Blue Throat Trigger acting strangely

[Gritbob]

We've had our BTT in our tank for about two years now. Great little fish, fun to watch. Within the last two days, he hasn't come out of his sleeping spot. He was wedged in there yesterday like normal sleeping (except it was during the day) and was breathing, and an occasional fin movement. Then closer to bedtime last night, he had turned around, and was resting on the bottom of the tank in his "cave". This morning I found him in his cave, but tail facing the front of the tank....never saw that before. He is still breathing, and with fin movement. He didn't come out for the third feed cycle since he started acting weird.

Any idea what is going on? I know they hide when they are new in the tank, because they are scared. But after two years....something must be wrong. Usually he is trying to swim into the glass that I am scooping water out to feed them in....he is that friendly.

No new fish introduced into the tank recently, other than a matted filefish to replace one that had died. The new one didn't last long because he got stuck on the power heads and the overflow return one to many times.

The only thing I can think of is that our cleaner shrimp just molted, and maybe trigger ate the carcass and it doesn't agree with him??

Thanks for any input.

[150Ron]

It hard to say at this point. Just keep an eye on him. Hurry up and wait.

[BigBlueTang]

We've had our BTT in our tank for about two years now. Great little fish, fun to watch. Within the last two days, he hasn't come out of his sleeping spot. He was wedged in there yesterday like normal sleeping (except it was during the day) and was breathing, and an occasional fin movement. Then closer to bedtime last night, he had turned around, and was resting on the bottom of the tank in his "cave". This morning I found him in his cave, but tail facing the front of the tank....never saw that before. He is still breathing, and with fin movement. He didn't come out for the third feed cycle since he started acting weird.

Any idea what is going on? I know they hide when they are new in the tank, because they are scared. But after two years....something must be wrong. Usually he is trying to swim into the glass that I am scooping water out to feed them in....he is that friendly.

No new fish introduced into the tank recently, other than a matted filefish to replace one that had died. The new one didn't last long because he got stuck on the power heads and the overflow return one to many times.

The only thing I can think of is that our cleaner shrimp just molted, and maybe trigger ate the carcass and it doesn't agree with him??

Thanks for any input.

How long ago did you add the filefish? And did you QT him? If not.. thats a different beast. Can you get a picture of him?

[Gritbob]

The filefish was added Wed 11/25, and I pulled the filefish out of the tank on Sunday 11/29. The filefish had it's own issues, out of being dumb, getting stuck to the mp10 powerhead. I rescued him a few times, and took action to prevent him from sticking to the powerhead. Then he got stuck on the tank return. I think that did him in. I put him in a breeder box, where he ate and survived an extra day before he croaked. I yanked him out of the tank as soon as that happened. No QT on the filefish. May be a dumb question, but wouldn't ich, or something like that effect ALL the fish, and not just one?

Trigger has been fine until Yesterday.

Can't get a picture. He is in his cave, under the rocks. IF I can get a picture, I will post it for sure to help out.

[snorvich]

No QT on the filefish. May be a dumb question, but wouldn't ich, or something like that effect ALL the fish, and not just one?

Eventually, yes.

Trigger has been fine until Yesterday.



The time line and reclusive behavior suggests velvet.