At a loss for an explanation

[Drewcipher]

About 3 weeks ago, we ordered a few fish from Blue Zoo Aquatics. When they arrived I placed them in a 75 gal QT. The 75 has been established for several years. The day before we removed the livestock from the 75 and moved it to our new 180. The water parameters in the 75 have always been good. We have had corals, fish and clams in it for years. 0 ammonia, nitrite, nitrate. Temp 77-80. ph is 8.1-8.3.
Among the new fish were 3 bartlett's anthias. 1 male, 2 female. All have been out and swimming since the day after acclimation. They eat like pigs and we feed them 2-4 times a day. They accepted anything we put in there right from the start. This morning, the male all of a sudden was dead. He was so incredibly healthy looking and eating, not skittish in the least. Beautiful color, no outward sign of any disease. Any thoughts as to what may have happened to a seemingly healthy fish so quickly? I am wondering now if I have to restart my QT time.

Thanks

 

[jprince]

So was the fish still in the QT when he died, or did you move him to the DT?

 

[Drewcipher]

No, he was still in QT. They had been in there for about 3 weeks, eating, swimming, and looking very healthy to me.

 

[jprince]

That is a strange one. Anthias are usually pretty hardy fish. Maybe it was just his time???

 

[Drewcipher]

I kinda hope it is that simple, as I have the 2 females and a couple of fairy wrasses in there too. I have never seen a fish go south that fast. It was literally less than 12 hours from eating and swimming to dead.

 

[jprince]

Before you know it you will have a male and female...

 

[Drewcipher]

Yea. how long does that take? If I wanted to add females later, what would you do for QT?

 

[jprince]

Yea. how long does that take? If I wanted to add females later, what would you do for QT?

Hard tellin not knowin.... Could take a few weeks to assume the dominant role, but the complete change with colors and everything could be months if not longer.

 

[Drewcipher]

Thanks