Sick Royal Grammar Basslet
 

I have been in the reefing hobby for 2 years now, and have always had a Royal Grammar Basslet. I lost the first when I had an outbreak of ich, but after nuking my tank and treating the remaining fish in a QT, I decided to get another. I have had this one for 6 months.

I know RGB's have some quirky behaviors, but mine started to remain hidden more and I would only see him come out at feeding time. I thought he might be being bullied, but it was not obvious who that could have been, as I never saw anything untoward going on. Then one morning, he was lying on his side at the bottom of the tank, and I thought he'd died. When I went to remove him, he moved.

I already had a QT up and running, so I got him in there, and treated him with Cupramine, though there were no outward signs of disease. I did that for a couple of weeks, and little changed. So, I removed the Cupramine, and had no medication in there. I then started treating with Metroplex, thinking it might be a gut parasite. But again, there does not seem to be much change. This has been going on for about 5 weeks now.

The RGB is still alive, and will take food, though I have to literally drop the food in front of his face. His breathing is not labored.

The fish I have in the DT are:
Jawfish
2 clowns
Foxface Rabbitfish
dwarf angel (since died)
watchman goby
Court Jester goby
Hoevens wrasse

Though since moving him to the QT tank, these fish have no impact on him, as he's on his own in there. The QT is a 20g with a hang on filter with a built in skimmer. The tank is cycled, and I keep a close eye on nutrients. both tanks have no nutrient issues as I carbon dose and all that jazz... so I'm kind of stumped. Is it possible for a fish to be depressed? Any thoughts?

Thanks

What is the right way to understand what the author means?

Grammas are somewhat reclusive. Of the fish you list, he will be eyeing the positions of the 2 clowns, the rabbitfish, any angel, and probably the wrasse. Nothing wrong with him. He is just of that nature, and will come out for feeding. If he misses that, something more serious is wrong. Mine is in a 100 gallon tank with 2 ocellaris clowns, a watchman, and a chromis damsel, and even so is often in the rockwork.