New fish are dying...can't figure it out.

2014FishKiller

2014FishKiller

Member
Beth and Flower are always a good helper, or you could try below.

1). Feed the fish before put in to the tank
2). Try other fish like damsel.
3). Remove Tang from tank and add the new fish first.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
I think people see tangs as reef safe and assume there nice peaceful fish. In the rt size tank, w compatible tank mates they are. However cramp them and there lethal. I have a yellow and a one spot fox housed together. Both have lethal defenses. Scalpel on the tang, venomous spines on the fox. When it comes to both wanting the same spot in the tank, the tang wags the tail the fox shows the spines. They never take it farther and the tang usually gets the spot, hes a bit smaller to squeeze in.
 
aduvall

aduvall

Member
2014FishKiller said:
Hi Beth, Do you think this is need to do. I only put the fish in and none of the water.
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I was saying this because it shows if you need a longer acclimation process. If their salinity and PH are WAY different than your tank it could cause problems.

If I had 5 fish die, each on their first day or two I would check everything!
 
2014FishKiller

2014FishKiller

Member
aduvall said:
I was saying this because it shows if you need a longer acclimation process. If their salinity and PH are WAY different than your tank it could cause problems.

If I had 5 fish die, each on their first day or two I would check everything!
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I just want to make sure I did the right thing. This have nothing to against your comment.
 
aduvall

aduvall

Member
2014FishKiller said:
I just want to make sure I did the right thing. This have nothing to against your comment.
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I didn't take offense at all! I was just explaining my rational.
Beth you don't think that acclimation could be the problem, if you are doing just cup and not drip and if it was only for 30 or so instead of perhaps the 2-3 that they need.
 
mauler

mauler

Active Member
Why is everyone so persistent that fish need a 2-3 hour acclamation time? I've never done it that way and never lost a fish due to my acclamation process. I think the 2-3 hours you keep them in that bag just adds more unnecessary stress.
I agree with Beth that it's most likely aggression. Especially since the tang is doing fine and I'm just guessing that the tang was acclimated the same way so why didn't it die?
 
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beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
I would say that if the fish went in ok and was acting normal and did not display immediate signs of distress, then the acclimation was probably not the issue. I would also say that you need to improve your acclimation. There is a guide linked below.

https://www.saltwaterfish.com/content-acclimation

Your best bet is to find a new home for the tang, then review your acclimation process and adjust it to increase the survival likilyhood of your new fish. No. 1 to consider is to set up a quarantine tank and use it religiously for new fish. Most of the fish you get will have diseases as you carry them home. The only way to not introduce those diseases in to your system (and protect your healthy fish) is to quarantine all new fish first for at least 3-4 weeks. Then, if sickness occurs, you can treat it worry-free in an isolated quarantine. Also, new fish are highly stressed (even if by chance they don't have parasites or other problems when you get them). Isolation with no other fish to bother them goes a very long way in getting them healthy and ready for their final destination in to your tank.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
mauler said:
Why is everyone so persistent that fish need a 2-3 hour acclamation time? I've never done it that way and never lost a fish due to my acclamation process. I think the 2-3 hours you keep them in that bag just adds more unnecessary stress.
I agree with Beth that it's most likely aggression.
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I haven't either, frankly. Guess I'm a bad example. I do take at least an hour or so. Going the extra mile isn't going to hurt the fish.
 
aduvall

aduvall

Member
I generally go 1 1/2 - 2 hours depending on the fish. I'm not persistent that you have to do it that way, but if I started losing a new fish 5 times in a row and each time was within a day, I would sure as heck want to at least look at my acclimation process. If a LFS has a MUCH lower salinity and PH and then a fish is dropped 30 minutes later into a tank... could get ugly.

Also I wouldn't keep them 2-3 hours in a bag. I pour the bag into a bucket I use for acclimation and water changes, (it's 3 G) then let it drip in for 30 minutes, then I take out half of the water and do it again. Then I take out 1/4 of the water and do it again.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Time really isnt a good indicator. 15 mins is usually enough to temp acclimate. What u need is the bag sg to be the same as your tank. Not something that should be done fast, but if there already close it doesn't take long
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
beth said:
I would say that if the fish went in ok and was acting normal and did not display immediate signs of distress, then the acclimation was probably not the issue. I would also say that you need to improve your acclimation. There is a guide linked below.

https://www.saltwaterfish.com/content-acclimation

Your best bet is to find a new home for the tang, then review your acclimation process and adjust it to increase the survival likilyhood of your new fish. No. 1 to consider is to set up a quarantine tank and use it religiously for new fish. Most of the fish you get will have diseases as you carry them home. The only way to not introduce those diseases in to your system (and protect your healthy fish) is to quarantine all new fish first for at least 3-4 weeks. Then, if sickness occurs, you can treat it worry-free in an isolated quarantine. Also, new fish are highly stressed (even if by chance they don't have parasites or other problems when you get them). Isolation with no other fish to bother them goes a very long way in getting them healthy and ready for their final destination in to your tank.
Click to expand...
I could not agree more!
 
silverado61

silverado61

Well-Known Member
jay0705 said:
Time really isnt a good indicator. 15 mins is usually enough to temp acclimate. What u need is the bag sg to be the same as your tank. Not something that should be done fast, but if there already close it doesn't take long
Click to expand...
Its not just the saltlinity and temp you want to balance, you also need to give the critter time to acclimate to the parameters of the water in your tank. Not the bag water. That's also why you don't dump the bag into your tank. When you add a little water then take a little water out, eventually in an hr or so, all you have is mostly tank water in the bag. But still not use it as an insurance.
 
2014FishKiller

2014FishKiller

Member
silverado61 said:
Its not just the saltlinity and temp you want to balance, you also need to give the critter time to acclimate to the parameters of the water in your tank. Not the bag water. That's also why you don't dump the bag into your tank. When you add a little water then take a little water out, eventually in an hr or so, all you have is mostly tank water in the bag. But still not use it as an insurance.
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"take a little water out"

I am not sure who have done such, but it sounds like a good idea.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
My lfs floats his fish then just cuts the bag and lets the fish swim out on its own. I wouldn't do this, but ive never had bad luck w any fish from him
 
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