New to site--Might have a problem?? Clowns!!

[fr0sty_2000]

Hey all, I'm new around here, but I've been lurking for a while... I've recently stepped into the salt water area, and after about 5 weeks, I've purchased my first fish.

I've got a 60g (tall) with probably 30lbs of live rock. I let the tank cycle before adding anything, b/c I didn't want problems once I purchased "Nemo" for my daughter...

Well, last night went to the LFS and bout a pair of Clowns. They are tank raised, and they are young... They had probably 7 or 8 in a tank, so it is hard to tell if any of them have become the female.

Anyway, when I got home, I soaked the bag for about 30 mins to accomadate tempature change, and then, started the slow drip. I dripped into a 5 gallon bucket, until it was nearly full. After that I did the fresh water dip, and released them.

One of them is doing GREAT! The other... not so much. The lil' guy is simply hanging out on the bottom of the tank in a little tunnel in one of my rocks. He won't swim, eat, or anything... he is breathing pretty fast too. I'm not sure if its the stress from the move, or if something is wrong.

I've done 3 test today, and all of them are good. Even had the LFS do another test to be safe..

The other Clown is all over the tank (Like I hoped for, and eats anything you give him...)

Any suggestions? Or am I just a paranoid owner?

[collin]

ive killed every clown ive every bought but the two percs ive had now and my smallet one did what yours did for a few days and now hes fine just give him time

[fr0sty_2000]

wow, well.. I guess that makes me feel a bit better. But what I read is they are very hardy fish, and easy to take care of... Wonder why yours didn't make it?

[collin]

o well ive had osc. and black and white ive killed them all bc they get sucked into my power heads thats y im getting hydors.....anyway about your problem just give the little guy time mine swims with me bigger one in my anemone alot they seem to like it....an anemone might help but its not a must have

[Dragonist]

My guess the little that is in the tunnel is possibly shocked from the fresh water dip.

[aquawolf]

Welcome to TRT!!!

I wish you the best with the little clown coming around and doing well.

[fr0sty_2000]

Well after postiing earlier, I noticed my little guy was having a hard time breathing, b/c he kept going to the top of the tank for air.. after furter lookking at him, he had ich (it was very hard to see, must have been early stages)... I moved him and the other Clown to a QT tank, and treated it....

Here I am at 11:00pm est, and I just said goodbye to the little guy as he has passed...

I'm going to keep my other clown in the QT tank for a few weeks and monitor him closely.

Now, another question... I also have 3 turbo snails, and a Coral Banded Shrimp that is in my display tank. Are any of those going to run into ich problems? I know I can't treat him, so am I going to wake up and find another Andrew Jackson floating???

This is the worst feeling ever... I know I won't sleep!

[aquawolf]

Sorry for your loss.

Only fish can get ich. The ich parasite has various life stages that it goes through, and one of these requires a fish host in order to survive. The total life cycle is supposed to be around 6 weeks. If you can leave the clown in the quarantine tank for that long, and get the ich taken care of in there, your display should be free of ich when you return the clown to it.

[fr0sty_2000]

Originally Posted by aquawolf

Sorry for your loss.

Only fish can get ich. The ich parasite has various life stages that it goes through, and one of these requires a fish host in order to survive. The total life cycle is supposed to be around 6 weeks. If you can leave the clown in the quarantine tank for that long, and get the ich taken care of in there, your display should be free of ich when you return the clown to it.

Well I'll be headed to the LFS tomorrow to talk more to the owner/manager... I've given them handfuls of money, just to have a fish for 24 hours? Hope they are willing to cut me a deal on a new fish, or store credit, something to help ease my mind... I'm not worried about the $, but I was really excited about my first SW fish, and now he's gone... My daughter is torn to pieces. I feel horrible...

[Hop]

You need to leave the tank fishless for 4-6 weeks above 78 degrees otherwise the risk of infecting or bringing out the ich in the new fish you come with is increased.

I hate to word it this way, but ich is a stress disease and your acclimation procedures may have added to the stress and brought the ich on or lowered the fishes immune system to the point it couldn't defend itself.

Freshwater dips have a place, but not in the acclimation process. Even then the FW HAS to match the pH and temp of the water they are coming from. Take some time, sit back and do some reading here since I can tell you honestly care about the fish and livestock. This will give you a better understanding of what others are doing and how to bring those fish home to the best environment

[aquawolf]

Most of us have been in your shoes at one time or another.

I hope you have a good LFS you are dealing with that actually cares about the critters and you as a customer and will work with you on the situation.This may be a hard lesson for your daughter, as it has been for my 7 year old son, but it can be used to teach them about the natural process of life and death.

[fr0sty_2000]

Yes we have a very nice LFS owner/manager... I think she'd bend over backwards for me. The other clown made it thru the night just fine, although I'll admit I woke up twice and checked on him.

I see some people don't agree with my acclimation process, although, I took the advice directly from the lady who owns the LFS. Guess, I'll study up on the subject and see where I went wrong. Don't want to deal with this again, if I can help it.

[fr0sty_2000]

Went back to the LFS and they gladly replaced him for me... I decided to put him along with my other Clown in the QT tank this time, and low and behold... ICH!! They've been in there since the 2nd of August, and I plan on moving them sometime in Sept.

Now the question is, how long should I treat for ich? The bottle says 5 days, but should I go longer???

[aquawolf]

Sorry, I am not familiar with any of the ich medications and cannot answer that question. I will give you a free bump though, and hopefully somebody else will chime in.

[Hop]

Originally Posted by fr0sty_2000

Went back to the LFS and they gladly replaced him for me... I decided to put him along with my other Clown in the QT tank this time, and low and behold... ICH!! They've been in there since the 2nd of August, and I plan on moving them sometime in Sept.

Now the question is, how long should I treat for ich? The bottle says 5 days, but should I go longer???

I would treat them with hypo, I hate medications when they are not needed and most shouldn't be used on scaleless fish. Let me know if you need a link Ultimately I would also treat their food with garlic supplements(1-3 weeks) and make sure you reduce the stress as much as possible. Keep the lights off and try not to have too much movement around the tank.