finicky clowns

jsaltzgi · 08-06-2003, 05:00 PM

Anyone have any suggestions for getting a pair of melanopus clowns to eat? They ate some brine shrimp last night-their first day with me (shortly before lights out), but haven't even shown any interest in either brine or mysis today. Other than the pectoral fins being a little tattered (from shipping?) they appear healty. They are nice and fat, so I guess it's not time to worry yet- they could just be taking their sweet time to settle in, I guess.

I've never mail orderd fish before- has this been anyone else's experience? All the clowns I've had before were pigs right from the beginning.

The tank was recently moved (about 1.5 months), and contains most of the same rock and sand (some of the rock is now in the Rubbermaid stock tank). The cycle was thus really quick- readings were ok after a week, but I waited a little longer to give the pods and such a chance to take off before the addition of fish. I wouldn't expect there to be any problems introducing fish 6 weeks after the fact? I haven't put the corals back in yet, but the inverts are doing fine, and the water tests are all good (calcium and alk are a little low-325 ppm and 2.5 mg/eq- for sps, but should be fine for tank raised clowns...)

James

jsaltzgi · 08-06-2003, 07:32 PM

Anybody?

Bughead · 08-06-2003, 11:58 PM

I've ordered fish before from a couple of different places. It was pretty much hit or miss. The trouble with losing a fish is that they only fullfill the gaurantee when you place another order.

By the time you get this, your clowns will probably be eating. It's been my experience that new fish will sometimes take up to a week to start eating well, but usually within 3 days. I don't have any suggestions on what else to give them to whet their appetite, except maybe live brine shrimp, if you can get it. I haven't seen a fish yet that can resist live brine shrimp. The problem with the live stuff is that it can carry disease that will be transferred to your tank. To help prevent this, soak the live brine shrimp in fresh water for a minimum of 15 minutes before feeding it to your fish.

Hope that helps.

jsaltzgi · 08-07-2003, 07:44 AM

Well, the smaller if the two is no longer among the living. I'll keep hoping for the remaining fish- not even interested in food this AM...

James

jsaltzgi · 08-07-2003, 09:56 AM

Ok so now I'm thinking about everything I've done with the setup.

Same tank, mostly the same sand (I took it up in layers, labeled buckets, and put it back in reverse order). Slowly added water (yes, same salt water, I saved it during the move) added heater and 2 powerheads to circulate water in the tank. Did a couple 20-30% water changes. I added a couple of pieces of frozen shrimp to keep things going in the sand.

Upgraded sump to Rubbermaid 150 gallon (filled/rinsed out/ brushed twice outside with drinking water safe garden hose) then took to basement and filled twice with tap water, brought up to ~90 degrees, drained. Plumbed the new setup- let the PVC cement dry at least overnight, then took cemented fittings outside and flushed with water (again using drinking water safe hose) Filled up sump and ran in closed loop- NOT connected with the tank, lol- with R/O DI water, again bringing up to ~90 degrees. I did this a second time- the whole process took about a week with my 100 gpd R/O DI unit... My rock and livestock were being held in a friend's system. I then made the 150 gallons of salt water (brought up to ~80 degrees) and used a maxijet 1200 to slowly pump the sump water into the tank (has built-in overflows).

The next morning I fired up the AmpMaster 3000, and all seemed well. I added then added the rock and aquascaped. I think the cycle was really short- only a couple of days- because the NH3 and NO2 were back down to the bottom end of my Salifert and SeaTest kits ranges in a couple days.

Last week, I added the inverts back- 2 cucumbers, a cleaner shrimp, and a couple varieties of snails. Other than a couple snails getting turned on their backs in areas I couldn't reach without ripping a lot of rock out, all are fine. The cukes have taken up residence on opposite ends of the tank and are visibly going at it. The shrimp still eats like a pig, and there are lots of pods, etc. as well as fan worms that look like all is normal.

I'm thus pretty darn sure that I didn't cause the clowns' demise, but...

Enough venting for now- back to making some more water change water...

James

P.S. I e-mailed IA about the lack of eating (yesterday AM) and now the death. No response yet. I'm not sure if they will replace, however, because their guarantee seems to be live arrival only, but they do ask you to contact them within 24 hrs... Maybe I'll luck out

jsaltzgi · 08-07-2003, 12:22 PM

This is really making me second guess starting to re-introduce the corals next week...

