Paralized Panther Grouper

[swill]

We have had a panther grouper for about 8 months now. We got him quite small but is now about 6" approx. He's kept in our 300 gallon FOWLR tank. About a month ago we noticed him laying flat on his side on the bottom and breathing heavy. We figured he was going to die and left him overnight to see if he had become food for the rest of the tank. We woke up to him still in the same spot and when we fed the tank he actually ate. It was strange to watch though because he only ate when the food came to him, he didn't really get up or swim to the food, it floated by him so he grabbed it. After about 4 days of this activity we decided to take him out of the tank (mostly because he was now missing a small part of his tail)

He now lives in a 10 gallon with 3 tiny chromis (it's our sons tank and it was our only option.) He's been in that tank for about a month. He eats daily but only when the food comes to him. He is always laying flat on his side. I'm going to make a video and post it on youtube to show you what I mean. I am wondering if its possible he's paralized and if so what would have caused that and is there anything I can do??

TY

[swill]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdXi4A66bMI
Youtube video of the fish

[daniella3d]

Ok I see the video now. wierd. How long he's been like that?

Maybe a infection of the swim bladder? I would treat him in a quarantine tank with antibiotics. Since there is nothing apparent on the outside beside the tail, it could really be internal.

I would treat with metronidazole and prazipro in case of internal parasites, but I would first treat with antibiotics in a quarantine tank. You could as well put some epsom salt to help in case there would be a blockage in his intestine that can cause this but since he's still eating, I doubt he has a blockage.

[daniella3d]

The more I watch the video the more I think it's a swim bladder problem.


If you can get him to eat food soaked in metronidazole, that might help faster.

[Pirates_Gold]

Initial thoughts are Flukes, primarily due to the rapid breathing. Other symptoms might include redenning of skin, flashing and sunken belly. Try a freshwater dip (same temperature & pH as aquarium water) for 5-10 minutes. Osmotic shock will cause most parasites to detach its host. If there is a heavy infestaion, do not dip too long as it can cause additional damage to the Grouper. Return the fish to your aquarium and check the freshwater container for small, translucent flat parasites. If you find Flukes or other Trematode parasites, you may need to treat the entire system with a product called Prazi-Pro.

[swill]

He's been like this for about a month, no better or worse. I will have to do some research on everything that is being posted here as I have never heard of most of things being suggested (besides freshwater dip)

Thanks for the response so far.

[swill]

Originally Posted by Pirates_Gold

Initial thoughts are Flukes, primarily due to the rapid breathing. Other symptoms might include redenning of skin, flashing and sunken belly. Try a freshwater dip (same temperature & pH as aquarium water) for 5-10 minutes. Osmotic shock will cause most parasites to detach its host. If there is a heavy infestaion, do not dip too long as it can cause additional damage to the Grouper. Return the fish to your aquarium and check the freshwater container for small, translucent flat parasites. If you find Flukes or other Trematode parasites, you may need to treat the entire system with a product called Prazi-Pro.

He did have what looked like bloody skin awhile back just before he started acting like this actually, not sure about the sunken belly...what is flashing?

[daniella3d]

I doubt it's flukes. I had to deal many times with fluke on marine and freshwater fish and that never caused them to lose balance.

Flashing is scratching on side of rock and objects. I don't see it breathing fast. Often a fish infected with flukes will breath from only one side and very very fast, at least that's what hapened with most of my fish that were contaminated with flukes.

Prazipro is a good med to try anyway because if he's got a blockage in the intestine from worms it will take care of it. It is reef safe as well. I used it to cure my copperband from flukes and it did not dammage to my corals or invert in the tank, not even my feather dusters and not even the flat worms.

It does clear any internal worms as well as flukes. Can't hurt to treat.

What keep a fish in balance is its swim bladder. If this is not working properly the fish will not be able to float, or will lose balance. It is difficult to treat. Sometime it start with an infection and it heal but it can be permanent dammage as well.

If he's like that for a month, chances are that the infection is gone, if it was due to an infection. If it is due to internal parasites, then Prazipro and metronidazole should help.

You could treat with prazipro and soak the food in metronidazole. That's what I would do.

Originally Posted by swill

He did have what looked like bloody skin awhile back just before he started acting like this actually, not sure about the sunken belly...what is flashing?

[swill]

So far we have tried a fresh water dip and gave him epsom salt and still no real difference in his behavior. I don't see him eat now though which maybe because of the fresh water dip. We're ordered some Prazi-Pro and metronidazole from online but of course have to wait for it to come in the joys of living in such a small town. I will post again when and if anything changes. I've never had a fish survive this long who is clearly sick, I wish I would have acted quicker but I just assumed he was going to die at the beginning of all this.

[Snaz]

Best to end it's misery I think. As stated it is swim bladder problems or something else affecting it's balance. In the wild it would be crab food by now, harsh I know but a fish that does not swim is sad.