First Fish Purchase - Are they OK?

[borg1of2]

We just bought our first pair of fish, two Oscillas Clowns, and went through a 30 a semi gradual acclimation procedure, after letting the bags sit in the QT for about 10 minutes. Tank temperature was a lower due to cooler weather, no heater at the time, and after they were in the tank they went to the bottom and huddled together, with one of them kind of wanting to be on its side. We got nervous that the tank was too cold and got a heater in and have it warmed up to 75. They are still huddling together and the one still likes to be on its side, but they seem to be playing with each other and trying to stay active.

So, is this OK behavior for the transition, or did we do some harm?

Just nervous and thought I'd ask.

Thanks

Scott

 

[Dmorty217]

What are your parameters, ammonia, nitrite, nitrates, alkalinity, and ph? The temp should be a degree or two warmer for sure minimum. Do it gradually over a couple of days so you don't get the fish sick. Are they eating? What are they eating? How many times a day are they eating? Is there sufficient flow in the QT?

 

[borg1of2]

Parameters are:
Nitrate - 2.5
Nitrite - 0
Ammonium - <0.25
pH - 8.0
SG - 1.022

Flow is good. Running an Aqeon HOB.

Didn't eat when we dropped it in. Pellets. Just got the fish this afternoon, so don't have much history at this point for feeding.

Temp went up from 70 to 75, but I brought it back to 73. Will hold there til tomorrow and try to bring it up a degree.

 

[aleggett321]

73 is too cold for tropical fish. I'd bring it up slowly, over hours not days, to at least 76. I keep my tank 78 to 79.

 

[drew2007]

+1 Thats too cold for them. I would slowly raise it up to 77-78. They will be much happier.

 

[cnguyenl]

+1

My tank is set at 80

 

[borg1of2]

Thanks. On its way up.

I'll keep watching them. I've been seeing this may be normal behavior for the transition, just hope I didn't hurt things.

Scott

 

[Ambition]

Bring the temp up over a couple days. I had an incident happen over the summer where I forgot to plug the heater back in when doing a WC on my QT tank. The temp dropped 10 degrees before I realized that the heater didn't get plugged in. Raised the temp about 3 degrees a day up to 76 (temp before was 78).

 

[whodeydan76]

BE SUPER CAREFUL increasing the heat...just a slight move of the heater control can make a big difference (in my experiences) just an fyi