Fish dying. - Aquarium Advice

esaone · 05-11-2008, 08:48 PM

I bought a Clown and a Royal Gramma 2 days ago from the only local shop that carries marine fish. They have horrible conditions but these fish hadn't been in the shop more than 2 days. When I brought the fish home they wouldn't eat and I found them both dead today. I have a PH of 8.2, temp of 79, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, and 5.0 Nitrate. Why do you think these fish died?

ezy33 · 05-11-2008, 09:08 PM

Stress

CatatonicBug · 05-11-2008, 09:24 PM

I agree. I have had the same thing happen with FW fish. I bought some mollies at the LFS just hours after they had stocked their tanks. They lasted one day, and both died, even though tank parameters were all good.

esaone · 05-11-2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatatonicBug

I agree. I have had the same thing happen with FW fish. I bought some mollies at the LFS just hours after they had stocked their tanks. They lasted one day, and both died, even though tank parameters were all good.

There is a shop about an hour away that has nice tanks.
Do you think that it would be better to buy acclimated fish from that shop?

Kurt_Nelson · 05-11-2008, 10:49 PM

Cleanliness of the shop is usually a big decider for me. I also make it a habit though of buying fish that have been in the shop at least a week. If they aren't going to make it between the wholesaler and the LFS, they usually will die within a couple days. Better that they do that in their tanks, then yours.

Innovator · 05-11-2008, 11:09 PM

On the flip side, if I can I prefer to purchase fish straight from the bag and especially if I know who the wholesaler is. If the fish remains listless and uninterested while being handled I tend to pass on it. This is also a great time for an up close conditioning check. When window shopping, take time to notice how the fishes react to one another and reactions to you. Look for obvious signs of disease and the system as a whole. Ask the lfs if they medicate their systems or livestock (copper is common). A basic health check could be:

Obvious system water quality degradation
Dead fish in displays (also being consumed)
Obvious disease (Crypt, bacterial infections, viral infections, etc)
Physical attributes (coloration/discoloration, nutritional deficiency, breathing, etc)
Activity of livestock (physical reactions, feeding reactions, etc)

Kurt_Nelson · 05-11-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innovator

On the flip side, if I can I prefer to purchase fish straight from the bag and especially if I know who the wholesaler is....

That's the #1 preferred method in my book! The fewer the times the fish has to be acclimated to a new tank, the better. But I think most folks aren't that lucky or able to be at the LFS at the right time. But you do run the risk of it being one of those "casualties" that the LFS are used to.

esaone · 05-12-2008, 12:27 AM

My first fish came straight from a bag that I got special at the local Petland.
One month later it got ich and died.

Innovator · 05-12-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esaone

My first fish came straight from a bag that I got special at the local Petland.
One month later it got ich and died.

Moral of the story is, regardless of how you acquire your fish you must still quarantine or risk losing your stock.

cmor1701d · 05-12-2008, 01:27 PM

Some lfs will allow you to put a deposit on a fish for a week or two. Then you can come back and make sure the fish is eating and has acclimated to the tank before stressing it again with another move.

05-11-2008, 08:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
esaone Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: WV Posts: 79	Fish dying. I bought a Clown and a Royal Gramma 2 days ago from the only local shop that carries marine fish. They have horrible conditions but these fish hadn't been in the shop more than 2 days. When I brought the fish home they wouldn't eat and I found them both dead today. I have a PH of 8.2, temp of 79, 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrite, and 5.0 Nitrate. Why do you think these fish died?

05-11-2008, 09:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
ezy33 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pinole California Posts: 277 Images: 13	Stress __________________ 9 gal nano 30 gal reef plexi 55 gal reef glass 180 gal predator reef plexi

05-11-2008, 09:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
CatatonicBug Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 503 Images: 6	I agree. I have had the same thing happen with FW fish. I bought some mollies at the LFS just hours after they had stocked their tanks. They lasted one day, and both died, even though tank parameters were all good. __________________ Remember - in Aquaria, nothing good happens fast. Starting a new tank? Click here for instructions. 47g tall FW, 10g planted, 2.5g planted office tank

05-12-2008, 01:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,562 Images: 43	Some lfs will allow you to put a deposit on a fish for a week or two. Then you can come back and make sure the fish is eating and has acclimated to the tank before stressing it again with another move. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

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05-11-2008, 10:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kurt_Nelson Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: WA Posts: 2,014 Images: 28	Cleanliness of the shop is usually a big decider for me. I also make it a habit though of buying fish that have been in the shop at least a week. If they aren't going to make it between the wholesaler and the LFS, they usually will die within a couple days. Better that they do that in their tanks, then yours.

05-11-2008, 11:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
Innovator Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,036	On the flip side, if I can I prefer to purchase fish straight from the bag and especially if I know who the wholesaler is. If the fish remains listless and uninterested while being handled I tend to pass on it. This is also a great time for an up close conditioning check. When window shopping, take time to notice how the fishes react to one another and reactions to you. Look for obvious signs of disease and the system as a whole. Ask the lfs if they medicate their systems or livestock (copper is common). A basic health check could be: Obvious system water quality degradation Dead fish in displays (also being consumed) Obvious disease (Crypt, bacterial infections, viral infections, etc) Physical attributes (coloration/discoloration, nutritional deficiency, breathing, etc) Activity of livestock (physical reactions, feeding reactions, etc)

05-12-2008, 12:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
esaone Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: WV Posts: 79	My first fish came straight from a bag that I got special at the local Petland. One month later it got ich and died.