can a fish die from a freshwater dip?

[mr.clownfish]

i just dipped my clownfish and one almost died, it flipped around in the current a few times and landed between some rocks. i cant find the other one.... is it dead? O_O
the temps where exactly the same and pH was the same also. i dipped them for about 20 mins, they where breathing kinda heavily when i placed them back into the tank.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Mr.clownfish
http:///forum/post/3257526
i just dipped my clownfish and one almost died, it flipped around in the current a few times and landed between some rocks. i cant find the other one.... is it dead? O_O
the temps where exactly the same and pH was the same also. i dipped them for about 20 mins, they where breathing kinda heavily when i placed them back into the tank.

WOW, I would think 20 minutes is a long dip, I would do only a few minutes and watch for stress.

 

[btldreef]

20 mins is a long time IMHO
Why did you dip them? Sometimes it can cause even more stress. I'm a fan of hypo, not full freshwater unless absolutely necessary.

 

[hunt]

what did they have that you needed to dip them?

 

[noah's nemo]

That is a bit long,but a healthy fish should survive it just fine.I have dipped all my fish before when i did my hypo,and i did a 10 minute dip.I have read somewhere before that people have done them for hours.I will try and dig up that info.

 

[mr.clownfish]

i think they have ick, they have these large white pimple like things that suddenly appear and disappear on both their fins and sometimes all over there bodies.
ive actually done a 30 mins dip before and they did better than this time...
and ive read a couple times that people do like 45 min dips on there fish, on this site.

 

[mr.clownfish]

Originally Posted by BTLDreef
http:///forum/post/3257545
20 mins is a long time IMHO
Why did you dip them? Sometimes it can cause even more stress. I'm a fan of hypo, not full freshwater unless absolutely necessary.
i dont do hypo cause i have a huge copepod and amphipod population. and i dont have a QT

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by Mr.clownfish
http:///forum/post/3258671
i dont do hypo cause i have a huge copepod and amphipod population. and i dont have a QT
If you suspect that your fish have ich, a freshwater dip is not going to do anything for them if they're being placed back in the same tank immediately after the dip. Ich can live in the rocks/sand/base of corals for weeks without a host (fish). By placing your fish right back in the untreated tank, your exposing them to ich again. You must treat the whole tank, or QT the fish separately in order to truly rid your tank (and fish) of ich. Without treatment, even if not visible, ich is going to be in your tank. A healthy fish might be able to fight off the parasite, but a sick fish, or a new,stressed fish may not.
Are you sure it is ich, it sounds like they may have lymphocitis. Can you post a pic?

 

[noah's nemo]

Spot on.

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by Noah's Nemo
http:///forum/post/3259650
Spot on.
Thank you

 

[rlablan]

For ick, 5 mins maximum is what you need to burst the little buggers. Anything more than that will just stress and suffocate your poor fishies.
The ick will burst pretty darn quick when it comes to freshwater dipping.
My opinion is that 20 minutes of being in freshwater, where they couldn't breathe and function probably did them in. A few minutes is cool but imagine holding your breath for 20 minutes straight?? I dunno... that's what I think.

 

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3259949
For ick, 5 mins maximum is what you need to burst the little buggers. Anything more than that will just stress and suffocate your poor fishies.
The ick will burst pretty darn quick when it comes to freshwater dipping.
My opinion is that 20 minutes of being in freshwater, where they couldn't breathe and function probably did them in. A few minutes is cool but imagine holding your breath for 20 minutes straight?? I dunno... that's what I think.
suffication as you describe is not the issue. saltwater fish have to excrete excess salts with the amount they constantly take in with the water. put them in freshwater they still excrete salt (too much) and their nervous system shuts down and they can become dehydrated internally. they may (or may not) sufficate but its because the nervous system shuts down not because their gils cant obtain oxygen from the water. sort of like your heart rythms going haywire if you pump out all the K salts out your body (but different lol).
anyway 20 minutes is way too long. I've freshwater dipped a few fish (5 minutes) and they've done fine (pH balanced with a little alkalinity supplement anda temp matched).

 

[florida joe]

there are fish that can actually live in both environments

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3260419
there are fish that can actually live in both environments
Yes there are, such as the one goby I own (Sleeper Banded Bullet), however, Clownfish are NOT one the species that can survive in both.
I really don't think that these fish have ich, as stated above, nor do I think this was the proper method to treat them with.

 

[crypt keeper]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3260419
there are fish that can actually live in both environments
what does that have to do with this thread besides 100% nothing?
If you have ich and you put them back in the tank they will get again. Set up at qt. The Water you are using is it RO water or tap water?

 

[florida joe]

gee i don't know excuse my stupidity but the OPs thread was titled
can a fish die from a freshwater dip?
so i guess saying some fish can in fact live in both fresh and salt water is adding some info

 

[btldreef]

Is this really worth arguing over? You're both correct. The original question and the questions that have progressed from it should all be given attention.
That being said, I take it that the OP is not posting in this thread anymore?