So I got a possum wrasse mailed in and it came in w/ the water temperature around 70 and the fish was upside down in the bag, it looked DOA but was still had quite a bit of movement (even though it was upside down). I acclimated it any ways since i thought maybe it had a chance but it was still swimming upside down with its stomach very very enlarged.
I had heard of people popping the swim bladder of fish they bring up from the deeper areas since they do not have time to treat the fish in a hyperbaric chamber. I looked up a video from reef builders and felt that either I give it a shot, or the fish would definitely be a fatality.
http://www.cfecf.com/venting.htm
http://reefbuilders.com/2011/12/01/...s-simple-procedure-correct-downswimming-fish/
Probably one of the most uncomfortable things I have ever had to do to my reef inhabitants!
I laid the wrasse out in a small tupperware with a bright light underneath and essentially stuck a small syringe into its swim bladder area until i saw bubbles come out, I had to do it twice until it fully deflated. I then put the wrasse into the tank in a very low flow area and it sank, so it was no longer swimming upside down, but also it was barely moving, it was not swimming, it was just laying on the rock looking around wildly and breathing slowly.
In the morning the fish was no longer on the rock, I assumed it had passed away and that a hermit crab or the brittle star had gotten ahold of it. I looked around for a dead body so there wouldnt be any pollution in the tank but was unable to find one.
2 days later- this morning I was feeding the tank and spotted a small possum wrasse dart out, grab a mysis and dart back under the rockwork. I shined my cell phone camera light down there and there he is! Swimming like a normal possum wrasse and eating heartily!
So it works! Its a bit unnerving but it worked! Just thought I should share my experience.
Has any one else had to do this ever?
I had heard of people popping the swim bladder of fish they bring up from the deeper areas since they do not have time to treat the fish in a hyperbaric chamber. I looked up a video from reef builders and felt that either I give it a shot, or the fish would definitely be a fatality.
http://www.cfecf.com/venting.htm
http://reefbuilders.com/2011/12/01/...s-simple-procedure-correct-downswimming-fish/
Probably one of the most uncomfortable things I have ever had to do to my reef inhabitants!
I laid the wrasse out in a small tupperware with a bright light underneath and essentially stuck a small syringe into its swim bladder area until i saw bubbles come out, I had to do it twice until it fully deflated. I then put the wrasse into the tank in a very low flow area and it sank, so it was no longer swimming upside down, but also it was barely moving, it was not swimming, it was just laying on the rock looking around wildly and breathing slowly.
In the morning the fish was no longer on the rock, I assumed it had passed away and that a hermit crab or the brittle star had gotten ahold of it. I looked around for a dead body so there wouldnt be any pollution in the tank but was unable to find one.
2 days later- this morning I was feeding the tank and spotted a small possum wrasse dart out, grab a mysis and dart back under the rockwork. I shined my cell phone camera light down there and there he is! Swimming like a normal possum wrasse and eating heartily!
So it works! Its a bit unnerving but it worked! Just thought I should share my experience.
Has any one else had to do this ever?
