Clownfish help

[maveri9720]

Hi again. We have decided to get a pair of Ocellaris clownfish for our first tank inhabitants.

I have been trying to read all I can on what I need to feed then, medicate them, acclimate them, etc so I don't kill them or impose any unneccessary stress on them.

I could use some advice from fellow reefers who have gone through this and any tips to make things easier.

Here's what I have so far:

- Drip acclimate the fish in a bucket

- Differing opinions on whether a formalin or fresh water dip are neccessary

- Some people say doing a Hyposalinity will be suffice

- Foods: Cyclop-eeze, PE Mysis Shrimp, Ocean Nutrition Frozen Formula 1 and 2 and Selcon

- Some people also suggest doing Pipzine during quarantine and possibly Rid-Ich

So, as you can see, I have a varied amount of different treatments and food sources.

Any help and clarification would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[avalanche wolf]

What makes you think they are sick ?

I have always had good luck with brine ( frozen or live ) and Flake

How are your water tests ?

What are the contents of the tank ?

[maveri9720]

Well, I haven't gotten them yet, but alot of people recommend doing formalin dips, FW dips, performing hypo treatments all as a standard practice when they receive fish. Yet, others say you only need to do a hypo treatment and monitor and if anything else shows up, treat accordingly. So I am trying to find out from people who have experience with them what they do and what works for them.

I am not sure what my water tests are yet. I set-up my QT this week and I will check my param's Fri. If all is well, then I will be off to the LFS for a pair of clowns. And they will be housed in my 29g QT for at least 4 weeks.

[Nyles]

Dip if they are sick, but dont overstress by dipping before a problem. Acclimate drop in and find out what food they like. Make sure you see them eat in the store, this is key.

[JennM]

You are to be commended for being conscientious

However, just relax a bit...

Drip acclimation and quarantine is fine - but don't go hog-wild medicating etc., unless there is a problem.

Observe them in the store - tank raised or wild caught? Tank raised are less likely to have problems. Clownfish usually develop Brooklynella if they're going to develop anything, so ich medication is redundant (in this instance).

If they appear healthy and will eat (ask to see them fed) in the store, take them home and quarantine them. If they don't eat in the store, or don't appear healthy - DON'T BUY THEM.

Quarantine for 2 weeks minimum - if they appear healthy and eat well, then go ahead and move them into the display. If they develop problems during the quarantine time, treat for the specific ailment. Copper won't work on Brooklynella or Trematodes - neither will any of the other common cures out there. Ich remedies won't fix bacterial infections either - treat fish as needed for whatever ailment they are afflicted with - and be careful about mixing medications - interactions can be worse than the illness.

If you take care to select your specimens carefully in the store, you shouldn't have much occasion to medicate.

I wouldn't dip (FW or otherwise) unless you see a problem too - undue stress can do more harm than good.

HTH

Jenn