my poor little wrasse....

[galina]

My cleaner wrasse has been in my aquarium for about a week now. When he was first put in, he was very active and constantly swam around the entire aquarium. Well.. now he seems to just stay at the surface. He looks like he's struggling a little bit, and sometimes he rolls over on his side. My aquarium is finishing up the cycle, (I know I shouldn't have a fish like him in there at this time.. read my post titled "Emergency?!" for the story there).
He dosn't seem to eat any of food I've tried to give him. The food pellets that my other fish eat, marine fish flakes, or mysis shrimp.
He sometimes picks at my other fish though.
What could be wrong with him?
Please help..
Galina

 

[fshhub]

hungry, they often only eat parasites, and are difficult to keep unless you have a very large community tank with plenty of fish for him ot clean(for food), constantly

 

[galina]

I only have two others... A yellow tang and a tomato clown.. any advice?
Galina

 

[teetee]

galina,
sorry to hear about yor wrasse, but the cleaner wrasse is one of those fish that are best left in the ocean. They have a very poor survival rate in captivity. I can't believe that lfs's still stock these fish! Irks me! <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" /> Unfortunately, I don't think that much good advice regarding the health of the wrasse can be offered. Maybee your lfs would be able to reimburse you (as this fish should not be sold in the first place), although I doubt it. TT

 

[galina]

Argh
What do you guys think I should do?
The fish was bought for me as a gift.. and if it dies the person who gave it to me is going to be pretty upset.. They paid 35 dollars for it.
Can someone tell me what I should do?
Galina

 

[galina]

I don't have any other tanks. Just the 29. Can someone tell me what they think I should do, instead of giving me all these depressing facts?
Galina

 

[beth]

There just isn't an answer that you are going to want to hear in this senario. Sorry.
The best you can do, is ask the LFS to keep him for you while you finish cycling your tank.
What are you water readings? Ammonia and Nitrite?

 

[reef newbie]

You should get a six lined wrasse.I have had my for months now and he's doing great.He eats flake food , brine shrimp and he picks at some of my fish too.I'm sorry to hear that your cleaner wrasse is not doing so well.My lfs told me that they don't last long .Cleaners that is.