Damselfish with puffy white lips

[KuyaD]

I finished cycling my tank after ~5 weeks, so I bought 2 beaugregories and I noticed that the smaller one had puffy white lips a day or two after bringing them home. The larger one's lips were normal, but he bullied the smaller one until it died (3 days after I got him). I just noticed that the bigger one now how has puffy white lips. He has been hiding way more than he used to (I moved him from a 55g to a 29g tank). At first I thought it was just stress, until I saw his lips. I brought a water sample to petco and they said the parameters were "perfect." Assuming that is correct, does anyone have any suggestions regarding medication? The 29g only has the beaugregory, 1 coral banded shrimp, 5 red leg hermit crabs and a turbosnail.

 

[kevgib67]

Scar tissue from beating on the other one. Happened to my clowns when pairing, went away over time.

 

[KuyaD]

Thank you! I forgot to mention that my CB shrimp that I got 2 days ago also looks like it is dying (not moving, laying on its side). He was fine until last night. The aquatic specialist at petco said that he might be molting, but I'm keeping a close eye on both of them.

 

[kevgib67]

Thank you! I forgot to mention that my CB shrimp that I got 2 days ago also looks like it is dying (not moving, laying on its side). He was fine until last night. The aquatic specialist at petco said that he might be molting, but I'm keeping a close eye on both of them.

Very well could be, shrimp kinda slow down and become reclusive when they are molting because that’s when they are most vulnerable to predators. Fingers crossed.

 

[KuyaD]

I ended up losing both beaugregories Now just have what looks like a dying CB shrimp, 5 hermit crabs, and a turbo snail. Can anyone suggest whether I should dose my tank with anything before adding fish?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I finished cycling my tank after ~5 weeks, so I bought 2 beaugregories and I noticed that the smaller one had puffy white lips a day or two after bringing them home. The larger one's lips were normal, but he bullied the smaller one until it died (3 days after I got him). I just noticed that the bigger one now how has puffy white lips. He has been hiding way more than he used to (I moved him from a 55g to a 29g tank). At first I thought it was just stress, until I saw his lips. I brought a water sample to petco and they said the parameters were "perfect." Assuming that is correct, does anyone have any suggestions regarding medication? The 29g only has the beaugregory, 1 coral banded shrimp, 5 red leg hermit crabs and a turbosnail.

Pic blurry but likely from injury whether be collision or fighting but my best guess is injury from netting at place of purchase

 

[kevgib67]

I ended up losing both beaugregories Now just have what looks like a dying CB shrimp, 5 hermit crabs, and a turbo snail. Can anyone suggest whether I should dose my tank with anything before adding fish?

Ok, let’s start from the beginning. How did you cycle the tank and how did you determine the cycle was complete? Parameters are perfect is to vague, please list your parameters. We will walk you through this. Also did both fish come from the same vendor?

 

[KuyaD]

Thank you for all of the feedback! I thought it was stress too, but that doesn't account for the shrimp. It took me probably 5 mins chasing him around the tank to net him when I moved him from a 55g to a 29g tank. I cycled each tank with a clownfish, a couple small pieces of live rock, some old lace rock, and Microbe-lift special blend bacteria (I followed the dosing instructions on the bottle) beginning March 19. I added the beaugregories on Apr 22 when ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate read zero. Both fish came from same vendor/tank. I called to ask if they had any issues since the purchase and they said no. I didn't ask the petco guy what the "perfect" parameters were, but I just did a test:
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 0
pH: 8.5
carbonate hardness: 240
SG: 1.0225
temp = 78

 

[kevgib67]

Your SG is very low it needs to be at 1.026. How did you acclimate the fish and shrimp. The difference in salinity from the water from the lfs and your tank could have had a detrimental effect. Do you still have the clown fish and were they from the same Petco? Can you post a picture of your tank? Zero nitrate is fine for just fish but if you are going to add coral that will need to come up and you’ll need to get the other necessary tests.

 

[KuyaD]

Thank you! From the feedback it seems like my fish died from stress -- I think I was trying to do too many things at once and did a bad job acclimating him to the new tank -- I just netted him and dropped him in. I've done the same for the clowns and they are doing well. I floated the shrimp for 20 mins as soon as I got back from Petco - then added a solo cup full of new aquarium water to the bag - then dropped him in the tank using a large plastic spoon after 10 more mins.

I have both clownfish from petco. I don't plan on getting coral -- maybe an anemone or 2, feather duster worms, and other inverts are in the plans. Will attach photos

 

[KuyaD]

55g (on right) also has a juvenile humu trigger