New Clownfish - Need help

[jsbzmcdaniel]

I ordered a pair of ORA Black Ice clownfish from LA and received them last Thursday. I slowly acclimated them using the drip method over a 1 hour period and introduced them to the quarantine tank. The tank is a stanard 10 gallon with hang on back filter, a small bundle of maco, pvc pieces, and a heater. The salinity is 1.025 and temp is steady at 79 degrees. I can not get the fish to eat anything and have tried Rods Food, New Life Spectrum pellets, Marine Flakes and even tried soaking it in garlic. The fish are very lathargic and kind of lay at the bottom and sometimes slightly on their side. They seem to be panting pretty heavy and I cant seem to figure out what to do. All my tests came back good so I am at a loss.

Any idea what I can do to save them?

Thanks

Jim

 

[Whip316]

they prolly are still rattled from shipping and all that stuff. i would turn the lights out early or dimm some of the lights. give them a day to settle in and i bet tomorrow they will be ok. and eating fine. my clowns did the same when i had them shipped or even brought to me in a bucket.

 

[readmeli]

Check this chart to see what we feed clowns... might help - were these from the Diver's Den? If so, feeding them what we feed will definitely help - hope they perk up! http://www.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=271

 

[SkullV]

Try Nutramar Ova, clowns can't resist it.

 

[cet98]

personally I would keep the temp below 78F...cooler waters are higher in O2...
try adding an air stone to the QT and see if they perk up any....

also, is this a newly set-up QT? if so, have you checked your parameters daily?
how did they look last Thursday when you received them? same as now, better or worst?
have you checked their bodies closely for any signs of ich or the like?

 

[jsbzmcdaniel]

The QT is newly setup and I do a 35-40% water change every two days. All the water parameters are in check (0 Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite) etc... I will add an air stone and lower the temp a bit as well. Thanks for the tip. The clowns look great with no signs of ich, parasites, or fungus its just they are not swimming around much and resting on the bottom of the tank. They look about the same as they did Thursday but a bit less active. They havent eaten since I got them and I tried everything. I called LA on Saturday and spoke to a rep and asked for some advice and she told me to keep doing what I am doing and to keep them posted. I called again today cause I am getting very concerned. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[cet98]

update?...

 

[125mph]

Its probably aeration. I had the same issue the first time I set up a QT too. Do you have surface agitation to bring in air? Add a fluval or some kinda biowheel that splashes water back into the tank and you'll get lots of air.

 

[rfalvey89]

something you might try is Roe. Its the orange fish eggs they put in sushi. I know this sounds crazy but I got a pair of Clarkii's a few years ago and when I got them home I kept the lights off and dripped them for an ~ hour ~ went up to the supermarket by my house where they roll fresh sushi. I simply asked the lady behind the sushi counter for a sample cup of roe. she looked at me funny but gave me a spoonful of Roe in one of those clean soy sauce cups. Went back home released the fish waited a few hours then put a pinch of that in there. They went NUTS. I didnt over feed them because after moving they are stressed and Roe is kind of like a baby food on their stomach. I did that for a few days , then mysis , then Rod's then blah blah blah...It seemed to work for me.

 

[cet98]

no update?....hope they're OK....

 

[125mph]

Bump. any luck?