Lost 2 new fish in 6 days, Should I try another?

[Anonymous]

OK, some of you read my other threads about my tank and the recent mess.

SHort of the story
Tank running 8 months with SPS,LPS corals.
I added 2 Ocellaris slowns 2 Fridays ago.
One lasted 3 days the other 6.

Water paramters are good. Notrates - 0, PH 8.2, etc.

Should I try more fish?

More clowns or something else?

Or wait antoher 8 months?

Dump the tank?

There are no other fish in the tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Did you test for ammonia?

If that's good, and all else is zero, then there's no need to wait...certainly not 8 months.

I'd probably try buying a fish from a different store, if possible. Stick with Clowns if that's what you want. They should be an easy good 1st fish for the tank. They're quite tolerant.

You can even quarantine it to be safe; that's up to you. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Also, go slow acclimating your new fish. ( I'm not sure how you did it last time, put poor acclimation could lead to death a few days later.)

 

[Anonymous]

I dripped tank water into the bags for 2 hours. The bags floated in the sump to keep the temps the same. I discarded the old water after.

Clowns aren;t neccesarilty what I have to have. Thats all I saw at the LFS that can go in my 58G reef. Besides damsels.

 

[Anonymous]

Rob,
You probably didn't do anything wrong. Sometimes it just happens for unknown reasons. I try to buy fish that have been at the lfs for a week or more. Less shock and stress for them if they've had a chance to acclaimate and eat.

 

[Anonymous]

Considering how you describe the LFS near you I would guess the fish were doomed from the start. Try a different store or consider mail ordering.

 

[Anonymous]

Waz - ALl the LFS's suck around here. Its all a crap shoot. Online might be another mess all together.

 

[Anonymous]

saltwaterfish.com has never done me wrong. Always healthy fish.

 

[Anonymous]

I am affraid to order fish online. DOnt trust the shippign companied (worked at the post office years ago - fragile is foreign for "to Kick).

Problems with online ordering.
You have to pay for shipping
If the fish dies you have to pay to ship it back then pay to ship the new fish. That will add up to $80 for a ocellaris clown - NUTS.

Maybe I can try a hardier fish - ideas?

 

[Anonymous]

Honestly, Rob, I've never had a problem with mail order fish and I've gotten them that way more often then I can count.

Reputable places pack them well. Thick - walled styro coolers inside a brown cardboard box, complete with lid. The fish are bagged in good sized bags, usually quadruple or quintuple bagged, sealed with those metal clips not rubberbanded. They use oxygen in the bags as well, and the containers are filled will extra air filled bags if needed to pad out the interior and keep everything from bouncing around.

Kicking the box or throwing the box isn't going to do a thing to the animals inside.

Know any other local hobbyists? Might get a couple together and place an order together to split the shipping costs.

 

[Anonymous]

Rob,
Wait for a frag swap in your area. There always seems to be at least one breeder to show up with babys to sell at those things.

 

[Anonymous]

Honestly, Rob, I've never had a problem with mail order fish and I've gotten them that way more often then I can count.

Reputable places pack them well. Thick - walled styro coolers inside a brown cardboard box, complete with lid. The fish are bagged in good sized bags, usually quadruple or quintuple bagged, sealed with those metal clips not rubberbanded. They use oxygen in the bags as well, and the containers are filled will extra air filled bags if needed to pad out the interior and keep everything from bouncing around.

Kicking the box or throwing the box isn't going to do a thing to the animals inside.

Know any other local hobbyists? Might get a couple together and place an order together to split the shipping costs.

I agree! SWF has the same type of packing. They use Fedex and someone must be home to receive the package. They will not just drop off on your porch. Actually, I've had a more success rate than the LFS. If you order more than 79.00, it's free shipping. You pay 15.99 temporary fuel charge and that's it. The more you order, there is an incentive to get free items. AND NO, I'M NOT A REP FOR THEM. I just had really good experiences with them.

 

[bleedingthought]

I agree with the problem being either doomed fish or the LFS.

Have you considered green chromis? I think they're beautiful fish, hardy, are always swimming everywhere (I know you want to stay away from shy fish), and are easily acquired. I have 3 and I'm extremely pleased with them! Ask Unarce, too!

Good luck man, and don't put the tank down!