Clownfish help

[Maveri9720]

Hi all. We have decided to get a pair of Ocellaris clownfish for our first tank inhabitants.

I have been trying to read all I can on what I need to feed then, medicate them, acclimate them, etc so I don't kill them or impose any unneccessary stress on them.

I could use some advice from fellow reefers who have gone through this and any tips to make things easier.

Here's what I have so far:

- Drip acclimate the fish in a bucket

- Differing opinions on whether a formalin or fresh water dip are neccessary

- Some people say doing a Hyposalinity will be suffice

- Foods: Cyclop-eeze, PE Mysis Shrimp, Ocean Nutrition Frozen Formula 1 and 2 and Selcon

- Some people also suggest doing Pipzine during quarantine and possibly Rid-Ich

So, as you can see, I have a varied amount of different treatments and food sources.

Any help and clarification would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[usmcsgt]

I think quarantine should be enough unless you see signs of sickness while in quarantine, and then I would treat then. Like they always say if it isnt broke dont fix it.

 

[Maveri9720]

Thanks. I see your in Havelock. I worked at 231. What SQ you with? I was AVI.

 

[usmcsgt]

I am in 231 airframes

 

[Maveri9720]

That's funny. Small world.

 

[usmcsgt]

Yeah no kidding, pretty much been there since 1999

 

[Maveri9720]

Huh.........I got out in 02. Sure I must have ran into you at some point.

 

[Imdone]

I have had a pair of maroon clowns and black ocelariss clowns.

Both were my first tank inhabintants. All I did when I introduced was aclimate fish in a bucket and gave them a compatible anemone, the maroons went right to it but my blackies I have now have found shelter in a submersible pump I had to put in the tank for the chiller. They live in the handle and don't even pay attention to the bulb anemone that I have in there.

I never had a problem with either set of clowns. The female picks on the male from time to time but that is normal from what I have read.

 

[TWallace]

I've read some experts recommend formalin dipping of all wild caught clownfish due to the prevalence of brooklynella. It's much less common in tank raised clowns, but I've seen some people recommend formalin baths for them too, due to the chance that vendors have kept both kinds in the same systems.

Personally, I only treat fish for illnesses once I suspect they are sick. It's a good idea to at least have some formalin on hand before getting clowns, though. Brooklynella is a pretty fast killer, often in just a few days.