sudden fish loss

[jmack]

I added a yellow tang and a firefish to my 100gal this weekend. I found the tang dead this morning. I did do a freshwater dip on both fish prior to placing them in the tank.

The only unusual behavior I did notice in the tang was very fast breathing over the past couple of days. His gills were pumping much faster than normal. The last waterchange I did was a 25 gallon a week prior to getting the fish.

What are the primary causes of death when adding fish? Is there something I should be looking for that would cause the breathing problems? Or is there a high mortality rate associated with acclimating marine fish?

When I discovered the dead tang I removed it added a dose of Amquel to the tank...if anything else would help I would be open to ideas.

 

[MadSkillzMan]

How long did you acclimate the fish?

I had a Damsel and a Chromis die on me within hours, but there was already a fish in the tank. Mine i attribute to diseased when it came in, based on the source i got it from.

Breathing problem i WOULD guess is you had nitrate/Ammonia in the water, but im a newb so..

What else is in the tank fishwise?

And as far as i know, a FW dip isnt necesery, just proper acclimatoin time. Many people leave fish in a QT tank for 2 weeks prior to adding though.

 

[angelsj247]

fw is definetly not nessasary and not recommed id say unless it has a disease and arent even very effective. they cause alot of stress for the fish plus the added stress of acclimation and the strees of entering a new tank could have possibly done it.. what are your water paremeters?

 

[ReefNutPA]

IMO, the rapid breathing of a new addition is usually stress related. Fish go through a heck of a lot until they end up in our tanks. Some just can't handle the multiple transitions well.

Tom

 

[hanas]

I agree, the tang may have not been strong enough to overcome the stress of a FW bath. They should only be performed if neccessary, and IMO a last resort.

 

[MadSkillzMan]

I just went to the LFS today where i had bought the 2 fish i lost.

I found out that THAT DAY they were shipped, and theyre pulled straight from the ocean in the phillipines. Oxygenated, then in his store 48 hours later.

So when i heard that, i figured the fish had a right to die lol thats ALOT.

I just brought home another Chromis. Pretty little guy, guess he was the bully of the tank, but the healthiest. Theyve been in a good 5 days now, and i bought him exactly...3 hours ago..STILL acclimating.

So, i wouldnt be surprised theres a similar story behind your tang