Very sick fish

electricbluelizzy · 08-01-2007, 08:37 PM

I can't figure out why my fish is dying. When I came home today, my powder blue tang was laying on the sand - now he's in quarantine - he is listing sideways, and seems to be totally out of it.

He has only been in the tank for three days. Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are all ZERO. dKH is 9.5 and Calcium is 390. I drip acclimated for about 45 minutes.

I have had ich in the tank before, but this is not like that. I also did the 6 week barren no fish treatment to rid the tank of it. He wasn't flashing, or showing any spots, or anything..... Just swam slower and slower and slower and then fizzled out on the sand. Please give me advice... My husband says we can't get any more fish b/c I keep killing them. What do I do?

bosscrab · 08-01-2007, 08:48 PM

Maybe you didn't acclimate long enough. Hows his breathing?

electricbluelizzy · 08-01-2007, 08:53 PM

He isn't really gasping badly, breathing maybe a little fast, but nothing crazy... Just laying on his side.. what tha??

how long do most people acclimate? Gosh, I thought 45 minutes was on the long side...

russbriscoe · 08-01-2007, 09:59 PM

They are tough fish to get. I have one and it has been in my sump for two week. I will move him to teh display tank this week end.

bosscrab · 08-01-2007, 10:13 PM

Fish, I like to acclimate for about 2 hrs. Expecially the sensative ones.

Mike01z · 08-01-2007, 10:31 PM

man sounds like a bummer, how old is the tank total?

How many dead fish lately? 45 minute drip seems like plenty long to me IMO if you got him local.

Are all the dead fish from the same store?

betamed · 08-01-2007, 10:48 PM

They're a tough fish. If I had a pristine tank more than 200G I'd give it a try otherwise success is iffy.

betamed · 08-01-2007, 11:01 PM

Only advice I can give is to leave him be. Maybe he isn't getting enough O2 or was caught with cyanide.

superwizbang · 08-02-2007, 12:58 AM

Powder blues are tough to keep. They are very nervous fish and highly prone to an ich outbreak at the slightest sign of stress. Good luck. At least know you are not alone. Initially, I used to think they were beautiful fish but since I have learned that there are others just as wonderful but without all the problems of them being "moody". 8/

-K

Loverotties · 08-02-2007, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superwizbang

Powder blues are tough to keep. They are very nervous fish and highly prone to an ich outbreak at the slightest sign of stress. Good luck. At least know you are not alone. Initially, I used to think they were beautiful fish but since I have learned that there are others just as wonderful but without all the problems of them being "moody". 8/

-K

I agree, hard fish to keep if you get by the 1st month your OK,They stress out SO easy.Good luck.Have many hiding places and I hope your tank is bigger then 125.

electricbluelizzy · 08-02-2007, 07:14 AM

The tang is dead this morning. I am sooo bummed. I can't take many more dead fish. Yes, all the fish are from the same place. The only fish I can seem to keep alive are two tank-raised clowns. I think my tank is cursed. This sucks.

I hate to think how many tangs have died this way. They come through the store all time, and I think I'm pretty conscientious. I bet most of them die. How sad....

Anyway, I'm broke and have nothing but dead fish. My fish funds were pretty much emptied on this trip. I'd love to hear recommendations on some hardier fish for my tank. So far I have lost a Foxface Rabbitfish & Lyretail Anthias to ich. Now the tang- stressed to death I guess. I've had one jumper - a goby.

If the tang had ich (which I saw no signs of but certainly could be possible) can I put new fish in soon or do I have to empty the tank for 6 weeks again to be on the safe side. I did not QT this fish b/c I knew he was stress prone, and QT is like fishy wasteland....

I'm sooo frustrated right now - this is sickening

Loverotties · 08-02-2007, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricbluelizzy

possible) I did not QT this fish b/c I knew he was stress prone, and QT is like fishy wasteland....

You knew he was stress prone so you didn't QT?U'm isn't that the reason you do?
I recomend you by a UV for your tank.

ScruffyRubicon · 08-02-2007, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricbluelizzy

The tang is dead this morning. I am sooo bummed. I can't take many more dead fish. Yes, all the fish are from the same place. The only fish I can seem to keep alive are two tank-raised clowns. I think my tank is cursed. This sucks.

I hate to think how many tangs have died this way. They come through the store all time, and I think I'm pretty conscientious. I bet most of them die. How sad....

Anyway, I'm broke and have nothing but dead fish. My fish funds were pretty much emptied on this trip. I'd love to hear recommendations on some hardier fish for my tank. So far I have lost a Foxface Rabbitfish & Lyretail Anthias to ich. Now the tang- stressed to death I guess. I've had one jumper - a goby.

If the tang had ich (which I saw no signs of but certainly could be possible) can I put new fish in soon or do I have to empty the tank for 6 weeks again to be on the safe side. I did not QT this fish b/c I knew he was stress prone, and QT is like fishy wasteland....

I'm sooo frustrated right now - this is sickening

Did you drain your tank last time? You just would have to run it fishless if that is the route you want to take. The UV filter may not be a bad idea for you like mentioned above.

What does the LFSs SG look like compared to yours? That would help with how long to acclimate. If there is much difference you would need to acclimate more slowly over a longer period of time.

betamed · 08-02-2007, 08:15 AM

Anthia and tangs like the powder blue are just not known for being easy to care for. A powder blue in a 75 G tank is basically doomed. I tried this fish once years ago in a 110g and it went bad for me and worse for the tang. It is a shame how many of these fish are lost before even leaving the store. Why not try something easy and cheap like a 6 line wrasse, gramma, chromis etc to build up your confidence.

Geoff · 08-02-2007, 08:33 AM

i would bet your LFS gets cyanide caught fish, or they do not do thier job acclimating the fish.

you might want to ask them what salinity their fish come from the distributor. if they do not know then they may be doing most of the damage right there.

is there another LFS near you?

G~