Navyblue
Low maintenance first
I have the habit of dipping new fishes in Seachem's Paraguard according to the 1 hour dip instruction.
I suspect that some fishes do not tolerate it. They would not eat anything, appear normal for a few days and then suddenly dies. I did it on two bicolour angels with the same result, the third one which I didn't dip lives till today and is among my fattest fish. I don't have proof on this, just my gut feeling. And of course, bicolor angels have the reputation of being nuked with collection during collection.
Two days ago an LFS is having a sale on Helfrichi firefishes and I bought one. The fish is alert except that its tail fins is a little munched, the LFS kept a bunch of them together and they must have fought.
I had experience with the red and purple firefishes which appears to tolerate the dip well. Halfway through the dip the fish attempted to launch itself out of the water and then lie on its side.
Not wanting to risk the most expensive fish I have ever gotten I terminated the dip immediately and put it in my display (ok I know I shouldn't, but knowing firefishes never gives me problem and have the reputation of being disease resistant I took the risk, I wouldn't do this with most other fishes).
When introduced some fishes appear to be smelling its tail and wondering if it is food. Bristle worm too like to take a munch on its tail. I figured its tail might smell really rotten.
Yesterday the fish is out and about and might have eaten (it pooped). The tail fin is gone (other fins are unaffected) but the fish is reasonably active and appears to be fine. It spends most of the time near the bottom at the right side of my tank where the sump return outlet is and swimming against the current, which seems to be typical of firefishes. No fish seems to be bothered by its presence and there is no sign of aggression. But the fish doesn't seem to sleep at night.
Today my wife called me and told me the fish is dead. When I reached home only the head is left and a few moments later even the head is gone. My other fishes had the most expensive meal ever.
Now, what killed the fish? The Paraguard dip or is it some sort of infection? Of course it may die from stress, but IME stressed up firefish would holed up in the rocks which it didn't, though it is still not impossible. If I were to try another one sometimes in the future, I want to learn from this mistake, I would hate to kill another fish to some preventive dip.
Another possibility is that the LFS put them on sale because they knew the the batch is doomed. If the dozens die in their tank it would be a big loss to them, those little fellows aren't exactly cheap.
I suspect that some fishes do not tolerate it. They would not eat anything, appear normal for a few days and then suddenly dies. I did it on two bicolour angels with the same result, the third one which I didn't dip lives till today and is among my fattest fish. I don't have proof on this, just my gut feeling. And of course, bicolor angels have the reputation of being nuked with collection during collection.
Two days ago an LFS is having a sale on Helfrichi firefishes and I bought one. The fish is alert except that its tail fins is a little munched, the LFS kept a bunch of them together and they must have fought.
I had experience with the red and purple firefishes which appears to tolerate the dip well. Halfway through the dip the fish attempted to launch itself out of the water and then lie on its side.
Not wanting to risk the most expensive fish I have ever gotten I terminated the dip immediately and put it in my display (ok I know I shouldn't, but knowing firefishes never gives me problem and have the reputation of being disease resistant I took the risk, I wouldn't do this with most other fishes).
When introduced some fishes appear to be smelling its tail and wondering if it is food. Bristle worm too like to take a munch on its tail. I figured its tail might smell really rotten.
Yesterday the fish is out and about and might have eaten (it pooped). The tail fin is gone (other fins are unaffected) but the fish is reasonably active and appears to be fine. It spends most of the time near the bottom at the right side of my tank where the sump return outlet is and swimming against the current, which seems to be typical of firefishes. No fish seems to be bothered by its presence and there is no sign of aggression. But the fish doesn't seem to sleep at night.
Today my wife called me and told me the fish is dead. When I reached home only the head is left and a few moments later even the head is gone. My other fishes had the most expensive meal ever.
Now, what killed the fish? The Paraguard dip or is it some sort of infection? Of course it may die from stress, but IME stressed up firefish would holed up in the rocks which it didn't, though it is still not impossible. If I were to try another one sometimes in the future, I want to learn from this mistake, I would hate to kill another fish to some preventive dip.
Another possibility is that the LFS put them on sale because they knew the the batch is doomed. If the dozens die in their tank it would be a big loss to them, those little fellows aren't exactly cheap.
Last edited:
