Clown Problems

Bear · 11-01-2006, 07:28 PM

I am now on my second pair of clowns.

The first pair hung around in the back near one of the powerhead's filters and after about a week, and then they hid under a rock for a few more days. I took them out to take them to the store later that day, put them in a tupperware and later found them both dead.

I now have a second pair that are in the back with the same filter. these 2 seem to travel around the tank much more, but are acting weird, as the other 2 were. one is breathing quickly and the other is not closing his mouth. everything else in the tank is doing fine and has been since before what happened with the other 2.

I was wrong when i got them, they are not tank bred. I will post a pic later.

CollegeReefer · 11-01-2006, 07:38 PM

What are your levels at? How long did you accclimate them? Did you QT them first? How long did your tank cycle? How long was your system up for? It is not that weird that the clowns hosted the power head. I have heard my stories of this occuring. I am not exactly sure why you got rid of your first clowns. How long did you have them again?

Bear · 11-01-2006, 07:47 PM

they died...that's why i got rid of them. I don't think that they were eating. My levels are perfect. the tank was set up for about 3 weeks at first, the tank was cycled for 3 weeks. they were not QT'd at my house, but were at the LFS (my friend works at the store and did this for me) they were eating there, but not in my tank.

I have a 6 line wrasse and 2 firefish that are all doing great.

**Fishfirst** · 11-01-2006, 09:40 PM

hmmm... since the tank has only been up for 3 weeks I'd say its probably a case of going too fast. Three weeks is not enough time at all for a full cycle... especially in a marine tank that doesn't have the Dissolved Oxygen like a freshwater tank has. Already having 5 fish in 3 weeks without quarentine is definately not advisable, even when your friend at the LFS is quarentining for you.

BTW: Are the firefish a mated pair??? If not, be prepared to only have one in a few months.

Bear · 11-01-2006, 10:35 PM

the firefish are a pair. I guess if the problem with these clowns continue I will make sure and lay off the fish for a while. Thanks!

oh...how long would you think it would take before it wouldbe fine to add more fish?

Damon · 11-02-2006, 08:17 AM

I woudl wait at least 4-6 more weeks, minimal. Acclimating them is also crucial.

Ice · 11-02-2006, 08:57 AM

Always QT your livestock. Even if you bought it at your lfs. A good idea to set one up in your home. I'll have to agree with Fishfirst. Way too fast adding more livestock within 3-4 weeks.

MaryPa · 11-02-2006, 09:05 AM

How did you acclimate the clowns?

Bear · 11-02-2006, 10:02 AM

15 mins in a bag, then about a 1/4 cup from the main tank every next 15 mins for a couple hours

harif87 · 11-02-2006, 11:44 AM

Try acclimating using the drip method. Its usually slow enough not to cause any shock to fish and inverts.

**Fishfirst** · 11-02-2006, 12:57 PM

sounds like your acclimation is acceptible... I think the biggest thing you are missing is quarentine

Bear · 11-02-2006, 01:12 PM

what would a QT have done in this process (not attacking you, just trying to learn to help set up a QT later)

Ice · 11-02-2006, 02:23 PM

A QT helps you watch for any unexpected stress or illnesses before putting him your actual tank. Read up on why a QT is a must-have. It also can double as a hospital tank if one of your fishes get sick.

Bear · 11-02-2006, 05:01 PM

well, ive got one in mind and will pick it up today.

flamingo · 11-02-2006, 05:46 PM

If no one minds me bringing this up .... "levels were perfect" ?

Have any tests you've done? If so you should be able to post what you've found. I don't mean to sound rude, but perfect in one person's perspective might not be in anothers. I've heard people with high nitrite or nitrate levels call it "perfect" before also. Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates all at zero or the last two almost at zero? If they are a little high, it of course would have taken a while to kill off your fish, a few days of being in water with trace amounts of ammonia may not kill most fish, IMHO.

