Clown fish I bought last week sick now?

[fltekdiver]

Posted this under Clown Fish, but just found this section, not sure if my clowns are sick:

just started my 120G tank last month, went through its cycle 2 weeks ago, last week, Thursday to be exact, I bought my first fish for the tank.
Paired Clown fish

Water parameters are perfect, they been eating everyday, and acting normal till yesterday. They started to act alittle funny, sudden movements, real sporadic and wiping their bodies on the sand

See the You Tube Video, is this behavior normal ? They weren't doing this till yesterday , last night

They don't do it all the time, and both of them are doing it. They are eating, and are at the bottom , not swimming on the top

SG is 1.024

Temp is 82

PH = 8.2

Ammonia = 0

Nitirite = 0

Nitrates = 0

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Doyd41gdEpk

 

[Deinonych]

The YouTube link doesn't work.

 

[fltekdiver]

Fixed, thanks

 

[Deinonych]

Looks like flashing or glancing - usually indicative of some kind of parasite. I assume from your first post that you did not quarantine these fish?

 

[fltekdiver]

The LFS i bought them from, which are my first fish, said they do a low salinity treatment, and use copper to treat them

I was told, by putting them income QT tank, it could be more stress full for them, going from a LFS, to a QT, to the DT

I just bought them 5 days ago.

So if I pull them, and I did buy a 29G QT tank, but its empty. If I fill it with the DT water, and just leave the CUC in my DT, how would I treat them not knowing if, or what they have?

 

[Deinonych]

There is no way to be 100% sure what they have without a biopsy, which most (all?) aquarists don't do. I treat all incoming fish in QT for 6 weeks - starting with a dose of PraziPro as soon as they are eating well (usually 2-3 days after I get them). Then I start a regimen of Cupramine for 4 weeks, ramping slowly up to 0.40mg/l (usually takes 5 days). I also administer a second dose of PraziPro when I start Cupramine. These two medications are safe to use with most fish and treat for the most common ailments - flukes/worms (Prazi), velvet and cryptocaryon (Cupramine).

You will need to leave your DT fallow (fishless) for 8-10 weeks.

QT is not stressful for fish - it gives them a stress-free environment without competition so you can get them eating and acclimated to aquarium life. It's not fun to watch them in QT, but it's worth it for the long-term health of the fish.

 

[fltekdiver]

Ok, what about the CUC, and tank? I don't want the DT tank to go neglected, as right now all my parameters are perfect.

So drain 20 gallons tomorrow from my DT tank, over to my QT tank.

Buy a filter, get it up and running, small power head , transfere fish over to QT

Start treatment with PraziPro, I was just reading, and the two medications you mentioned seem to be very popular

Then in 5 days start the cupramine

 

[Deinonych]

CUC stays in the tank. Feed the tank a few flakes each day to keep the biofilter (and your CUC) active.

 

[fltekdiver]

Ok thanks, so keep the skimmer going, everything going in DT as if their were fish in their

If I'm treating the QT tank with medications, I've read when not using the QT tank, put the filter on the DT and keep it going?

Also, the QT really will be up and running for close to a year

If I pull the 2 clowns tomorrow and start treatment, I have to keep the 29G tank going for the next 6-8 weeks. Then, I'm guessing , when I move the clowns back into the DT, I'll empty the water from the QT tank,put fresh water back in from the DT tank, and buy my next fish, and start all over.

Should I buy another fish now, and put them all into the QT tank, and treat them all at once?

 

[Deinonych]

Ok thanks, so keep the skimmer going, everything going in DT as if their were fish in their

Correct.

If I'm treating the QT tank with medications, I've read when not using the QT tank, put the filter on the DT and keep it going?

Yes, I typically keep a media bag full of Fluval ceramic discs plus a couple of filter floss squares in my sump to seed for new QT additions.

Also, the QT really will be up and running for close to a year

Pretty much, yep.

If I pull the 2 clowns tomorrow and start treatment, I have to keep the 29G tank going for the next 6-8 weeks. Then, I'm guessing , when I move the clowns back into the DT, I'll empty the water from the QT tank,put fresh water back in from the DT tank, and buy my next fish, and start all over.

You can do it that way, or you can just do a large water change (50%) at the end of the QT to prepare for the next additions. You will need to run carbon and/or a product like Cuprasorb (preferred) to remove the copper from the previous treatment before you add new fish.

Should I buy another fish now, and put them all into the QT tank, and treat them all at once?

I suppose so. I wouldn't do more than 3-4 small fish in QT at a time, depending on size and species.

One other suggestion: since your QT is not cycled, you may want to consider picking up a bacteria starter like BioSpira or Dr. Tim's One and Only to seed your biofilter. As mentioned above, Fluval ceramic discs in a HOB filter provide a good substrate for the bacteria to house. Also, pick up a SeaChem Ammonia Alert badge so you can monitor ammonia in semi-real time. If you don't add the bacteria, be prepared to do frequent water changes.

Good luck!

 

[hollister]

First of all 2 weeks a little soon , even if reading look good I would wait 4 to 6 weeks.
Also they are omnivores and would like meat and flake. I feed flake in the morning and brine shrimp at night.
Then they could be pairing , as clowns are a sexual or un sexed and will work it out over time through fancy displays and strange movements.

 

[fltekdiver]

OK 4-6 weeks in QT, and the main tank 6 weeks with no fish

HOB filter I have to buy today

Also this morning, they are not doing it. I'm going to QT them, I just hope I'm not over re-acting, and their fine, and stress them more by moving them in QT, and a new tank

What kind of flake food, I'll pick some up tonight. I been feeding them frozen shrimp

If I'm using my DT Display water that's all ready cycled to fill up 20 gallons in the QT tank, why do I need to re-cycle the water?

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

It is recommended to go atleast 10 to 11 weeks with no fish in display.The reason for water changes to to keep ammonia from building up.I do 5 gallon water changes every week on my qt tank.

 

[fltekdiver]

I understand about the water change, and ammonia building up more quickly in a QT tank, because of it's size. I was questioning I'm using my DT water, so I shouldn't have no cycle

I'm going over first thing today to buy a HOB filter

What am I looking for, a bio wheel type, that takes carbon media like a Penguin Bio-Wheel HOB filter?

Where would I put the ceramic rings in something like that?

And a very small power head, just to move water in the QT tank, and small heater

 

[fltekdiver]

Sorry for all the questions,

If I QT them today after work, do I start the PraziPro Tonight treatment, or wait a day or two. They are eating in the DT, but not sure After I transfer them

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I would make sure they are eating in qt before prazipro treatment.

 

[Deinonych]

What am I looking for, a bio wheel type, that takes carbon media like a Penguin Bio-Wheel HOB filter?

Where would I put the ceramic rings in something like that?

I use a standard Aqueon HOB filter. There is room for the rings behind the slot where the filter media goes.

 

[fltekdiver]

Ok, thanks, on my way now to LFS to buy everything

 

[N9BX]

Remember, No Carbon in the filter media Tray of your BIO Wheel while fish in QT. Only at the end to remove your Copper or other treatments.

 

[fltekdiver]

Ok thanks, you guys are great!

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