damsel died :(

[alienhybridx]

Is it normal during cycling for a damsel to die ? I am about 1 week into cycling and of the 3 damsels 1 has died this morning.

 

[lexluethar]

When cycling with live animals, yes. You should not be cycling a tank with fish, you should do it through use of a raw shrimp or ghost feeding. YOur fished died because your ammonia is probably high causing the stress and death of your fish. IMO your other fish are on their way out as well, if not within the next few weeks their lives will be cut in half.

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by AlienHybridX
http:///forum/post/2514376
Is it normal during cycling for a damsel to die ? I am about 1 week into cycling and of the 3 damsels 1 has died this morning.
The build-up of ammonia in the tank (as Lex said) is toxic to living organisms. It actually burns their gills. Cycling with live fish is the equivalent of you taking an acid bath every day ~ you might survive the process, but you are definitely going to get burned and have some long term effects. It is generally advised to cycle using cocktail shrimp rather than living animals (its also less expensive for you in the long run).

 

[earlybird]

I suggest you go back to the LFS that told you to cycle with fish and not only demand your money back and costs for funeral expenses but also inform them about alternative safer ways to cycle a tank. Unfortunately, they won't make money on selling damsels so they may not listen.

 

[alienhybridx]

i tested the water earlier and the ammonia is at around .5 and 1 nitrite is at .5 nitrate is 0. Is it too late at this point to add a raw piece of shrimp to continue cycling or just stick with the 2 damsels that i have currently ?

 

[lexluethar]

My advice would be to return the remaining damsels - even if you don't get store credit. I mean they are what 3 bucks each? I would lose 5 - 10 dollars to save two fish, JMO. Then allow your tank to cycle naturally. Since you already have ammonia and nitrite your cycle has already started, so the shrimp isn't needed. Make sure you have some base / live rock and sand for the bacteria to populate, then wait until you have 0 Ammonia, 0 NItrite, and >0 nitrates, then you can reintroduce some fish (small ones at first).

 

[chuckcac]

+1 lex
i agree - cycle properly - then get fish (somewhere else)

 

[shinobi9119]

Originally Posted by chuckcac
http:///forum/post/2514566
+1 lex
i agree - cycle properly - then get fish (somewhere else)

 

[chrgerondavins]

if a damsel died something ain't right, those things are tough!

 

[alienhybridx]

yea i know they are tough i remember a while back when i had a 10 gallon tank and started cycling with 2 damsels they lasted for well over a year.....i really found it weird that the domino damsel died.....my other 2 are doing very well though and aren't aggressive hopefully in about a month or so when i introduce a clownfish they won't fight but if the damsels stress it out they are going to be food for my pet cat LOL

 

[uberlink]

Not surprising that any fish--damsel or otherwise--would die in a high ammonia environment. That's why most hobbyists have stopped using this method of cycling. It's also probably why fish stores still recommend it despite its cruelty...they get to sell you fish knowing that they are 'supposed' to die and you'll be back for more.
Great joke about feeding your fish to a cat, by the way.

 

[lexluethar]

Originally Posted by uberlink
http:///forum/post/2515719
Not surprising that any fish--damsel or otherwise--would die in a high ammonia environment. That's why most hobbyists have stopped using this method of cycling. It's also probably why fish stores still recommend it despite its cruelty...they get to sell you fish knowing that they are 'supposed' to die and you'll be back for more.
Great joke about feeding your fish to a cat, by the way.

Exactly why i'm not suprised, and won't be suprised if your damsels only live a year (assuming they make it through the cycle).

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by LexLuethar
http:///forum/post/2515902

Exactly why i'm not suprised, and won't be suprised if your damsels only live a year (assuming they make it through the cycle).
+1....just because they are hardy doesnt mean amonia at any level isnt damaging to them. And from one fish to the next you cant assume they will all respond the same to that type of poisioning.

 

[nwdyr]

Please don't take this the wrong way ...but, I saw on another thread you gave some advice to a "newbee" and it was not good advice. Then I see here you killed a damsel. I would think twice about giving advice, you may cause more harm then you intend too. Again I am soo not trying to be a jerk, just trying to help

 

[salty blues]

When I first got into sw, my lfs told me to use a molly to cycle!

 

[alienhybridx]

nwdyr the reason i used damsels was because a friend of mine gave them to me so i decided to use them for cycling...that's how i did it a long time ago when i was working on my 20g ....if you are referring to me giving advice about coralline algae i dont see what wrong i'm doing when im sharing something i am experiencing atm i may not be an expert but i like sharing advice that i know is pretty accurate ...all of us were noobs at one point or another...sharing wrong/bad advice that you have no experience with is a bad thing and that's not what i did...

 

[alienhybridx]

yea i understand what you are trying to say btw but im not that type of a person...i dont intend on giving any advice to anyone that i dont know jack **** about i've learned a lot since i started reading posts on this site and enjoy visiting every day as i love this hobby...