Bear · 11-02-2006, 05:54 PM

sorry, i should have been specific

ammonia =0
nitrite=0
nitrate<5

**Fishfirst** · 11-03-2006, 11:50 AM

pH?

Qt can be as simple as a 10 gallon tank with a florescent light, a HOB filter, a heater and a bit of PVC on the bottom for the fish to hide in. No substrate decor or anything else required.

Ice · 11-03-2006, 02:02 PM

You can add a little bit live rock rubbles too if you want. Not alot of it though.

flamingo · 11-03-2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ice

You can add a little bit live rock rubbles too if you want. Not alot of it though.

Substrates and rocks shouldn't be placed in quarantine.

My quarantine tank is just a ten gallon with hood, a HOB millenium filter, an air stone, and a plastic plant inside.

Bear · 11-03-2006, 09:07 PM

ok, well i have the QT now and will set it up some time tomorrow, the clowns died and I will be holding out on the new clowns for a few days, which will be going in the QT. if I am getting an anemone for these new clowns would it be a good idea to get it at the same time as the fish, one that they are already hosting?

11-01-2006, 07:28 PM	#1
Bear Salty Pants Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In a Big Yellow House Age: 21 Posts: 902	Clown Problems I am now on my second pair of clowns. The first pair hung around in the back near one of the powerhead's filters and after about a week, and then they hid under a rock for a few more days. I took them out to take them to the store later that day, put them in a tupperware and later found them both dead. I now have a second pair that are in the back with the same filter. these 2 seem to travel around the tank much more, but are acting weird, as the other 2 were. one is breathing quickly and the other is not closing his mouth. everything else in the tank is doing fine and has been since before what happened with the other 2. I was wrong when i got them, they are not tank bred. I will post a pic later. __________________ My Reef My Puffer Tank My Photos

11-01-2006, 07:47 PM	#3
Bear Salty Pants Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In a Big Yellow House Age: 21 Posts: 902	they died...that's why i got rid of them. I don't think that they were eating. My levels are perfect. the tank was set up for about 3 weeks at first, the tank was cycled for 3 weeks. they were not QT'd at my house, but were at the LFS (my friend works at the store and did this for me) they were eating there, but not in my tank. I have a 6 line wrasse and 2 firefish that are all doing great. __________________ My Reef My Puffer Tank My Photos

11-01-2006, 09:40 PM	#4
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,650 Blog Entries: 5	hmmm... since the tank has only been up for 3 weeks I'd say its probably a case of going too fast. Three weeks is not enough time at all for a full cycle... especially in a marine tank that doesn't have the Dissolved Oxygen like a freshwater tank has. Already having 5 fish in 3 weeks without quarentine is definately not advisable, even when your friend at the LFS is quarentining for you. BTW: Are the firefish a mated pair??? If not, be prepared to only have one in a few months. __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

11-01-2006, 10:35 PM	#5
Bear Salty Pants Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In a Big Yellow House Age: 21 Posts: 902	the firefish are a pair. I guess if the problem with these clowns continue I will make sure and lay off the fish for a while. Thanks! oh...how long would you think it would take before it wouldbe fine to add more fish? __________________ My Reef My Puffer Tank My Photos Last edited by Bear; 11-01-2006 at 10:40 PM.

11-02-2006, 08:17 AM	#6
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,972	I woudl wait at least 4-6 more weeks, minimal. Acclimating them is also crucial. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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11-01-2006, 07:38 PM	#2
CollegeReefer Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Stevens Pont, Wisconsin Age: 23 Posts: 391	What are your levels at? How long did you accclimate them? Did you QT them first? How long did your tank cycle? How long was your system up for? It is not that weird that the clowns hosted the power head. I have heard my stories of this occuring. I am not exactly sure why you got rid of your first clowns. How long did you have them again?

11-02-2006, 08:57 AM	#7
Ice Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Age: 43 Posts: 550	Always QT your livestock. Even if you bought it at your lfs. A good idea to set one up in your home. I'll have to agree with Fishfirst. Way too fast adding more livestock within 3-4 weeks.

