Help - New Royal Gramma appears sick

[Reefmack]

Just brought home a Royal Gramma 2 hours ago. As soon as I got home and took the bag out with the fish it appeared practically dead, so it wasn't my water parameters (which are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite) that affected him.

I floated the bag and went through the acclimation procedure, and I noticed that the fish would have spurts of swimming, and its mouth is opening & closing. He was also bent in a U shape when not moving. He's in a QT tank now, and has moved a few times in spurts and is currently under a cave in the live rock - still has all of his color, and is on his side (in a U shape still).

Are these fish particularly stressed by shipment? It was only a 10 minute trip back home. It's a quality SW lfs, and all of the fish in the tank that I got him from looked fine & healthy.

Should I have any hope he'll pull through?

Thanks

 

[Reefmack]

The Gramma perished, unfortunately. Had to do some aquascaping to remove him. Returned to the lfs for a replacement. All we figure out is that it must have been injured when being caught in the lfs tank. The replacement has been acclimated and is doing fine.

 

[morayeelsrule]

not to have anything against any lfs but they are super quick to check our water in reality you should check should because regardless if if your water is horrible if theres is similar the fish would be fine many times when i am getting a new fish i also have that tank tested so i can check the differences and adjust my acclimation accordingly just kinda some food for thought any way sorry ya lost the first one but happy to hear the second is doing well
ryan

 

[Reefmack]

Hi. the second one is doing fine today and has set up his little territory in the tank. In this case, with the fish being practically dead before even opening the bag at home, it wasn't a case of water parameters but most likely a case of the fish injured by the lfs employee when catching him in the lfs tank.

Good point on the water tests though. I always test mine before purchasing or introducing livestock, but never ask about the lfs water parameters. In the case of the dead Gramma, after I explained what happened they saw no need to test my water.

 

[morayeelsrule]

glad the second one is doing well and yeah they can be a little rough at the store somtimes thats awesome they gave you a new one though they can be real sticklers sometimes

 

[jgoodrich71]

And sometimes fish just "freak out" when they are caught. I have had fish that I had for weeks and seemed to be doing well, just sort of spasm, then fall over dead before I even touch them with the net.

 

[Reefmack]

Well, the replacement royal died the next day. I didn't return this one but should have. I went to my saltwater lfs today and found that most of their tank of royals had died, so at least I no longer feel like it was my fault. No visible sign of disease on either fish I had. I should have asked the lfs what they think caused it. Maybe it was transport stress or cyanide. I've read that sometimes cyanide is used to catch fish?

 

[morayeelsrule]

oh dude i am so sorry so you didn't return it hey that sucks i lost my entire tank yesterday minus a damsel that won't die i got a killer virus that wiped it all out even the infamous four foot moray i wonder if your lfs's salinity and such is off maybe you should check and try to get your money back on the gramma i don't know hope it all works out for ya
ryan

 

[Reefmack]

Well, losing the whole tank is a real bummer indeed! My saltwater lfs is the best in my area, and they're about as top notch as they get. I tried to get some credit for the royal gamma after I learned it was their problem and not mine. But with no fish to bring back I was out of luck. The new pseudo diadema is going great compared to the royal gramma distaster. He swims in one little hole in my LR and pops out of a different one - there must be connecting tunnels in one piece of LR I have. It pretty funny watching him. Sorry about your disaster - much worse than mine. You even lost a 4 foot moray - that's really sad.

 

[morayeelsrule]

thats a bummer ya didn't get full credit well now im kinda getting over it all cause i can finally have the salt tank i always wanted so it's kinda a 50/50 but i am still really mad he died cause those things can live for a long time but happy to hear your new guy is doing good
ryan