[rjs5134]

I just recieved a mated pair of percula's on Thursday via UPS. Unfortunately the male did not survive and the female doesn't seem 100%. Is it normal for a percula to float on his/her side in the current at night? Secondly, has anyone had luck with mail order fish?? I'm 0 for 3, well almost. 4 dead perculas, 1 dead hippo tang and a dead LTA. Dry goods always arrived ok though.

[BubbaWPB]

No, it isn't normal for a percula to float on hís/her side at night. Sorry about your losses. I hope she makes it.

[Reefland]

Where are you ordering these fish from? If from a reputable source, are you considering night time temps? If you have ordered all those fish from the same place and have that poor luck, I would try someplace different. Shipping fish is no easy task but places that are good at it have a pretty good track record.

[rjs5134]

Reefland,

The first order was from Premium Aquatics(I think) just before Christmas of 2004. The order got held in Chicago for 2 or 3 days due to a storm and arrived frozen. Premium Aquatics credited my account almost before I could call them. The second and third orders were from Marine Depot. The mated pair were bagged together and not held at UPS for pick-up. By 10:00am they too were cold, clinging to life and never recovered. Marine Depot apologetically sent replacements 2 days later, when the temperature was 15 degrees warmer. They too were bagged together and the order was held at the UPS center as requested, but the male was dead and the female is well.... hanging on. Although the replacement order was not cold upon arrival I will wait til warmer weather to have the replacement shipped again.

[BubbaWPB]

I think your difficulties are more with the weather and resulting problems in transit. You may want to hold off ordering livestock by mail until it gets a bit warmer. JMO.

[ReefMan1981]

My percula floats on its side (when I say "float" I mean that he is on his side in one spot at the surface making swimming motions) at the water surface almost every night. I have had it for almost two months and it has done this from day one. I read somewhere that this was a normal "sleeping" habit.

[rjs5134]

Reefman thanks for that vote of confidence. My percula started looking much better yesterday but still floated a little sideways at night. And yes, he also kind of swims in place at night. I feel much better.

[rjs5134]

Woops, we took a turn for the worse... My percula looks worse than ever. She is floating near the surface again and her fins seem clamped together. The slime appears to be sloughing off and is in whitish clumps. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[jckjohn]

hey rjs,

I know I am new here but I can offer this. I have ordered from Drs. foster and Smith before and I call them all the time they seem to have great advice you can talk to one of their tech's. 1-800-334-3699. Also I told you I am partial to Marine Depot Live you can see what they say I have spoken to Eugene before and he is very helpful. 714-935-9607

I just bought some mardel products to care for my clown and he looks a lot better now so I think the meds are working here is their number 1-800-338-3659. I also have called them many times they are very helpful.

Hope the clown looks better.

[rjs5134]

jckjohn,

Thanks for the advice.. I'm in a delivery room with my wife right now, so I can't do anything about it, but will get meds ASAP. I agree with you though, Eugene was great to work with. I'll let you know about the clown soon.

[jckjohn]

http://64.4.30.250/cgi-bin/getmsg/IM...b5035d90a9b370

Let me know how it works out and what you bought, and if it is working if it is not to late.

I will probably be treating my clown for 10-15 days with maracyn, maracyn-two and coppersafe. He looks better but is just not eating I have tried everything bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, spirilina, garlic extreme, flake food (two kinds) and kent zoe marine. It is approaching two weeks with no food I don't know how he does it...

Nice pic but his belly is a little smaller...

[jckjohn]

That link may not be feasible for this since I got it out of my email but I just did a new post for an attachment on word. I think this one will work better.

[ReefMan1981]

How's that clownfish doing?

[rjs5134]

Reefman, thanks for asking. Sometimes she appears fine, usually later in the day. Other times like today, she seems to be floating on her sideright up against the overflo. I've seen her mouth frozen brine so I bought live brine today and that got her to swim normal and eat. I also bought maracyn today(seems to be helpin jckjohn), but haven't added it. The whitish stuff on her side seems gone. I may add it just to be safe, what do you think??

[jckjohn]

First off how did everything go in the delivery room?

Next if it was me I would treat with both Maracyn and Maracyn-two for secondary and internal infections. With Maracyn it says in the chart with the package that it contains essential B complex vitamins. Which fish under stress and not eating need. It is under special note on Saltwater Maracyn.

I think you did the right thing buying the meds - I used Maracyn, Maracyn-Two and coppersafe my clown looks real healthy now and today ate a piece of brine shrimp with Kent Marine Zoe added.

Keep in mind rjs I am new at this but willing to share my experience with you I noticed my fish was not eating and swimming slowly and by the filter/powerhead, so I wasn't sure what he had that is why I treated with 3 Maracyn products so either 1 worked or they all did - I am no expert. All I knew was he had ICK which is gone now and he is in my main tank with a UV Sterilizer.

[rjs5134]

Delivery went great, my second boy. Time for me to go under the knife. Will probably start treatment shortly. This hobby was much less complicated in the 80's. Thanks again.

[jckjohn]

Hope everything goes well.

[rjs5134]

Alright, this may not sound like the right thing to do, but I did it anyway. The female percula appears to be totally recovered, then looks like she's floating sidways into the overflow. Well, after seeing her look good for a day or two I found another great looking percula and couldn't refuse. I bought him and it was love at first sight. He is showing off for her and she is swimming around and looks great. I assume when the new percula turns sideways and shivers like he's having a fit he is just showing off. Anyway, now they can quarantine together and move to the display tank in 6 or 8 weeks together. I'll let you know.

[jckjohn]

we all have our impulses rjs I know I have to control mine sometimes Sounds like they are doing well though...

[rjs5134]

jckjohn, Just to finish this thread up, both clowns are doing great, completed the 5 day treatment with maracyn and I've begun lowering the salinity to ensure no ich survives. Can't believe how aggressively they are eating. Guess in 6 weeks or so they will move to the display tank.