How long should I wait?

[Ab129]

Just got my first fish delivered from love aquaria and all 4 clowns appear to be dead. Going through the acclamation procedure and want to know how long it should take if they are going to revive?

 

[RobZilla04]

If they are dead, no amount of acclimation will revive them.

If they are alive but don't appear to be well, they could be stressed. Best thing you can do is leave them alone for a while and just feed small amounts ensuring they are eating.

 

[Rover88]

Appear to be dead, or are dead?

Is there gill movement? Mouth movement? .... Poke it and does it move?

If they are dead, they are dead. If they look unwell, what Rob says. Sometimes they can come back, give them a chance if there are any signs of life... But dead is dead.

 

[RussC]

I recently had an Anthias arrive from liveaquaria unwell and very stressed from the trip. Never started to eat and never recovered. He died. The trip was too much. They didn't question it and refunded me the money. I was very disappointed the fish died, but very impressed with liveaquaria's customer service.

 

[Ab129]

I couldn't tell if they were dead or not so I left them in my qt until the morning when I discovered that they are, unfortunately, all dead.
Am I ok to use the same water in my qt next week when replacements arrive?

 

[hkgar]

Possibly ammonia poisoning or too rapid a change in salinity. Liveaquaria ships at a sg of 1.017 to 1.019. SG should not be increased more than about .002 per day

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1959576&highlight=acclimation

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2375026

 

[Ab129]

I asked live aquaria and was told that they shipped at 1.024 so that is exactly where my qt was sat up at. While I admit that I did not sample the water from the shipping bags, I highly doubt that difference in salinity was the problem.
They shipped Tuesday and were supposed to be delivered Wednesday but missed a flight so we're actually delivered later Thursday evening.
I didn't see any movement at all from 3 of the 4 and only a brief fluttering from the fourth. It was very sad, I am almost considering cancelling the replacements and buying local but still undecided.
Thanks UPS.

 

[heathlindner25]

In the winter months it might be best to buy local.

 

[hkgar]

Liveaquaria monitors the weather and won't ship if they believe it to be too cold. At least that has been my experience.

Of course they can't be responsible for what happens with UPS but they will take care of it if it happens.

I buy all my fish from them and there have been hiccups. Both of the above have happened.

 

[sde1500]

How long should I wait?

Also not a great time of the year to be shipping coral or fish. All shipping companies are just overwhelmed.

 

[JUNBUG361]

Yup it’s the busiest time of the year ^

 

[Uncle99]

While dead is dead, a fire fish has a dead looking mechanism when they are stressed.
The float in the water column like dead, no movement at all for 15-30 minutes..then bang...back up and running. Seen this with my own eyes several times. Doesn't seem to apply to any other fish......

 

[Mdj]

Would deffinetly wait untill after holidays have passed for any live shipments it is way to busy with everyone trying to get last minute shipments I drive a truck and twice a week I get fed ex shipments from a warehouse and take to there hub normally about 20 minutes to drop trailer off and get a empty to take back for the last couple weeks that 20 has turned into 1 to 2 hours just to get through there faculty it's crazy busy there I am sure ups and usps are all the same in a week or 2 will be back to normal

 

[HeadstrongRSS]

Cosign. Wait for a less bust time. Good luck!