clowns only lasted 3 days...

[Dan Thrash]

well, i bought my first two fish...a pair of false percs....on monday. i asked to see them eat and the lady fed brine shrimp...the smaller one was eating like no tomorrow but was a bit pale. the larger one didnt eat, but swam around fine and had good color.

anyway, i took them home and drip acclimated for 2.5 hours into a 10 gal qt. by the tuesday night they were exploring a bit but i couldnt get them to eat anything....live brine, frozen mysis, cyclopeeze, nothing. by thursday, they were both dead.

i tested the water after i removed them and 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, ph at 8.4 out of the RC bucket. so what was wrong? was it me? i'm thinking they just we're well from the beginning. i guess i have to find healthier fish. anything i can do when i try to purchase 2 more that would help?

thanks,
Dan

 

[clord]

Get them from a different store and see what happens

 

[dantodd]

First you need a new ammonia test. I can assure you that after 3 days in a QT you didn't have 0 ammonia. Even if the fish didn't eat anything they had some output and the food alone that they refused would have brought up the ammonia to some detectable level in a new QT.

If you see that a clownfish won't eat don't buy it. They are the biggest pigs in the sea and brine are the sweetest candy in the store. If a clown won't eat brine something is wrong!

I hope you have better luck next time.

 

[psimitry]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7219515#post7219515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clord
Get them from a different store and see what happens

Agreed. And sometimes it's not even the store's fault. Sometimes they just get a bad batch of fish in.

Not too long ago, when I bought a trio of firefish gobies, two of them died within 2 days of dropping them into the tank, 1 died a couple of days ago.

Every other fish that I've gotten from that particular store has done wonderfully.

 

[dantodd]

I can't believe I forgot to mention this.....

Buy Captive Bred Fish! You will get fish that have a known history of eating in captivity (since that's how they've always been kept.) You will also get fish that are less likely to be carrying disease and that haven't been stressed by being shipped half-way around the world.

 

[Dan Thrash]

thanks all! i am going to look at another store. i'll definitely get ones that are captive bred and look healthy and eating.

i dont think i need a new ammonia test because i just got the Salifert kit earlier this week. i set up qt by putting the filter sponge in with the rock while it cycled.

 

[4MB]

Im on day 4 with 2 Oscellaris Clowns in a QT. Both my ammonia and nitrites are at a slightly detectable level. They are roughly 3 months old.

They were tank bred and eat flake food like its their last meal (knocking on wood). My LFS said they would eat with no problems. I feed them shortly after acclimating them. They both ate. They've already started associating me with food. Been the best experience so far. So I would strongly suggest tank bred.

 

[dantodd]

BTW: It helps to dunk your hand with the flakes into the water so that the flakes are in suspension rather than floating on top of the tank. The clowns can get air in their stomach when they eat off the surface.

 

[Evyllchyld]

When I bought 2 wild caught percs from my LFS i had them hold them for me for 7days before I told them i'd bring them home. They did with each one. I'd go in everyday and check on them myself. So I'd suggest finding two for yourself, ask if they'll hold them in a seperate tank for a while and see if they survive. So if they do die, you get two more untill they survive and it won't cost you any extra money... Just a suggestion for the future. I don't know if all fish stores will do that though.