CBB Bummer

[chimmike]

Woke up this morning, checked on the tank like I do every day before I go to work, the CBB was nowhere to be found. Usually sleeps under the internal coast to coast. Looked all over with a flashlight, only greeted by my cleaner shrimp and got a glimpse of my pep shrimp.

Found the CBB in against the eggcrate guard in the internal coast to coast breathing heavy. Put him back into the tank and he moved little, was breathing fast, and that's about it.

He was eating bloodworms heartily for the past week and a half that I've had him, no signs of parasites, got him from a good reputable LFS in the area. Didn't eat much yesterday but I did still see him eat some.

I'm bummed I know these guys are tough to keep, but I take it as a hit on my husbandry skills. I expect him to be devoured by my CUC if he dies while I'm at work today.

Ammonia, nitrates at 0. I think the shrimp would've shown signs before the fish. Also the acan and chalice frags are doing very well too, so I doubt it's a chemistry thing.

 

[chimmike]

anyone else experience something like this?

 

[ironwill723]

Same thing happened to me with my two attempts with CBB at exactly the six week mark. Doing great, eating out of my hand, then one day not really wanting to eat, next day dead. I think it was cyanide capture that did my two in.

 

[chimmike]

Yeah, I mean, I know my LFS doesn't purchase from suppliers who get cyanide-caught fish, but you never know, maybe that's what it is :/

 

[jimroth]

I have the same kind of overflow and lost a yellow longnose the same way. I think they just get worn out trying to swim out of there.
I also had a YLN jump way out of the tank, now I have it covered. Who knew they would jump like that?

 

[sploke]

Ugh that sucks...I always thought once you got them eating they were pretty much good to go. I lost one a few weeks ago after just 5 days, it was thin when I got it and never got it eating. I picked up the second one last night, after watching it for about 20 min and making sure it was eating...hopefully I don't run into the same thing.

 

[chimmike]

Yeah. I'm kinda depressed about it. You know, while it's 'just' a fish, it was the first fish in my new tank and something unique that you don't see every day. That's my ultimate goal with the tank, none of the typical clowns and blue tangs type thing.

This weekend I was planning on getting 2-3 anthias or a nice wrasse. Think I'll do the anthias to get some more action and color in there.

 

[chimmike]

UPDATE: Got home, he's dead

 

[sploke]

ugh...tough luck, sorry to hear dude. Its always so much worse when you lose a fish for no apparent reason.

 

[falconut]

Sorry to hear about that. I've had two in the past that were eatting great and at about 6 months they just stopped eatting and died the next day. Apparently, just because they're eatting doesn't always mean they'll survive. I think passing the 6 month time is the time to breath easier with them. I wasn't using live blackworms for these two. Just frozen mysis and brine shrimp.

The last one I had for about 9 months. He was hand fed live blackworms almost every day. I wound up getting rid of him, because he started to pick on a new clam. Funny, cause he wouldn't eat any store bought clams, just would occationally try to peck inside the clams opening.

 

[Barfly]

ugh...tough luck, sorry to hear dude. Its always so much worse when you lose a fish for no apparent reason.

There is a good reason this fish was lost. It is because it was placed in a 2 week old system. This is just a perfect example of what happens when you rush things in this hobby.

 

[small alien]

Well, that would seem a bit of an assumption. However, I don't think CBBs are considered good first fish for new system, quite the contrary, so that could be it. But with so many problems with this species, it seems hard to make a firm conclusion without more info.

 

[small alien]

Dig your signature, Barfly.

 

[JamesJR]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I worked in the fish trade for 5 years and I can tell you lots of these fish arrive in very weak shape. Many are practically dead on arrival without necessarily showing any obvious signs of it. Even if you get a healthy specimen they are still very fragile fish.

 

[Alex T.]

I had the same experience as some others have eluded to. Mine was eating pellet, Mysis and Bloodworms. Everything was going great. He got his pm feeding and then when I woke up and checked on the tank in the morning my maroon clownfish was trying to feed its' dead limp body to his bubbletip anemone.

