Fish Delivery went wrong!

SurfTrack · Feb 19, 2019

Hey! My copper band butterfly just arrived and its not looking good at all! Its lying on its side breathing heavily. I just put it in a clean bucket and started the acclimation process.

It was outside for hours when I was rushing home but, the water wasn't too cold because there are heat packs in it.

What do I do?

SurfTrack · Feb 19, 2019

it seems to be slowly coming back to life

Fishnut · Feb 19, 2019

My last fish and clam delivery arrived with a bag temperature of 65 degrees. I was shocked that the fish came around after slowly coming to tank temperature. Clam died but fish made it. Hope you have good luck.

maroun.c · Feb 19, 2019

Coyld be ammonia poisonning, id add some prime and wait for it to improve while slowly acclimating

SurfTrack · Feb 19, 2019

maroun.c said:
Coyld be ammonia poisonning, id add some prime and wait for it to improve while slowly acclimating

He's already looking SO much better. He is now swimming and reacting to my movements. Going to continue the acclimation and add him in soon.

SurfTrack · Feb 19, 2019

Copperband is still alive and gaining strength. But theres a couple issues.

When I first introduced him, my yellow tang was not being very nice so I quickly grabbed the CBB and put him into a small acclamation box floating in the tank. I plan to release him once/if I can get him to eat. If my yellow tang won't stop harassing him I am going to return him to a store.

Mastiffsrule · Feb 19, 2019

Congrats on the revive. Love copperbands. I never had good luck with butterflies but they are gorgeous.

Is he in a qt with the tang or into the DT?

SurfTrack · Feb 19, 2019

Mastiffsrule said:
Congrats on the revive. Love copperbands. I never had good luck with butterflies but they are gorgeous.

Is he in a qt with the tang or into the DT?

DP. I dont QT, I. have other methods.

Im just worried the tang will kill him when I release him back.

SurfTrack · Feb 19, 2019

There are a couple scrapes on him and the end of his mouth is a little cut

Mastiffsrule · Feb 19, 2019

What size tank. If he is showing Injury a bacterial infection may be soon to follow.

SurfTrack · Feb 19, 2019

Mastiffsrule said:
What size tank. If he is showing Injury a bacterial infection may be soon to follow.

75g

Im hoping for the best. ill keep you updated.

Mastiffsrule · Feb 19, 2019

Hopefully it will be fine. You caught the aggression and doing the right things

Hoping for the best as well. Attach a pic if you can and make me jealous. ;Happy

SurfTrack · Feb 19, 2019

Mastiffsrule said:
Hopefully it will be fine. You caught the aggression and doing the right things

Hoping for the best as well. Attach a pic if you can and make me jealous. ;Happy

Decided I am going to net the yellow tang and release the copper band into the tank.

lilchris_357 · Feb 19, 2019

OR you can put mirrors on each side of the tank to keep the yellow tang occupied for a few days until the CB gets acclimated.

Sashaka · Feb 19, 2019

SurfTrack said:
Decided I am going to net the yellow tang and release the copper band into the tank.

That is probably what I would do - as a second choice. I try to take the sails out of the bully in my tank by sitting his/her butt in an acclimation box for a few weeks, though sometimes the fish work out dominance issues within a day or two themselves. It didn't work with my Kole tang. I eventually had to rehome it.

My first choice is always to quarantine. Your CBB had a traumatic shipping experience, was bullied once put in the tank, and now has injuries that need to heal up. This is a sensitive fish species at the best of times. A peaceful environment is a must right now. Don't wait to buy antibiotics. Have them on hand. It never fails that when stores are closed, a fish gets sick in my tank. Don't let that happen to you. I wish you the best of luck with the new fish!

SurfTrack · Feb 19, 2019

Sashaka said:
That is probably what I would do - as a second choice. I try to take the sails out of the bully in my tank by sitting his/her butt in an acclimation box for a few weeks, though sometimes the fish work out dominance issues within a day or two themselves. It didn't work with my Kole tang. I eventually had to rehome it.

My first choice is always to quarantine. Your CBB had a traumatic shipping experience, was bullied once put in the tank, and now has injuries that need to heal up. This is a sensitive fish species at the best of times. A peaceful environment is a must right now. Don't wait to buy antibiotics. Have them on hand. It never fails that when stores are closed, a fish gets sick in my tank. Don't let that happen to you. I wish you the best of luck with the new fish!

I just can't setup a qt right now. Its not possible. Im watching him carefully though and if I see anything I will rehome him.

Also I was not able to catch the yellow tang so I moved the CBB into a bigger acclimation box that you can't see through. My CBB is now looking way better and is breathing normally. My only concern is that its beak looks injured. Ill try to get a picture.

Sashaka · Feb 19, 2019

SurfTrack said:
My only concern is that its beak looks injured. Ill try to get a picture.

I hope not. If its mouth was injured by the tang, it may not eat. These fish are picky eaters at best. You may have to resort to tempting it with live food. Do you have any aphasia in your tank that you can transfer to the acclamation box? It's a favorite food of the CB. Many people purchase the CB to control an aphasia problem. You can also purchase some live brine as food or brine eggs and hatch them to feed the fish. Gut load them with food before feeding them though. They are not a great nutritional source long term. White or black worms are also an option for picky eaters.

I hope everything works out for you.

Nokiaec11 · Feb 19, 2019

Most fish distributors online put enough oxygen in the bag for the fish to survive 2 or 3 days as long as the bag is not damaged...BFs are just sensitive fish period, it is better to get those local...I had a 7" BlueLine Trigger delivered once, and it tore the bag, and there was only enough water left for it to lie flat in when I picked it up from FedEx after work 9+ hrs later, the box was so wet they had to put it in a huge bag...lived for 2-1/2yrs, died when it tried to fight my new at that time 13" Titan Trigger.