Blue jaw trigger is acting very odd

[Eggpaul]

Purchased a blue jaw trigger in April and he's acting odd the last few days. I don't see him eating. All the other fish are great. He was at the top of a return yesterday staring at everyone. Today he's upright in the corner. He's moving his back fin a lot every 30 seconds.

 

[JohnnyReef13]

Hey! So I'm not very experienced on treating triggers... that's where I mess up. I've had a Rectangle Trigger act like this, and he died a couple days later. I have no idea what from. It may have been because he was a new addition, but that was the second Rectangle I had that did that. I had a Niger do that as well, but never on my Picasso. Triggers are cool, some are really cool and interactive. I'd search for any threads like this. Hope he gets better!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Purchased a blue jaw trigger in April and he's acting odd the last few days. I don't see him eating. All the other fish are great. He was at the top of a return yesterday staring at everyone. Today he's upright in the corner. He's moving his back fin a lot every 30 seconds.

I cant see body well due to blue light (white is best) but I see what I believe is a bump. Any dot or imperfections on skin?
Is it breathing normal or labored?
It can or may be intimidated by other tankmates.
Can you furnish a video under white light intensity?

 

[Eggpaul]

I cant see body well due to blue light (white is best) but I see what I believe is a bump. Any dot or imperfections on skin?
Is it breathing normal or labored?
It can or may be intimidated by other tankmates.
Can you furnish a video under white light intensity?

He's been in the tank for months and started this behavior the last few days. There are no bumps on the body. He is moving slowly at the top and then finds the return tubes to rest on. Seems he is using his fins to move and not his back fin, as if he can't move it. I will try to get a video soon.

 

[Eggpaul]

I cant see body well due to blue light (white is best) but I see what I believe is a bump. Any dot or imperfections on skin?
Is it breathing normal or labored?
It can or may be intimidated by other tankmates.
Can you furnish a video under white light intensity?

I'll get a video tomorrow when he's in the front of the tank. He seems normal moving his eyes around looking at everything but won't eat or swim around. His back fin is bent against the back wall.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'll get a video tomorrow when he's in the front of the tank. He seems normal moving his eyes around looking at everything but won't eat or swim around. His back fin is bent against the back wall.

Unfortunately this image is very dark and fuzzy and of little help. What you submitted is what we see below. Again- No blue--- need white bright lighting

 

[vetteguy53081]

He's been in the tank for months and started this behavior the last few days. There are no bumps on the body. He is moving slowly at the top and then finds the return tubes to rest on. Seems he is using his fins to move and not his back fin, as if he can't move it. I will try to get a video soon.

Is it breathing normal or labored?
Any fish annoying or intimidating it especially any new additions?

 

[Eggpaul]

Is it breathing normal or labored?
Any fish annoying or intimidating it especially any new additions?

He looks VERY calm. No new additions. Nitrates are at 51, will do eater change today but everyone else is great.

 

[Eggpaul]

Unfortunately this image is very dark and fuzzy and of little help. What you submitted is what we see below. Again- No blue--- need white bright lighting

Here is a pic and 2 videos with white light. His back fin seems odd. Bent. I'll try to get a video of him trying to swim because he is hardly using his back fin.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here is a pic and 2 videos with white light. His back fin seems odd. Bent. I'll try to get a video of him trying to swim because he is hardly using his back fin.

With face pointed at surface, I suspect an oxygen issue but with gills such as flukes. Videos are not playing and really need to see the breathing rate

 

[Eggpaul]

Try this video. Close up of breathing.

 

[Eggpaul]

Here are 2 more videos.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here are 2 more videos.

These videos not playing. Can you post you tube version videos?

 

[Eggpaul]

Ok here

These videos not playing. Can you post you tube version videos?

Here you go. First video

2nd video

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok here

Here you go. First video

2nd video

I see evidence of tail nipping and likely intimidation from another fish. Other than copperband, what other fish are n tank with it?

 

[Eggpaul]

Fox face, yellow tang, blue star wrasse, 2 large clowns, large purple tang, anthias, yellow banded wrasse, red flame hawkish.
Did you see labored breathing?

 

[Eggpaul]

I see evidence of tail nipping and likely intimidation from another fish. Other than copperband, what other fish are n tank with it?

Oh wow, I just went to check on him and he was on the other side and the smaller clown fish was going after him biting his fin!! What should I do?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Oh wow, I just went to check on him and he was on the other side and the smaller clown fish was going after him biting his fin!! What should I do?

Remove the clown who is obviously the intimidator and aggressor as suspected. Place clown in am acclimation box or place it in sump for 7-10 days to allow the trigger to explore the tank and EAT

 

[klc]

Good job guys, I hope your trigger recovers without too much fuss.

 

[Eggpaul]

Ok, will do that. In the meantime I placed something where the clowns spend their time to get their focus off the trigger. Will he start eating? I think it's been 5 days.