Looking around the tank, I spotted some green star polyps that must have spread from the mother colony before the move. i moved the rock so I could see them better- in a couple minutes, they were fully expanded again, looking fine...

James

Bughead · 08-07-2003, 12:25 PM

Darn. I'm so sorry about your clowns and the trouble you're having.

I have a feeling the problem isn't with your tank set-up, but rather with the fish themselves. They just didn't handle the shipping or something. I can't imagine that you had enough ammonia (if any) or nitrites to cause any real problem and your pH was probably OK; the cycle was short and the tank was ready for fish.

I just had a new flame angel die in quarantine after a month..two days before the planned relocation to the main tank. She was active, eating well and not a mark on her. The water params were fine. What I'm trying to say is, these things happen. Sad and frustrating.

I hope your other fishie makes it and the mail order place makes good and this whole thing doesn't cost you an arm and a leg and you finally end up with a healthy fish couple.

jsaltzgi · 08-07-2003, 12:35 PM

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I'm pretty darn sure that it's the tank, but there's always that "what if"...

Yea, pH was fine- I checked it last night-a little higher than 8.0, the same this morning. (I had to use the chemical tests, because I need to get a new probe... Both SeaChem and tetra's little laborette say about the same thing.

Ammo and Nitrite are pretty darn low- I know they probably aren't 0.00, but it looks that way on the test kits...

Thanks again,
James

jsaltzgi · 08-08-2003, 05:15 PM

RIP other clown... After talking to Morgan from IA, I am sure I was just unlucky with those two and they got really stressed during shipping (FedEx thought the package contained chocolate milk like that one commercial, maybe?).

I will try again in a couple weeks and see again...

James

08-06-2003, 05:00 PM	#1
jsaltzgi Reef/ SPS Addict Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Columbus,OH,43081 Posts: 144	finicky clowns Anyone have any suggestions for getting a pair of melanopus clowns to eat? They ate some brine shrimp last night-their first day with me (shortly before lights out), but haven't even shown any interest in either brine or mysis today. Other than the pectoral fins being a little tattered (from shipping?) they appear healty. They are nice and fat, so I guess it's not time to worry yet- they could just be taking their sweet time to settle in, I guess. I've never mail orderd fish before- has this been anyone else's experience? All the clowns I've had before were pigs right from the beginning. The tank was recently moved (about 1.5 months), and contains most of the same rock and sand (some of the rock is now in the Rubbermaid stock tank). The cycle was thus really quick- readings were ok after a week, but I waited a little longer to give the pods and such a chance to take off before the addition of fish. I wouldn't expect there to be any problems introducing fish 6 weeks after the fact? I haven't put the corals back in yet, but the inverts are doing fine, and the water tests are all good (calcium and alk are a little low-325 ppm and 2.5 mg/eq- for sps, but should be fine for tank raised clowns...) James

08-06-2003, 11:58 PM	#3
Bughead Governor Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 1,152	I've ordered fish before from a couple of different places. It was pretty much hit or miss. The trouble with losing a fish is that they only fullfill the gaurantee when you place another order. By the time you get this, your clowns will probably be eating. It's been my experience that new fish will sometimes take up to a week to start eating well, but usually within 3 days. I don't have any suggestions on what else to give them to whet their appetite, except maybe live brine shrimp, if you can get it. I haven't seen a fish yet that can resist live brine shrimp. The problem with the live stuff is that it can carry disease that will be transferred to your tank. To help prevent this, soak the live brine shrimp in fresh water for a minimum of 15 minutes before feeding it to your fish. Hope that helps. __________________ The road to hell is paved with good intentions, but it's the thought that counts.

08-07-2003, 12:25 PM	#7
Bughead Governor Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 1,152	Darn. I'm so sorry about your clowns and the trouble you're having. I have a feeling the problem isn't with your tank set-up, but rather with the fish themselves. They just didn't handle the shipping or something. I can't imagine that you had enough ammonia (if any) or nitrites to cause any real problem and your pH was probably OK; the cycle was short and the tank was ready for fish. I just had a new flame angel die in quarantine after a month..two days before the planned relocation to the main tank. She was active, eating well and not a mark on her. The water params were fine. What I'm trying to say is, these things happen. Sad and frustrating. I hope your other fishie makes it and the mail order place makes good and this whole thing doesn't cost you an arm and a leg and you finally end up with a healthy fish couple. __________________ The road to hell is paved with good intentions, but it's the thought that counts.

