is this normal fish behavior?

[nickm748]

I just got 2 clown fish and wed. its now sat night and they dont seem to be eating any of the shrimp I give them. They like go to eat it then spit it back out. They are not swimming around or anything and they are just staying on the right side of the tank near the heater. Ammonia is a little high but nothing to worry about. Also the salt level is perfect and the nitirite is good. Will this behavior go away when they get used to the tank or is their something wrong.
Thanks

 

[bigarn]

Ammonia a little high. Nothing to worry about? WRONG.... Ammonia has to be at 0, as well as nitrites.
Sorry if I seemed rude, didn't mean to be.

 

[mudplayerx]

It is normal for the fish to be timid for up to a week or so. As far as the ammonia, it is like kryptonite to fish.... so any measurable ammonia is bad.

 

[nickm748]

what can I do to lower it?

 

[mudplayerx]

Do a 20% water change with distilled or RO water. You can also buy ammonia-ionizing material that you can float in the tank in a nylon stocking. One brand name is ammo-carb.
Ionizing the ammonia doesn't remove it, but it makes it much less toxic. Make sure whatever you buy says safe for marine fish.
You will also need to identify what is causing your ammonia problem, and eliminate it. Doing water changes is only a temporary solution. Try siphoning your sandbed about once every 2 weeks, getting a better cleanup crew (snails, crabs, hermit crabs, shrimp), and maybe adding some more bacteria (you can buy a bottle of bacteria or you can add more sand/ live rock).

 

[nickm748]

Ok the ammonia carb seems like a good temp solution but I cant really leave my house right now becuse there is 15+ inches of snow outside. How long will my clowns be able to live for with a high ammonia level.
Also one weird thing, My test kit says the ammonia is very high, but my ammonia alert monitor that in the water just says there is a small amount present.
I already did a 75% water change yesterday. But it had little affect. I have 6 pounds of live rock in a 10 gallon tank. But I added the live rock and the fish the same day. (guy at fish place said I could). The tank was already cycled because my uncle gave it to me. Also im noticed these white patches that almost look like spyder webs on my live rock.
Hope this helps
Thanks for the info guys

 

[mudplayerx]

I think 75% water change is a tad too big of a water change. I'm not sure what kind of consequences that would have.
As far as the ammonia...the fish may live for quite a long time in the water, but it has long-term health effects on them. Their gills get damaged and that tissue doesn't repair itself very well so they will have breathing problems in the future.
Respiration is a key part in metabolism and digestion, so more than likely a fish with damage gills won't live very long.
If you start to see red patches on your fish you really need to worry as that is hemorrhagic septicemia.... a blood infection that destroys blood cells. This is the #1 killer that is a result from ammonia.

 

[edwar050]

wow a 75% water change?

 

[ohiorn67]

I am just starting my first salt water, but I do have a fresh water aquarium. You should have never put the live rock and fish in at the same time. If your fish die I would talk to the manager of that store, it is very simple to know you have to cycle any live rock for a period of time. This is not totally your fault, how are you going to learn without the proper info? I notice also some not so great info at my lfs but I always take the info home and look it up on the web to get other opinions. He should know better if he is selling this stuff to you. I would recommend getting biro spira ASAP from the lfs...it is live immediate bacteria to help that ammonia. Unfortunately, you will have to get them through a nitrite spike also because you always get that spike after high pneumonia. I went through some of this with my frestwater tank when I first started up and got bad info and started too fast. I hope your fishies do ok, this is a real learning experience, eh? I will be putting my first fish in next weekend.