Please Help ...Wrasse is dying

I purchased a Fairy Wrasse and a firefish today. My water tested perfectly just before. (Last h20 change was 5 days ago, from the same LFS, as always). They both acclimated well and swam curiously and happily all day ...had a great appetite during feeding). 12 hours later: The wrasse has tucked himself in a cave and is breathing somewhat rapidly and has a little mucus around him as of this past hour. Im sick over this, Im sure hes dying. Are there any suggestions or helpful info?

He has been at my LFS for a week ...I wanted to be sure he was healthy before purchasing him ....healthy as can be there, and for the first half of today. (The firefish is fine)

 

Honestly, I would just let him be. When I aclimated my wrasse he did the same thing only with no mucus.

Here's a bump!

 

Thanks for the bump phish k+. I fed again and he showed no interest while the others devoured. Selenity is good ....all params are spot on. I just tested again 5 mins ago.

 

Hopefully he is just stressed out. When wrasses are really stressed they hide and often times put a protective mucus coating over themselves. I hope he pulls through!

 

Thanks for your reply brad. He's still alive this morning ....still hiding, not as much mucous , and his eyes are moving unlike last night. I'm not out of the woods yet but I'm encouraged. Off to test the water again... always neurotic about my parameters.

 

he's just sleeping =) no worries he'll wake up and be just fine. the laying down on the rock and cover w/ stuff is normal behavior

 

Really? Thanks baller (I wont call you by the first part of your alias ...lol). Im testing and he just came out ...made my day! PH is low this morning ..7.8 or 7.9. This is a first. My params are always spot on. I add buffer daily ...perhaps Ill add a little more.

 

yea looks like a solon fairy wrasse. same thing happen to me the first one i got. scared the crap out of me lol.

 

Yep, Hes a Salon Fairy... He seems lethargic, but hes out of his cave and moving around.

 

wrasses do that when they are stressed, sleep or are acclimating. They bury themself under a rock or in a hole, cover themself in mucous and hide! You may not see them for days on end, then one day he will come out and be fine!