Why Cant I Keep My Clowns

[glockcoma]

Please help me, about 5 months ago I bought a true perc and a false osci, the false died within 2 days, I was thinking maybe the true killed it, then recently I bought another true perc larger than the one I already have, a few days later the smaller one died from what looks like an illness, then a few days later the newest one died for unknown reasons, so I went and bought 2 fals osci's since Ive read that they are a little bit hardier, but yesterday they dissapeared w/ no trace at all, what is going on, my parameters are stable, other fish are fine, witch consists of a 6 line wrasse, firefish goby, and a scooter blenny, all my invertebre seem well also, witch consist of about 10 hermits, 2 emerald crabs,serpent star, 7 snails, and a huge thriving tube anemone, my corals are looking beautiful more than ever, mostly softies, zoos, a hammer, and a frogspawn.

Why cant I keep a clown, why in the **** are they dieing on me, what do I do?

 

[kkyyllee]

ick?

 

[finfan4u]

Are you Qt ing them befor putting them in? Are you gradually changing the water in the bag it comes in when you put them in? Or are you just throwing them in the tank?

 

[glockcoma]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10220699#post10220699 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kkyyllee
ick?

lol, no its not ich.

 

[glockcoma]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10220713#post10220713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by finfan4u
Are you Qt ing them befor putting them in? Are you gradually changing the water in the bag it comes in when you put them in? Or are you just throwing them in the tank?

I dont QT but I do acllimate well and some of these fish were doing great for months before they passed

 

[kkyyllee]

it could be agression from the new clown, or fish in the tank

 

[finfan4u]

Well, IMO every fish you get should be QT for several weeks before you enter it into a tank because LFS fish are not taken care of nearly as well as you personally would. They are overcrowded and can get communal diseases. I would suggest figuring out how to set up a decent size QT for the fish and carefully watch them after you buy. I’m not 100% sure what is going on. I think it might be aggression from one of your fish. But PLEASE accept my advice on a QT for the future it will save you allot of time and problems.

 

[kuoka]

I don't QT either and all mine are fine (knocking on wood here). Is there another LFS you can try? Maybe it's the LFS's supplier of clowns?

 

[UntamedBreez]

out of curosity...are these wild or tank breed?

 

[fatdaddy]

First, don't mix species of clowns. This is really bad and I've learned the hard way on this. The more aggressive one will take out the other.

And, then be careful about buying a larger clown to add to your existing. These are probably both females and they will fight to the death over their territory. They other may have sustained fatal injuries, so they both end up dead.

Clowns start off as males and then if no female is around, they will convert to a female. Once a female, they stay that way (although there is some controversy about that, but they certainly can't change overnight). Either get a mated pair or two juvies of the same species. Or, just stick to one.

That may explain a few. Are you sure that serpant star isn't a green brittle star? That may explain some others. Not sure, but it's a start.

What is a "tube anemone"? I'm not familiar with that. Percs like ritteri's well. You may want to look into one.

 

[Jon Evans]

That is strange. I have the same problem with gobies. Those dang things disappear every time! My false percs are good though. I'm sure one of the existing fish is beating the snot out of them, and then the crabs are polishing them off.

 

[kuoka]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10221187#post10221187 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fatdaddy

What is a "tube anemone"? I'm not familiar with that. Percs like ritteri's well. You may want to look into one.

This is a tube anemone. I heard they can be dangerous with smaller fish. http://www.pieraquarium.org/resource/dynamic/global/tubeanemone2A.jpg

 

[HBtank]

IME new fish die rather frequently from poor sources, many being LFS..

So many reasons, most of them having nothing to do with you...

Try an reputable online dealer if you can not have faith in your LFS

 

[jwd]

I have found that QT-ing my fish for 6 weeks b4 entering the main display helps the overall health of the fish..... They are very stressed by the time you get them home. So in addition to watching/preparing for any diseases that the might have, it gives them a chance to relax because there's nothing to compete with, then when they enter the display, they're stronger and healthier in the long run.... From my experiences......

 

[glockcoma]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10223305#post10223305 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kuoka
This is a tube anemone. I heard they can be dangerous with smaller fish. http://www.pieraquarium.org/resource/dynamic/global/tubeanemone2A.jpg

MIne is so much nicer than that pic

I dont think it was the TA, most likley a disease or parasite was introduced ie; Brooklynella, so I think I will go w/ out clowns for at least 6-8 weeks, I should go w/ out fish completely for 6-8 weeks, but the fish would be impossible to catch.

Thanks for all the advice, and yes they all died, first was WC then the rest after that were TR. I dont think they took eachother out, the last 2 were really close never left each others side. I wont start QT'ing, but I will start buying from a reputable dealer.

 

[ludnix]

I'm curious as to why you won't start QT-ing your fish? It really isn't much of a hassle considering you only need a 10g tank and water.

 

[glockcoma]

6-8 weeks in a 10g seems like forever, wouldnt that stress the fish. and if the fish already has brook or other disease wouldnt it die anyway in QT

 

[HPD Turbo]

Are they eating?

 

[glockcoma]

they were, like pigs

 

[HPD Turbo]

That is so bad, I have so little experience on this, I am sorry not being able to help you.
Keep a positive mind.