11-02-2006, 09:05 AM	#8
MaryPa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenville,Pa. Age: 58 Posts: 270	How did you acclimate the clowns? __________________ 125 gal. 5 Clown Loaches 4 Phantom Tetras 8 Hyphessobrycon vilmae tetras 1 SAE 1 ABN Pleco 5 Bronze Cory 9 Gold barbs 55gal 1 Angelicus 1 Clown Pleco 1 ABN Pleco 12 cories 2 Discus 55 gal Severum, Blood Parrot 55 1 Threadfin Rainbow 4 cherry Barbs CT Betta 2 Bumble Bee Catfish1 Swordtail Guppy Male 29 gal Platies 29gal Cories 29gal Endlers and RCS 10 Swordtail guppy females and fry

11-02-2006, 10:02 AM	#9
Bear Salty Pants Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In a Big Yellow House Age: 21 Posts: 902	15 mins in a bag, then about a 1/4 cup from the main tank every next 15 mins for a couple hours __________________ My Reef My Puffer Tank My Photos

11-02-2006, 11:44 AM	#10
harif87 Minor Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Age: 21 Posts: 995	Try acclimating using the drip method. Its usually slow enough not to cause any shock to fish and inverts. __________________ sorry for beating you senseless "The human torch was denied a bank loan"

11-02-2006, 12:57 PM	#11
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,650 Blog Entries: 5	sounds like your acclimation is acceptible... I think the biggest thing you are missing is quarentine __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

11-02-2006, 01:12 PM	#12
Bear Salty Pants Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In a Big Yellow House Age: 21 Posts: 902	what would a QT have done in this process (not attacking you, just trying to learn to help set up a QT later) __________________ My Reef My Puffer Tank My Photos

11-02-2006, 02:23 PM	#13
Ice Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Age: 43 Posts: 550	A QT helps you watch for any unexpected stress or illnesses before putting him your actual tank. Read up on why a QT is a must-have. It also can double as a hospital tank if one of your fishes get sick.

11-02-2006, 05:01 PM	#14
Bear Salty Pants Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In a Big Yellow House Age: 21 Posts: 902	well, ive got one in mind and will pick it up today. __________________ My Reef My Puffer Tank My Photos

11-02-2006, 05:46 PM	#15
flamingo One Word: Croutons. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 17 Posts: 1,878	If no one minds me bringing this up .... "levels were perfect" ? Have any tests you've done? If so you should be able to post what you've found. I don't mean to sound rude, but perfect in one person's perspective might not be in anothers. I've heard people with high nitrite or nitrate levels call it "perfect" before also. Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates all at zero or the last two almost at zero? If they are a little high, it of course would have taken a while to kill off your fish, a few days of being in water with trace amounts of ammonia may not kill most fish, IMHO. __________________ I'm still around from time to time. If you'd like to chat, send me a pm and i'll tell you where to contact me

11-02-2006, 05:54 PM	#16
Bear Salty Pants Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In a Big Yellow House Age: 21 Posts: 902	sorry, i should have been specific ammonia =0 nitrite=0 nitrate<5 __________________ My Reef My Puffer Tank My Photos

11-03-2006, 11:50 AM	#17
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,650 Blog Entries: 5	pH? Qt can be as simple as a 10 gallon tank with a florescent light, a HOB filter, a heater and a bit of PVC on the bottom for the fish to hide in. No substrate decor or anything else required. __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

11-03-2006, 02:02 PM	#18
Ice Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Age: 43 Posts: 550	You can add a little bit live rock rubbles too if you want. Not alot of it though.

11-03-2006, 09:07 PM	#20
Bear Salty Pants Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: In a Big Yellow House Age: 21 Posts: 902	ok, well i have the QT now and will set it up some time tomorrow, the clowns died and I will be holding out on the new clowns for a few days, which will be going in the QT. if I am getting an anemone for these new clowns would it be a good idea to get it at the same time as the fish, one that they are already hosting? __________________ My Reef My Puffer Tank My Photos

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