First dead fish, now what??

[Joybird]

We've been running for six months--started with an established 30 gallon and upgraded to 65 gallon 5 weeks ago. I added a bit more live rock and some nassarius snails, but nothing else. Water parameters have been perfect. I just don't understand why our little flasher wrasse died. He was a juvenile still, but seemed really stressed since we changed tanks. He's why I added more rock, in fact, to give him some more hiding spaces. He had a tiny whitish patch on his backside which I was worried was ick, but after examining him dead, it's a torn scale, like something bit him?
Anyways, I'm really discouraged. I finally got the lighting and the flow right and I was planning to add our first coral finally this week. Now I'm not sure.
Is there anything you do after you've lost a fish? Is there anything I should test the water for? Treat it for? How long should I wait/observe the other fish until I go ahead with coral?

 

[mcarroll]

Moving is stressful and it sounds like he was brand new and still settling into the old tank when he got moved to the new tank.

Something else could also explain the wound, but it's likely something bit him if you used actual live "live rock". Hitchhikers happen!

 

[saltyphish]

I would test for ammonia just to make sure you didnt have a mini cycle. Other than that if it looked like something attacked him maybe a pest was introduced with new rock.

 

[Joybird]

Moving is stressful and it sounds like he was brand new and still settling into the old tank when he got moved to the new tank.

Something else could also explain the wound, but it's likely something bit him if you used actual live "live rock". Hitchhikers happen!

He had been in the old tank four months and was the tank boss, for sure. Once we moved to the new tank, my royal gramma started dominating everything, so he was super stressed and hiding all the time. I feel awful--I bought the new tank specifically because i felt we had been over eager and had too many fish in the little tank (5 of them). I guess the poor dude was better off in there.

 

[Joybird]

I would test for ammonia just to make sure you didnt have a mini cycle. Other than that if it looked like something attacked him maybe a pest was introduced with new rock.

Yeah, I just checked and it's still zero. I can't find a single thing other than a bristle worm here and there on these rocks. They're really small chunks that are wide open.

 

[saltyphish]

What other fish do you have. The new tank created new territories for fish. Maybe one of its tankmates turned on it

 

[saltyphish]

Yeah, I just checked and it's still zero. I can't find a single thing other than a bristle worm here and there on these rocks. They're really small chunks that are wide open.

Some pests are harder to find. Look at night with the lights out. I have heard of some pests not making theirselves known for many months

 

[Joybird]

What other fish do you have. The new tank created new territories for fish. Maybe one of its tankmates turned on it

Yeah, in the old tank he was the boss. In the new one, my gramma is bullying everyone for some reason. It's possible she bit him for sure. But it doesn't seem like enough to kill him, unless it was just the stress?

Oh, the other fish--a very fat scooter blenny, a clown, royal gramma, bengaii cardinal. Tiny emerald crab, tiny boxer shrimp, snails and hermits....

 

[saltyphish]

That gramma could have done more damage than you know. Bully fish not only pick on other fish bit also will prevent it from eating to. Transfers can be very stressful

 

[Joybird]

That gramma could have done more damage than you know. Bully fish not only pick on other fish bit also will prevent it from eating to. Transfers can be very stressful

Yes, he used to be a voracious eater, but even targeting right to him he was only nibbling a bit the last two weeks.

I guess I'm wondering if I should add anything to support other fish? Stability? Stress coat?
And how long is safe to observe before adding coral?