What to do about my clown?

[rmlevasseur]

I ordered two indo-ocean ocellaris from LiveAquaria which I received 10 days ago, along with a watchman goby and some inverts. All the animals were eating within hours of release, except the larger ocellaris, which to this day has not taken a bite.

There is a vid showing these guys in my chronicle. The larger ocellaris isn't acting real bad, but not normal either. It appears to me he is breathing a little faster than normal, and isn't closing his mouth tight. He has a very small white bump on his "chin", which I think he got from rubbing against the glass so much when I first got him.

All of my water parameters are perfect. Based on the health of the other animals, I can only assume he was improperly collected as he is wild-caught. I'm debating if I should give him a fresh water dip, or just wait it out. Ten days seems a long time w/o food though. I have tried flake, brine, mysis, garlic enhaced - even a home mixture of fresh chopped seafood.

What should I do??

heres the vid: Video of Solaris - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

sorry-wasnt focusing on them when i shot the vid, but you can see them in a close up

[CATALYST]

Are the in QT?
Could try some cyclopeeze. My fish kill for that.

[rmlevasseur]

No, my QT isn't established enough yet
Normally I QT everything, but these are the only fish I'm gonna have for quite a while.

[rmlevasseur]

don't you mean your fish "krill" for that? ba dum bump.

[CATALYST]

Maybe add some vitamins to the water. Not too many meds you can use in your display.
I've used kents vit C and vitachem with some luck.

[CATALYST]

Ha ha ha...

[goldenmean]

I would contact liveaquaria. They do have a 14 day arrive alive.stay alive guarantee. They may have some advice for you. Something is not right if she has not eaten in 10 days.

[rmlevasseur]

so you don't think a dip would be wise?

[goldenmean]

Sorry I dont know if that is a good idea or not

[rmlevasseur]

i did contact LiveAquaria, they only responded with what they were feeding.

Clowns are cheap, and I don't care so much about the arive-alive policy. I just wanna do what I can to keep him alive while he still has a chance.

[goldenmean]

So what were they feeding them?
Have you tried to feed him that?

[rmlevasseur]

yep
Brine and mysis

[rmlevasseur]

well i netted him in the dark and gave him a dip. He was only in for about a minute and I became concerned with his condition. He started getting a little "tippy". (yes I matched ph and temp, and even alk). So I yanked him and put him back in the main tank. He quickly resumed what has been normal for him. So who knows. He wasn't in for very long, but maybe it will help.

[Woodstock]

(moved to Fish Disease & Treatment section)

QT'ing and why it is so important: A Fish Quarantine Process - Step by Step
Acclimating properly makes a difference!: It was Acclimation, I know. . .

Many other links: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...es-treatments/


.

[leebca]

I don't understand the kind of dip you gave the fish. You matched the alkalinity for the dip? A freshwater dip should have a significantly low alkalinity.

Dipping a fish because it doesn't eat is sometimes the wrong path. The fish isn't eating because of a stressor. The FW dip is an additional stressor. I can see one stressor used to correct another stressor (e.g., a dip to remove parasites), but the fish is in the display which would still be infected.

Thanks for the movie. Is that LR in there? Either you are doing above and beyond in keeping the tank clean, or that tank is very young. Maybe too young for what you added? Maybe do extra reading on this: The Mature Aquarium

The added bio-load to a system with nothing? in it previously is a shock to the system. The other inhabitants are doing fine? For a while. Their lives are likely significantly shortened. Only the Anemonefish are showing first.

The quarantine of fish is not only to verify their health, but to train them to eat.

The acquisition of Anemonefishes in my opinion requires an immediate treatment for brooklynellosis. It's just so common among these fishes that treatment is called for even if they aren't displaying. Above average 'breathing' is one symptom of the onset of this disease.

Are you aware that some online sources get their fish drop-shipped from the wholesalers and importers? Such online sources actually don't stock everything they sell. I go to LAX wholesalers and find all sorts of pre-printed boxes from many familiar online vendors. If online is your only source, then I can appreciate the scene. But try to go the extra 'miles' to an LFS, breeder, or other aquarists, for fish acquisitions. A sometimes clue is seen as a stamp or carrier mark on the label or on the package as to the city of origin, regardless of the printing.

The above might cast disparity about advice as to what the fish was or wasn't eating at time of shipment. The online source may never have even seen the fish you have and could be repeating info third hand (or fabricated).

At this point in time, I have no clue as to which of the above stressors and the additional few dozen not mentioned stressors are at work here. There is a chance the fish will settle down. You may try to figure out and remove or lessen as many stressors as you can.

If the fish were eating well and properly fed, they can live a few weeks without eating.

Good luck!