Fish not happy in QT?

[Neptune 555]

I purchased a blackfinned shrimp goby and I placed him in a 20 gallon QT tank that is running a Aquaclear HOB filter with a pad from my 55 gallon DT that I am sure is ich free. All parameters are fine and I have an ammonia alert badge on the tank. The fish at the store was fiesty and beautiful and eating. In the QT tank he has changed color from yellow to brown.. and his fins are down versus up? He has been in QT for a day but I think he is going to die? He looks horrible and is not moving? I added sand in tupperware as suggested from this forum he has not moved all day? He ate two bites last night...? and then went back to lying down.

What can I do for him? I was going to add a blue spotted jawfish today to the QT tank so that I could start TT?

The fish

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Stressed. How did you acclimate him? What was the salinity of the LFS water vs yours?

 

[Neptune 555]

The same... The LFS had salinity had 1.25 I was at 1.24... I did not drip acclimate.. as the salinity was within .02. I floated the bag for temp control about 20 mins... and I am about 50 mins from LFS.

I have read the debate re: to drip acclimate vs getting them out of a bad situation ASAP. They said if you can match your salinity to the LFS then you should get them out of the bag ASAP b/c once you open the bag gasses are released and the ammonia goes up?

Is that the culprit? He is the first fish I have *not* drip acclimated. I choose this option b/c I set up my QT salinity based on the LFS. Anything I can do now? Yes he looks horrible?

Neptune

 

[Deinonych]

Stressed.

+1

He's in a new environment, so he's going to take some time to acclimate to his new surroundings. As long as he is eating (even a little bit) and breathing normally, I wouldn't worry too much. He'll eventually become more active once he feels comfortable with the new digs.

 

[Nina51]

i'd say stress, too. i would leave the lights off until he starts to act a little more "at home" in your qt.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

The same... The LFS had salinity had 1.25 I was at 1.24... I did not drip acclimate.. as the salinity was within .02. I floated the bag for temp control about 20 mins... and I am about 50 mins from LFS.

I have read the debate re: to drip acclimate vs getting them out of a bad situation ASAP. They said if you can match your salinity to the LFS then you should get them out of the bag ASAP b/c once you open the bag gasses are released and the ammonia goes up?

Is that the culprit? He is the first fish I have *not* drip acclimated. I choose this option b/c I set up my QT salinity based on the LFS. Anything I can do now? Yes he looks horrible?

Neptune

I don't think it was your acclimation. It's one thing if the fish is shipped and is sitting in the bag for a day or two. But if you got it from a LFS you should be fine as far as ammonia build up/pH dropping, etc.
How is he looking now?