Pescado Racing
different orbital
I remember reading a while back that some wrasses and clowns have a hard time with Hypo and FW dips. Is this true? I wanted to find out a defintive answer as to why and what species are affected, if it is not false.
Hypo and Clowns?
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paulamrein
New member
I've had clowns and wrasses both in hypo, maybe not the kind of wrasse they were referring to but none the less, I wouldn't be able to think of a reason one fish does worse in hypo than the next. With the exception of sharks and rays, only because their osmotic regulation is different. It's not a blanket statement mind you, every species and every fish within that species have their own pros and cons with any treatment. But as a general rule I would say it's false.
Assuming your talking about a moderate course of hyposalinity (not those really low numbers like 12ppt) - here are my opinions:
Going back 25 years or so, when I routinely used hypo for all in-coming fish, I seem to recall that very large Caribbean wrasses (like creoles) and parrotfish did not fare well under that regimen (but those fish are tough to handle in any case).
Based on the number of cases I've heard of Cirrhilabrus spp. running into difficulty during hypo (all second-hand accounts though) I am starting to wonder if there MAY be a trend there. Clownfish are no problem.
I've never had ANY fish give me a problem with FW dips that were held to 5 minutes (except fish that were dying from some other issue of course). I've had fish seem to stop breathing during dips, or otherwise act really flaky, but they recover upon return to regular S.G. water. If there have been chronic reactions to FW dips, (like fish dying a few days or a week later) I've not noticed any obvious trend. I only use FW dips as a diagnostic technique for flukes though.
JHemdal
Going back 25 years or so, when I routinely used hypo for all in-coming fish, I seem to recall that very large Caribbean wrasses (like creoles) and parrotfish did not fare well under that regimen (but those fish are tough to handle in any case).
Based on the number of cases I've heard of Cirrhilabrus spp. running into difficulty during hypo (all second-hand accounts though) I am starting to wonder if there MAY be a trend there. Clownfish are no problem.
I've never had ANY fish give me a problem with FW dips that were held to 5 minutes (except fish that were dying from some other issue of course). I've had fish seem to stop breathing during dips, or otherwise act really flaky, but they recover upon return to regular S.G. water. If there have been chronic reactions to FW dips, (like fish dying a few days or a week later) I've not noticed any obvious trend. I only use FW dips as a diagnostic technique for flukes though.
JHemdal
pescadero
In Memoriam
i think that the consensus of opinion is that anything up to 15 minutes constitutes a dip, and anything longer than that constitutes a bath. so a FW dip is typically regarded as 5 to 15 minutes in FW. many authors recommend targeting for a minimum of 5 minutes with a preference for 15 minutes, and aborting as soon as the fish shows signs of distress.
i'd have to concur with JH's comments. the only fish that i've seen that have had any problem reaching 15 minutes in a FW dip have been fish that have had parasitic infestations. IME even a healthy tang will tolerate a 15 minute FW dip without batting an eye.
clownfishes and damsels in general are very good osmoregulators. healthy specimens have no problem tolerating a 15 minute FW dip. many people have commented that the clowns don't have a problem osmoregulating even if the dip becomes extended to a bath. they just sit there, alternately flapping their pectoral fins and wiggling their bodies, as if they are laughing at the whole process.
i'd have to concur with JH's comments. the only fish that i've seen that have had any problem reaching 15 minutes in a FW dip have been fish that have had parasitic infestations. IME even a healthy tang will tolerate a 15 minute FW dip without batting an eye.
clownfishes and damsels in general are very good osmoregulators. healthy specimens have no problem tolerating a 15 minute FW dip. many people have commented that the clowns don't have a problem osmoregulating even if the dip becomes extended to a bath. they just sit there, alternately flapping their pectoral fins and wiggling their bodies, as if they are laughing at the whole process.
Pescado Racing
different orbital
Thanks for the responses. I felt that this was 'old' and incorrect info. Techniques and beliefs have changed, I'm glad I asked...
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