Six line wrasse headaches...

Lascraigus

Lascraigus

New Member
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Hello! New member here. I just recently acquired a small 6 line wrasse that has acclimated well to his new environment! He (or she) is eating well, swimming, darting, eating some more, hanging about, getting along with his tank mates (a clown and chromis...I read wrasses are one of the last fish one should add, and I'll probably get a goby and that's it for my little 55) I've only had him for a day, but one thing caught my eye while observing it's behavior today: there appears to be a bump on the side of his head just behind the eye. It's not ich. It's the same color(s) as the rest of him, well formed and isolated (see picture). This bump was not present when I got him. I've searched various threads in the forum looking for an answer, and have seen it could be due to acclimation induced stress, a scrape while digging for copepods, or a parasitic copepod! I drip acclimated him for about 45 mins, just like all others. It just popped up out of nowhere, which leads me to thinking he just bumped his head while feeding. He's otherwise normal in every other respect. Should I just give him more time to adjust and see if it goes away? All other members of the tank, invertebrates and corals included, are happy and thriving! Any insight/feedback would be greatly appreciated! Happy reefing!
 
Lascraigus

Lascraigus

New Member
Hi trigger40, I actually do have a quarantine tank, but it's salinity is way off the mark and there is nothing in there right now. It's been set up for months now, and filtering too! If I can catch the wrasse, should I just empty it out and refill with display water?

Jay0705, it's just a bump! No discoloration. Long story short my parents went to Hawaii about 30 years ago and came back with a small decorative piece of white coral (also in the pic) and that's where he is sleeping at night, but if he's accidentally brushing against it I will take it out!
 
trigger40

trigger40

Well-Known Member
+1 to jay. but if you haft to do anything put it in the qt. one thing you can do right now is start getting your qt's water right. and giving your fish the environment possible untill this passes.
 
Lascraigus

Lascraigus

New Member
I'll be keeping an eye on him for the time being. The white spot on his tail isn't raised, and appears on both sides. From what I can tell it's a common feature to have a white spot in that location, but I'll keep an eye on that as well. Does anyone knows any info specific to that? As far as quarantine, I changed out my water after saving my waste water from the main tank and I'll try capturing him before the sun "goes down" and put him in! Thanks for all the advice guys!
 
Lascraigus

Lascraigus

New Member
I agree. All the other 6 lines next to him at the store had said spot, and I called another store I frequent and the owner said that's how they come! My qt is slowly ramping down temperature, as I had the heat set way too high! Once it hits 78 I'll put him in. Hopefully I won't have to pull apart all my rock work to get him out! May be a long, patience building sort of evening.
 
Lascraigus

Lascraigus

New Member
Interesting. I know he's eating well as most of my large pods vanish the next day. Curious to know HOW he eat those though....bc either the pods are molting due to growth, or the wrasse eats the insides and spits out the rest. Same with the bristol worms...I've seen what looks vaguely like shells or ghosts let's call them go flying about through my ecotech pump. He has some personality that's for sure.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Lol oh yes there pod hunters alright. Between him and my mandarins I doubt I have any pods lol
 
Lascraigus

Lascraigus

New Member
The pods in my sump don't know about him yet, but they will when they swim through the return! I am thinking about making a small fish trap to try and capture him that way...ideas? Maybe if I don't feed for a day, put some mysis into an inverted, new water jug only he can fit through and let him swim into it...idk. The bump on his side has completely gone away. However, there's now a white patch near his tail only on one side. Hopefully it's just part of the membrane he slept in last night, but I think he needs to go into quarantine for observation. If it sloughs off I'll know? I'll be watching closely. He's probably more stressed than I am, but hey...at least he doesn't have to buy Christmas presents! Tis the season...
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Lol bc he is already in your tank. I would just be patient and watch. If its anything contagious its already in the tank. If its just a nominal issue no harm no foul and u dont disturb your whole tank
 
Lascraigus

Lascraigus

New Member
A very good point indeed! Hopefully it's nothing, but I'm kicking myself for not having thought about using tank water to adjust my quarantine tank. Hindsight: always 20/20. Thanks again!
 
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