jazzybio13
New member
Ok, we got a complete system over the weekend as part of a trade ...so please keep in mind that all the inhabitants of this tank were picked already, as well as the size of the tank. Not going to harp on this... let's just say I don't agree with it's current stock list. Anyhow, let's see if you can help me out here.
56g Pillar tank:
Darwin clown (~3years old, 2")
picasso clown (~2years old, 1.5")
engineer goby (4-5")
watchman goby (2.5")
2 chromis (1"each)
pink top anthias ( ~2")
scooter blenny (~2")
bicolor angel (~2")
(and a VERY small clean up crew, we are talking < 5 snails and a serpent)
SO.... when we get to the guys house to see the tank I immediately note the rapid breathing of the bicolor and asks about this. The guy stated he had just had his hand in the tank picking up one of the corals that fell), reasonable enough answer for me. As no other fish were exhibiting stress... just weary of the room becoming crowded as more than normal amount of people were suddenly near the tank. He also states that the fish since day 1 has breathed liked this.
Anyhow, so we break this tank down and transport home. Saving 50 of it's ~65g total volume (fuge water included). All rock work and fuge were kept in water so no major bacteria die off there.
So, salt rinses of the sand till mostly clear, to avoid any nasties in a back washed system.... then replaced in tank, filled with original water, topped off with new water (aged) from water station. Fish, corals, and equipment replaced. LEFT ALONE TO SETTLE FOR THE NIGHT, lights off to help with stress of move. This was Saterday afternoon.
Sunday, all is fine bicolor is still rapidly breathing. NO ONE ELSE is exhibiting any signs of stress in the slightest bit. I offer food to the tank roughly an hour after lights come on in the morning. EVERYONE EAGERLY EATS, yes this includes the rapidly breathing bicolor. Water tests performed, 0's across the board, so i'm not worried, still leary though, as moves on old systems often result in mini-cycles... this I know.
Day continues, still everyone eats at every feeding... and the angel still breathing hard. Params checked, 0's still across the board.
Monday (today)... Angel is still breathing hard...significantly more so in my mind. ALL fish eating still, no one else exhibiting the slightest bit of problem... save this angels respiration rate. I have asked the original owner once again about this and he confirmed once again this is a normal respiration for her, has been this way for the last 6 months it's been in his tank (when he got it). Water params checked once again and slight ammonia rise (we are talking <0.15), 0's across the board elsewhere. This is expected, but still worrisome as the angel would certainly be the most sensitive in this situation. So, as precaution I've added a dose of chloramX to the system.
I have kept dwarf angels on many occasions, and have never come across an angel with this high a respiration rate (counted by gill plate strikes, not mouth movement). ~200 per minute! (most angels are less than 100 gill plate strikes a minute).... RED FLAG TO ME! Though she is swimming, eating and being active as if nothing is the matter.
SO.....
option 1- I really know nothing about bicolors despite research and they truly do have this rapid a breathing rate. (maybe it's pride speaking here, but I kinda doubt this...)
OR
Option 2- somethings up!
Be it gill flukes, parasites on the gill? respiratory trouble from.... ??? What gives.
We went ahead and took the lights down to blues early this evening to see if the lighting was too much for her (although it's the same lights...) and she did seem to swim out in the open a bit more, but not drastically so... as she was already doing this, and respiration rate is still high).
Anyone encountered a bicolor with similar behavior? or heck another angel that might have acted this way?
56g Pillar tank:
Darwin clown (~3years old, 2")
picasso clown (~2years old, 1.5")
engineer goby (4-5")
watchman goby (2.5")
2 chromis (1"each)
pink top anthias ( ~2")
scooter blenny (~2")
bicolor angel (~2")
(and a VERY small clean up crew, we are talking < 5 snails and a serpent)
SO.... when we get to the guys house to see the tank I immediately note the rapid breathing of the bicolor and asks about this. The guy stated he had just had his hand in the tank picking up one of the corals that fell), reasonable enough answer for me. As no other fish were exhibiting stress... just weary of the room becoming crowded as more than normal amount of people were suddenly near the tank. He also states that the fish since day 1 has breathed liked this.
Anyhow, so we break this tank down and transport home. Saving 50 of it's ~65g total volume (fuge water included). All rock work and fuge were kept in water so no major bacteria die off there.
So, salt rinses of the sand till mostly clear, to avoid any nasties in a back washed system.... then replaced in tank, filled with original water, topped off with new water (aged) from water station. Fish, corals, and equipment replaced. LEFT ALONE TO SETTLE FOR THE NIGHT, lights off to help with stress of move. This was Saterday afternoon.
Sunday, all is fine bicolor is still rapidly breathing. NO ONE ELSE is exhibiting any signs of stress in the slightest bit. I offer food to the tank roughly an hour after lights come on in the morning. EVERYONE EAGERLY EATS, yes this includes the rapidly breathing bicolor. Water tests performed, 0's across the board, so i'm not worried, still leary though, as moves on old systems often result in mini-cycles... this I know.
Day continues, still everyone eats at every feeding... and the angel still breathing hard. Params checked, 0's still across the board.
Monday (today)... Angel is still breathing hard...significantly more so in my mind. ALL fish eating still, no one else exhibiting the slightest bit of problem... save this angels respiration rate. I have asked the original owner once again about this and he confirmed once again this is a normal respiration for her, has been this way for the last 6 months it's been in his tank (when he got it). Water params checked once again and slight ammonia rise (we are talking <0.15), 0's across the board elsewhere. This is expected, but still worrisome as the angel would certainly be the most sensitive in this situation. So, as precaution I've added a dose of chloramX to the system.
I have kept dwarf angels on many occasions, and have never come across an angel with this high a respiration rate (counted by gill plate strikes, not mouth movement). ~200 per minute! (most angels are less than 100 gill plate strikes a minute).... RED FLAG TO ME! Though she is swimming, eating and being active as if nothing is the matter.
SO.....
option 1- I really know nothing about bicolors despite research and they truly do have this rapid a breathing rate. (maybe it's pride speaking here, but I kinda doubt this...)
OR
Option 2- somethings up!
Be it gill flukes, parasites on the gill? respiratory trouble from.... ??? What gives.
We went ahead and took the lights down to blues early this evening to see if the lighting was too much for her (although it's the same lights...) and she did seem to swim out in the open a bit more, but not drastically so... as she was already doing this, and respiration rate is still high).
Anyone encountered a bicolor with similar behavior? or heck another angel that might have acted this way?