Aside from the cyanide issue I believe that there are certain fish that simply aren't meant for our tanks...no matter how large. While there are always exceptions, the amount of livestock needlessly lost is atrocious. I'll never attempt another Copperbanded Butterfly or Clown tang. On the list of those that I've never had but vow to never own are a Regal Angel and Moorish Idol. Most who have successfully kept them for years will never tell you how many died in their care before they got one that lived and ate properly.

It's an unfortunate circumstance to watch a beautiful fish die, but for me at least it's a lesson to stick with the hardy fishes that have easier needs and can live a healthier and longer life. There's more joy in feeding the tank and going about your business than checking to see if your delicate and rare beauty lived to see another day.

 

[nynikki]

I had the same experience as some others have eluded to. Mine was eating pellet, Mysis and Bloodworms. Everything was going great. He got his pm feeding and then when I woke up and checked on the tank in the morning my maroon clownfish was trying to feed its' dead limp body to his bubbletip anemone.

Aside from the cyanide issue I believe that there are certain fish that simply aren't meant for our tanks...no matter how large. While there are always exceptions, the amount of livestock needlessly lost is atrocious. I'll never attempt another Copperbanded Butterfly or Clown tang. On the list of those that I've never had but vow to never own are a Regal Angel and Moorish Idol. Most who have successfully kept them for years will never tell you how many died in their care before they got one that lived and ate properly.

It's an unfortunate circumstance to watch a beautiful fish die, but for me at least it's a lesson to stick with the hardy fishes that have easier needs and can live a healthier and longer life. There's more joy in feeding the tank and going about your business than checking to see if your delicate and rare beauty lived to see another day.

On that note, may I suggest you consider a pair of clowns. You may see them as common, but they are quite fascinating to observe. They are hardy, that's for sure, and they come in many varieties. I've had my Fred and Ginger for about 18 months now without a single sign of illness. They survived my first marine aquarium a 30g running on a canister filter, and have been upgraded to a 90g with proper sump and protein skimmer filtration. They can be a real pain in the butt at times, but they are happy and healthy fish. They got me through my learning curve and greet me at the front of the tank when I come home at the end of the day.

Good luck to you in what ever you decide!

 

[jhentr]

Thats a bummer. I had mines for about two years. He ate blackworms at the store and I was able to ween him on frozen cubes (mysis, bloodworms, brine shrimp) and freeze dried mysis/planton. But he wouldn't touch anything else. Went from about 2.5" to 5" inches and I found him one day coming from work stuck to the powerhead dead. Not sure if it was a mal-nutrition issue?

It was a cool fish and the only one to greet me everytime he sees me.

 

[Rebel]

While in general I agree with Barfly, and if indeed the tank was only two weeks old that is a shame, I think many times we oversimplify situations and jump to conclusions (alas, that is often all we can do, but we should acknowledge it anyway). Cyanide may be a factor, but we do what we can to buy from reputable LFSs. But even the most scrutinizing LFS has only a vague idea of what transpired from the moment of collection to the holding tanks they keep. Many parasites and diseases we attribute to the LFS come in the chain behind the LFS, and many a delicate fish is doomed before we even see it for the first time.

Hardy fish are not simply hardy in our tanks, they are hardy getting to our tanks. Sensitive fish can die because of our laziness, foolishness, or the unfortunate accidents we may cause, but they just as often (or more so) they die because of stresses and circumstances caused by the chain of collection.

I have no idea why your fish might have died. And I do not deny the suggestions of others. I just think we need to be wary of being too quick to decide.

JMO, of course.

 

[davocean]

In a seminar where cyanide was discussed, I was told the issue was it jacks their digestive system, and fish caught w/ cyanide just don't eat from the get go.
The bottom line is it's just a sensitive fish, and even in an established tank, experienced reefers have trouble keeping them or getting them to eat prep'd foods pretty often, so chances are even more slim on keeping one in a fresh tank.
I know I've tried several times over my many years keeping SW tanks unsuccessfully to the point that my most recent purchase of a CBB to rid aptasia was was planned as a temporary stay, and I'm just amazed and surprised I finally got one that eats, and like a pig.
This is why when reefers I know sell one that has a proven track record, people launch on it, sometimes paying much more than face value.