appreciated.
Kind Regards
Leigh
<Please read re the use of the stated medicines on WWM. Bob Fenner>

Constipation... ASAP fish help?!  9/21/05
Hello,
<Hi there>
I have a Red Sea Lunar  Wrasse whom is severely constipated, I just recently noticed that his rectum is swollen and red.. I called the local pet store and they said to feed him Spirulina to loosen his bowels.  This is a rare fish in which we paid quite a bit of money for and are very fond of....my question is can he die from this?
<Yes>
thanks for any information you can provide me with
<I would quickly move this fish to separate quarters and administer (add) about a level teaspoon per five actual gallons of system water of Epsom Salt (Magnesium sulfate) to the water... monitor behavior, aspects of cycling. The Spirulina takes too long, may not work... be eaten. Bob Fenner>

Strange growth under gill plate  11/15/05
Hi,
<Howdy>
I have a lunar wrasse in a 90 gal tank along with a queen angel,
<Will get too large... psychologically first, then if it survives, physiologically, for this system>
a Condy anemone and some hermit crabs. The problem is with the wrasse. He has a strange growth protruding from under his gill plate, toward the rear. It sticks out just past and along the edge of the back part of the gill plate. It is bubble-like in appearance and sort of translucent, not a solid looking mass of tissue. Kind of like little water filled balloons (it looks as strange as it sounds). It labors his breathing and he is more lethargic now. 
He has been lethargic with a decrease in appetite for several months and I suspected something was wrong. Well, this problem is visible now with this growth or whatever coming out from under his gill plate. It has been visible for several weeks now. He's been doing ok for a while now with it, other than the aforementioned symptoms and just not being his normal energetic and curious self.
<Likely the actual gill, branchiostegal (supporting member) itself... from a physical trauma... a bump, or jump...>
The system parameters are in healthy ranges - salinity 1.023-1.025 pH 8.1 temp. 76-78* Amm. 0 Nitrates 40 Nitrites 0
Everything else in the tank is fine and show no signs of illness. Do you have any idea what this could be? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
Tim
<This genus, species of wrasse/s are very active... the Angel could have "spooked" it... Not much to do re... but hope for a self-cure. Bob Fenner> 

Re: strange growth under gill plate  11/16/05
Thanks for the response. I've been watching it over time and it seems to be slowly growing/getting bigger. Would that be typical if it were caused by trauma?
<Mmm, yes... if not directly fatal, often this critically important tissue will enlarge, over-grow such traumas>
What concerns me most is the length of time that this has been a problem; it doesn't seem to getting any better; if anything, worse.  Also, were you referring to the angel or the wrasse about getting too big?
Thanks again for your help.
<The Queen. Bob Fenner>

Re: strange growth under gill plate  11/16/05
Hey Bob,
Sorry to keep bothering you with this same problem.
<No worries>
I looked up in fishbase the gill area, i.e. branchiostegal and membrane. That all looks normal on this fish. The growth is underneath that and coming from inside, out towards the back of the gill opening.
<Mmmm, could be a goiter... a tumorous growth related to Chromaffin tissue... akin to Thyroids in tetrapods>
It is getting bigger/swelling more.  Is there anything else inside there that could swell like this or is it maybe a growth of some other tissue? 
<Yes... I would immediately try adding iodine/iodate (Lugol's solution) to the fish's foods, and to the tank water once a week>
I'm afraid I'm going to lose this fish eventually and just would like to get this identified to see if anything can be done, so I appreciate you patience and help.
<Sorry for not mentioning this possibility earlier. Cheers, Bob Fenner> 

Re: strange growth under gill plate  11/17/05
Bob,
<Tim>
I got the Lugol's solution from Kent Marine. It gives directions for adding it to the water, but no info on how to use it in food. Should I use part of the recommended dosage in the food and the other part in the water? 
<A drop or two per food session is about right... ten, fifteen minutes before offering>
Do I only dose the food once a week - along with the water as you mentioned? Or does it need to be in the food daily/more frequently for now? It seems you really need to be careful with this stuff from what it says and I don't want
to over do it (or under either). Thanks again for all your help!
Tim
<Correct... In general one only wants to provide iodine/ide with testing. Not a real problem at this juncture, in your circumstances. Bob Fenner>