I bought 6 fishes from saltwaterfish.com. The 5 are still alive, look well, but one clown died today. The other one is swimming happily about around one side of the tank.
I did notice that the clown that died has very rapid breathing. In fact, both clowns were breathing rapidly on the first day, but it calmed. On the first day, the "sick" one stayed at the bottom of the sand, upright. He didnt move much and I was very worried about the rapid gill action. It did not go away on the 2nd day, but the two were swimming around the tank so I brushed it off.
Was improper acclimation the cause? (I just read that floating too long causes ammonia spike when exposed to air) Also, the water the clowns were in had a green tint, my guess something added to help surviving the trip. I did the cup method, adding 1/8 cup water every 15 min. Their SG was at 30 ppt (about 1.020) so it was a very gradual climb to 1.023. (total acclimation 1.5 hrs)
I am using a 55 gal as my QT, it has sand LR and filters, etc. Basically a normal FOWLR tank. All readings are 0 (its an old established tank from a friend, but I did a fishless "re-cycle" for 2 months anyways) and I set SG at 33 ppt (about 1.023). I use an electronic meter instead of refractos.
As far as eating, neither has been eating yet. Im thinking could the environment be too big for them so they are scared? They are 1" juvies. They are going into a 125 once QTed.
Trying to understand what I did wrong, I feel like a fish murderer.
I did notice that the clown that died has very rapid breathing. In fact, both clowns were breathing rapidly on the first day, but it calmed. On the first day, the "sick" one stayed at the bottom of the sand, upright. He didnt move much and I was very worried about the rapid gill action. It did not go away on the 2nd day, but the two were swimming around the tank so I brushed it off.
Was improper acclimation the cause? (I just read that floating too long causes ammonia spike when exposed to air) Also, the water the clowns were in had a green tint, my guess something added to help surviving the trip. I did the cup method, adding 1/8 cup water every 15 min. Their SG was at 30 ppt (about 1.020) so it was a very gradual climb to 1.023. (total acclimation 1.5 hrs)
I am using a 55 gal as my QT, it has sand LR and filters, etc. Basically a normal FOWLR tank. All readings are 0 (its an old established tank from a friend, but I did a fishless "re-cycle" for 2 months anyways) and I set SG at 33 ppt (about 1.023). I use an electronic meter instead of refractos.
As far as eating, neither has been eating yet. Im thinking could the environment be too big for them so they are scared? They are 1" juvies. They are going into a 125 once QTed.
Trying to understand what I did wrong, I feel like a fish murderer.
