Banggai - DAA

[DLHDesign]

Got in two Banggai, a flame hawkfish, and a green mandarin. After drip-acclimating and adding into the QT, the fish seemed to be doing as well as could be expected in the 10gal QT. A few hours after introduction, however, one of the Cardinals was dead up against the power head. :-(

Anyone see anything in the photos to indicate this was anything other than a loss due to stress? The other Banggai is up in the water column, moving about some (but not much). The hawkfish is perching near the heater while the mandarin is hiding underneath it (the heater is in the back corner behind a PVC tube; a good place to hide).

Tank params:
1.025 SG
7.9 pH
78.8 F
0 NO2, 0 NO3, 0 NH3

Only thing in the tank was the Seachem Stress Guard that was provided with the fish (about 2ml?) and some Blue Zoo Mix that was provided as well.

 

[melypr1985]

Was he or any of the other fish gasping or breathing heavy?

 

[DLHDesign]

Not to any great degree. Some rapid breathing during the initial drip acclimation, perhaps?

 

[melypr1985]

OK, and no rapid breathing after being introduced to the QT? No redness around the gills? Death photos are difficult to diagnose with because things like coloring can change after fish die obscuring any evidence that might have been visible.

 

[DLHDesign]

This one didn't have any different breathing than the other, from what I could tell. Didn't notice any redness, no. It had a damaged fin; couldn't tell if it was new or old.

 

[Humblefish]

I can't see anything visibly wrong with the fish, and being so new its really hard to say what happened. I'd just keep a close eye on all the others.

 

[DLHDesign]

Thanks.
Right now everyone seems pretty scared. Not moving around much, near the bottom in the corner, just kind of staying in one place. This seems normal for the hawkfish and mandarin (as I understand them, at least), but I'm a little bit concerned about the remaining Cardinal - it was up swimming around more before I pulled out the other one. It IS night, however, and I did have to disturb the tank to get the body out. So I figure that just spooked it... **sigh**

Should I increase the tank temperature? With the lights off, it's down to 78.6F. Would cranking it up some help them recover stronger/faster/better?

 

[Humblefish]

Should I increase the tank temperature? With the lights off, it's down to 78.6F. Would cranking it up some help them recover stronger/faster/better?

I would actually go the other way, lower it down to 75 or 76. Lower temp means more dissolved oxygen in the water and lowers the metabolic demands on the fish. Defensive measure just in case they have a disease - such as velvet. Buys you more time to act/medicate.

 

[DLHDesign]

I would actually go the other way, lower it down to 75 or 76.

Done; heater lowered to 76F (which was a clearer setting on the dial than 75F).