it is lithargic and bumps into stuff. It looks like her eyes are swollen. she wont eat. is there anything i can do to help her? she was at the LFS for a couple of weeks and was eating mysids there. ill try to get a picture but shes in a bad spot for the camera right now.
what is wrong with my saddleback?
- Thread starter padixon2
- Start date
Some fish don't take well to a new home. That's the breaks. But more than likely, there is something about its new home it doesn't find good:
Water quality.
How does your water chemistries compare to the the LFS water?
Is you water quality tops?
How old is your tank? i.e., has it become properly seasoned? (Butterflyfishes should not be put into aquariums, IMHO until the aquarium has been up and running at least 6 months after the nitrites and ammonia levels have all gone to "0").
What are your nitrates? Butterflyfishes can go off their feed from major shifts in nitrates, in my experience.
Does your LFS put copper or other medications in their water?
Tank mates.
Being bothered by something in the tank.
Acclimation.
Bad acclimation experience or acclimation not done properly.
Stress.
Almost any source in addition to the above. Stress does not have to be your doing, but could have occurred days or weeks earlier. Some stress can be the size of the tank. Is your tank large enough? What size is the fish?
Disease.
The fact the LFS had it for a couple of weeks doesn't mean it was free of disease or a condition. That is why many LFSs put medication in their tanks --- keep the fish alive just long enough to sell the fish.
QT
Was the fish properly quarantined before it was put into the display?
As you can see from the above 'tip of the iceberg,' the possibilities are numerous.
Water quality.
How does your water chemistries compare to the the LFS water?
Is you water quality tops?
How old is your tank? i.e., has it become properly seasoned? (Butterflyfishes should not be put into aquariums, IMHO until the aquarium has been up and running at least 6 months after the nitrites and ammonia levels have all gone to "0").
What are your nitrates? Butterflyfishes can go off their feed from major shifts in nitrates, in my experience.
Does your LFS put copper or other medications in their water?
Tank mates.
Being bothered by something in the tank.
Acclimation.
Bad acclimation experience or acclimation not done properly.
Stress.
Almost any source in addition to the above. Stress does not have to be your doing, but could have occurred days or weeks earlier. Some stress can be the size of the tank. Is your tank large enough? What size is the fish?
Disease.
The fact the LFS had it for a couple of weeks doesn't mean it was free of disease or a condition. That is why many LFSs put medication in their tanks --- keep the fish alive just long enough to sell the fish.
QT
Was the fish properly quarantined before it was put into the display?
As you can see from the above 'tip of the iceberg,' the possibilities are numerous.
Almost everything I wrote goes for your clownfish, too. Not as sensitive to shifts in water quality, but still, they have had issues with Brooklynella disease. Unless it was tank bred, I would also then have added that when you got it, it should be treated for Brooklynella as a preventative measure.
You might want to see this article which includes mention of treating anenomefishes for Brooklynella:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.htm
You might want to see this article which includes mention of treating anenomefishes for Brooklynella:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.htm
Puffer Queen
New member
Padixon2,
If you don't currently quarantine all new marine life, please consider it.
Here is an excellent article by Steve Pro: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.php
Best of luck with your clown.
Kelly
If you don't currently quarantine all new marine life, please consider it.
Here is an excellent article by Steve Pro: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.php
Best of luck with your clown.
Kelly
Rondelet
New member
Pictures aren't great. I wouldn't treat for Brooklynella (or any other disease) unless I was fairly confident that's what the problem was. Do you see any white spots or patches? Doesn't seem evident in the pictures. Looks (pop-eye) and sounds (not eating, listlessness) like a bacterial infection. If so, treat the fish with an antibiotic when you get it into your Q tank. Note that such treatments are not always efficacious - so you may loose this fish.
