Chromis swimming vertically

[LeslieS]

Two weekends ago, I went out of town and came home to one dead fire fish and one severely beaten up chromis. I thought they were in a fight.

I put the chromis who was hanging out on the sand in a quarantine tank. He started swimming around after a day. After two days, he started swimming on a 45 degree angle. After four days, he died.

Two weeks later, today, I notice a fish swimming around after lights out. It is another chromis, and he is swimming on an angle and definitely having trouble controlling his direction.

Could they get the same sickness two weeks apart?

All parameters are as they should be except nitrate which is at 20.

Any help would be appreciated!!!!

 

[ZANYMASTER]

I think they call it swim bladder when they swim like that.I thought it happened mostly with fresh water fish.Sounds like something went wrong when you went away.

 

[KathyC]

The two incidents may not be related.
Is the Chromis swimming with his nose pointing toward the surface of the water? How is his coloring? Any cloudiness at all in his eyes?

Sorry that you lost the 2 fish.

 

[Quang]

how did their fins look?

one chromis i had got sucked through a HOB filter and came out all beatened up, resulting in erratic swimming b/c of the fin damages.

is something picking at your chromis while they sleep at night? fin damage is my only guess.

 

[LeslieS]

OK, updating this post. Was using a flashlight last night, but now all lights are on.

Fins are definitely ragged. Eyes are not cloudy, but he has several rough patches in his scales that look like sores. He also looks pinched right under his mouth.

I know the two incidents may not be related, but he is looking more and more like the chromis that died.

Some of the chromis sleeping places have developed aptasia. Could that be the problem?

I added one thing to the tank last week. Before that I had not added anything since the spring frag swap.

 

[LeslieS]

OK, just fed the tank. The sick chromis was excited when I added the food to the water, but didn't eat. I put some food in front of him and he ignored it. He was picking at one of the snails and bumped into the urchin. His eyes look clear, but he seems disoriented.

Also, one of the big chromis is chasing him. They were all getting along yesterday morning, but maybe they changed their minds while I was at work?

 

[jhale]

sounds like they are fighting and killing each other off.

Kedd should be able to help you, he's had large schools of them for years and knows their habits.

 

[prattreef]

They slowly, but surely pick each other off---particularly in a smaller system.

 

[meschaefer]

sounds like they are fighting and killing each other off.

Kedd should be able to help you, he's had large schools of them for years and knows their habits.

I hope he adds his two cents. I would absolutely put a school of chromis in my tank, but for the infighting that seems to eventually happen to everybody.

 

[ShaunW]

Sorry that your fish is sick Leslie, .

My chromis fight but seem to not harm each other. I personally think it is because of all the hiding places and defensive zones in my tank. With all the acro branches available the chromis can swin into them and between them for cover. Kedd's tank is similar in set up.

 

[Kedd]

I have about 15 Chromis in my tank, and 2 pairs that are always laying eggs.
When these pairs are nesting or have eggs they are VERY nasty to ALL that come near, even me.
The other Chromis stay very clear at these times, and the ones that haven't either get beaten into rocks or are forced to jump out of the tank.
Out of the 25 I put in about 4 years ago 15 are the ones that figured it out.
I saw a few of mine swimming on their side as yours are and all were wounded, scales gone and fins ripped.
It's been about a year since I've lost one, but the next one to challange either will or won't win, and I'm sure to lose another.

If you see damage on the fish this may be starting in your tank, and I think you just have to let them sort it out.


Kedd

 

[Deanos]

Two weeks later, today, I notice a fish swimming around after lights out. It is another chromis, and he is swimming on an angle and definitely having trouble controlling his direction.

Swim bladder Disease

Excerpt: Swim bladder disease can be a by-product of a number of different bacterial and parasitical infections in the fish.

 

[Kedd]

I'm sure it can be many things, but a severe injury, at least from what I've seen can cause this type of behavior also.

Just my 2 cents.

Kedd

 

[Kedd]

Fins are definitely ragged. Eyes are not cloudy, but he has several rough patches in his scales that look like sores. He also looks pinched right under his mouth.

BTW why is the LPS up in the corner?
I need to learn how to quote and use this site. LOL.

Kedd

 

[meschaefer]

I have about 15 Chromis in my tank, and 2 pairs that are always laying eggs.
When these pairs are nesting or have eggs they are VERY nasty to ALL that come near, even me.
The other Chromis stay very clear at these times, and the ones that haven't either get beaten into rocks or are forced to jump out of the tank.
Out of the 25 I put in about 4 years ago 15 are the ones that figured it out.
I saw a few of mine swimming on their side as yours are and all were wounded, scales gone and fins ripped.
It's been about a year since I've lost one, but the next one to challange either will or won't win, and I'm sure to lose another.

If you see damage on the fish this may be starting in your tank, and I think you just have to let them sort it out.


Kedd

25 Chromis!!??...what size tank?

 

[Kedd]

210

 

[meschaefer]

210

I really don't want to hijack this thread...at least not to much, but...

What other fish do you have in that tank..15 chromis and...?

The stocking possibilities for my new 220 are driving me insane.

 

[jhale]

kedds tank

 

[LeslieS]

Thanks for the input everyone. They have been so good for over a year now, that I thought they would get along for life.

Jack used to boss them around and keep them schooling, but he seems to have lost interest in them. The fire fish was also pretty bossy. Coral magazine said that a more aggressive fish is really needed to keep them from picking at eachother, but I don't really want to add more fish.

I guess I will wait and see how it all works out.