HELP! Lyretail Anthias dieing...

[elephen]

I have a couple of Lyretail Anthias which I have had for a little over 2 years now...

After not observing the male come out to eat this evening I got suspucious because typically he is the first one out when it comes to food...

I grabbed a flashlight since the halides were off (atinics on) and began hunting... Surely enough I found him in his usual hangout but he was very pale and lathargic.

Shortly thereafter I noticed the back of him stick out from the cropping of rock and on his right side about 1/4" behind his gill he has a very large 'bulging' that looks bloody coming out, almost as if he is growing an arm (hah), he is experiencing labored 'breating' if thats what you would call it.
Any ideas whats going on with him, I'm pretty sure by the AM he'll be gone but I want to know what caused it.

Could he of eaten a foreign object that he could not digest/swallow that would be trying to slowly push its way out of him?

[elephen]

It's really weird, wish I could snap a picture of it.

[gwen_o_lyn]

awww sorry about your fishie

[elephen]

Thanks, I would just like to know what happened so I can prevent it in the future, I hate losing fish after I've had them for 2+ years. I have lost 4 in the last few weeks since I went from a 75g SSB to a 120g BB tank.

[KG]

Here are some links that might help:

http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/...-Disease-2.htm
http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/diseases.html
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...hdiseases.html

Good luck! Hope you figure it out,
KG

[ouccmich]

Oh no! I'm thinking of upgrading my tank in a year. How come you lost 4 fish? I am afraid of that happening but I have no choice....(moving back home)

[ChrisPrusha]

Stress caused by upgrading/moving/etc can have all sorts of effects on fish. Most of them negative, unfortunately. I am sorry for your fish.

[elephen]

Just seems odd that for 2-3 weeks they were perfectly fine and acting as they always have (along with eating like pigs).