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08-06-2003, 07:32 PM	#2
jsaltzgi Reef/ SPS Addict Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Columbus,OH,43081 Posts: 144	Anybody?

08-07-2003, 07:44 AM	#4
jsaltzgi Reef/ SPS Addict Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Columbus,OH,43081 Posts: 144	Well, the smaller if the two is no longer among the living. I'll keep hoping for the remaining fish- not even interested in food this AM... James

08-07-2003, 09:56 AM	#5
jsaltzgi Reef/ SPS Addict Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Columbus,OH,43081 Posts: 144	Ok so now I'm thinking about everything I've done with the setup. Same tank, mostly the same sand (I took it up in layers, labeled buckets, and put it back in reverse order). Slowly added water (yes, same salt water, I saved it during the move) added heater and 2 powerheads to circulate water in the tank. Did a couple 20-30% water changes. I added a couple of pieces of frozen shrimp to keep things going in the sand. Upgraded sump to Rubbermaid 150 gallon (filled/rinsed out/ brushed twice outside with drinking water safe garden hose) then took to basement and filled twice with tap water, brought up to ~90 degrees, drained. Plumbed the new setup- let the PVC cement dry at least overnight, then took cemented fittings outside and flushed with water (again using drinking water safe hose) Filled up sump and ran in closed loop- NOT connected with the tank, lol- with R/O DI water, again bringing up to ~90 degrees. I did this a second time- the whole process took about a week with my 100 gpd R/O DI unit... My rock and livestock were being held in a friend's system. I then made the 150 gallons of salt water (brought up to ~80 degrees) and used a maxijet 1200 to slowly pump the sump water into the tank (has built-in overflows). The next morning I fired up the AmpMaster 3000, and all seemed well. I added then added the rock and aquascaped. I think the cycle was really short- only a couple of days- because the NH3 and NO2 were back down to the bottom end of my Salifert and SeaTest kits ranges in a couple days. Last week, I added the inverts back- 2 cucumbers, a cleaner shrimp, and a couple varieties of snails. Other than a couple snails getting turned on their backs in areas I couldn't reach without ripping a lot of rock out, all are fine. The cukes have taken up residence on opposite ends of the tank and are visibly going at it. The shrimp still eats like a pig, and there are lots of pods, etc. as well as fan worms that look like all is normal. I'm thus pretty darn sure that I didn't cause the clowns' demise, but... Enough venting for now- back to making some more water change water... James P.S. I e-mailed IA about the lack of eating (yesterday AM) and now the death. No response yet. I'm not sure if they will replace, however, because their guarantee seems to be live arrival only, but they do ask you to contact them within 24 hrs... Maybe I'll luck out

08-07-2003, 12:22 PM	#6
jsaltzgi Reef/ SPS Addict Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Columbus,OH,43081 Posts: 144	This is really making me second guess starting to re-introduce the corals next week... Looking around the tank, I spotted some green star polyps that must have spread from the mother colony before the move. i moved the rock so I could see them better- in a couple minutes, they were fully expanded again, looking fine... James

08-07-2003, 12:35 PM	#8
jsaltzgi Reef/ SPS Addict Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Columbus,OH,43081 Posts: 144	Thanks for the words of encouragement! I'm pretty darn sure that it's the tank, but there's always that "what if"... Yea, pH was fine- I checked it last night-a little higher than 8.0, the same this morning. (I had to use the chemical tests, because I need to get a new probe... Both SeaChem and tetra's little laborette say about the same thing. Ammo and Nitrite are pretty darn low- I know they probably aren't 0.00, but it looks that way on the test kits... Thanks again, James

08-08-2003, 05:15 PM	#9
jsaltzgi Reef/ SPS Addict Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Columbus,OH,43081 Posts: 144	RIP other clown... After talking to Morgan from IA, I am sure I was just unlucky with those two and they got really stressed during shipping (FedEx thought the package contained chocolate milk like that one commercial, maybe?). I will try again in a couple weeks and see again... James

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