CLOWNFISH HELP!!!

[theimer808]

Typical Monday, nothing going right.....but, I got a pair of clownfish yesterday from the LFS. they were acting fine, I acclimated them and released them properly. The larger (I'm guessing female) had a few bites out taken out of her tail. Figured it was just from being in a tank with several other fish previously. But over night I had a larger shrimp die and didn't notice it till this evening when I got home. All levels tested fine before, but I tested the water after I got the shrimp out and my ammonia was between 0 and .25. (On a API test kit, so it could be false) I did a water change to drop the ammonia levels. I got her in a isolation box for closer observation and noticed she's breathing heavy. Clueless on what to do now. She doesn't appear to have ick. Could she just be stressed out from the move?
Thanks

 

[ScottMyers123]

It is probably a combination of both being stressed and the ammonia. Any amount of ammonia is harmful to the fish. Did you retest after doing the water change?

 

[theimer808]

This had to be the worst day ever...my CB angel came out of his hiding spot while I was pulling the clown out.....with white spots on his sides....So now my whole tank is screwed. Luckily it's a newer FOWLR tank. But being somewhat "new" I have no idea what to do now. I spent a hour trying to can't the angel but can't get him with all the rock in there. There's only like 5 fish in the whole tank. Should I just treat the tank as a whole?

 

[ScottMyers123]

Is it a fowlr or is it a reef tank? If it is a reef tank or you ever plan on having corals in the tank I would not treat in the tank. I would get all the fish out into a QT and go without fish for 72 days. Doing this will ensure the parasite has died and you can return the fish to your display tank.

 

[theimer808]

It's a FOWLR tank.

 

[theimer808]

Or should I drain it and dry all the rock in the sun, throw away the sand and restart the tank in a couple months with fresh sand and water and let it cycle again? Will that kill all the parasites?

 

[theimer808]

I have another tank I could set up for just the fish to treat them

 

[ScottMyers123]

If you have another tank to put the fish in I would move them and just let the other tank sit fallow for 72 days so that the parasite will have time to die off.

 

[michellejy]

Or should I drain it and dry all the rock in the sun, throw away the sand and restart the tank in a couple months with fresh sand and water and let it cycle again? Will that kill all the parasites?

You don't need to throw anything out. As mentioned above, a fallow period will have the same effect with less expense for you.

Good luck.