Fish dying/missing

Amanda Bitner · Jun 14, 2018

180g Display; 55g sump

We have had our tank established for 4 months.
The first fish we started with are alive and healthy.
4 cromies
1 scopas tang
1 lawnmower blenny
1 cleaner shrimp
2 camel shrimp
Multiple turbos and hermits

We recently purchased 2 clowns. They were together in a community tank. 1 is still alive and healthy, something killed the other one. I thought it was the other clown at first. Then, we got a pistol shrimp and goby (pair). They didn’t make it a day before they were dead. (They were tiny) We tested the water levels continuously and the levels have been perfect from the get go. I waited to purchase another fish for a while. I recently got a leopard wrasse (large). It’s been a day and it’s missing. Does anyone have any input as to why we may be having these issues? Oh, and yes...we have a very large population of copepods.

DeniseAndy · Jun 14, 2018

To find out the issues for the new fish, I suggest you qt them for at least 4 weeks before adding them to the tank. Stress can kill fish easily. Also, you do not know what issues they may be having.

Amanda Bitner · Jun 14, 2018

DeniseAndy said:
To find out the issues for the new fish, I suggest you qt them for at least 4 weeks before adding them to the tank. Stress can kill fish easily. Also, you do not know what issues they may be having.

My husband and I have discussed this. I think I’m going to turn my small freshwater tank into a quaritine tank. We don’t want to effect or bring diseases to the large tank. We thought so far ahead with the large tank. Part of the reason it’s doing so well in such little time but we didn’t factor in a quaritine tank.

foxt · Jun 14, 2018

+1 on setting up and using a quarantine tank. You will be able to catch issues before they get to your display tank. Plus you will be able to get new fish eating well before adding them to the DT.

How long ago did you add the leopard wrasse? If it was a recent addition, you probably won’t see it for a while, they sleep in the sand and dive right for it when stressed, when added to a new tank, etc.

Amanda Bitner · Jun 14, 2018

Yesterday. I thought he was missing but he just popped up out of the sand. Not swimming around, just laying on its side observing everything. It’s breathing a little heavy but doesn’t seem to be distressed.

foxt · Jun 15, 2018

Well, it is a good sign that the leopard is out of the sand, but if it is not swimming it won’t be eating. You have a large tank and a small population of fish, so it may turn out ok. Did you get it locally, was it eating? You say it is a larger fish, and a “he”; so you do know that leopards start as females and sometimes mature in to males?

Sounds like you are maybe a bit new to the hobby, or are stocking a large tank for the first time. Some general things to consider:
- qt everything
- the order you add fish can make a difference in how well things go. Add the least territorial and most peaceful fish first
- when you add shy fish, or later even more aggressive fish, consider the use of an acclimation box. This goes in the DT, but holds the fish by itself and lets it see and be seen by everyone else. It can help reduce the stress on all occupants
- choose wisely about your source for fish. You didn’t say where you are getting your fish, but if you have a LFS, carefully check out their operation. Are the fish sick? Is there a lot of turnover? Are the fish eating before you buy them? Do the people there take the time to answer your questions?
- if you are getting fish online, sight unseen, you need to rely on reputation and reviews. R2r is a great resource for this.
- you are creating a community in your tank, be sure to research what you are adding. Ideally you would make a wish list of everything you would like to eventually keep, and check to make sure they will all get along. You can post your wishlist here (search for one of the great threads where people post their lists and get feedback ). You will also get advice about the order in which you should add the fish.
- make sure you properly acclimate new additions to the QT and DT when you move them. Some things are more sensitive to rapid changes in parameters than other things

I don’t know exactly what happened to your recent additions, but if your other fish are doing ok it is more likely that you bought sick fish, or stressed fish, or had acclimation issues than it is that your tank killed them. It could be that the chromis or the tang are overly aggressive, but you would see that behavior affecting the new fish.

Amanda Bitner · Jun 15, 2018

This is my first salt tank. My husband has one many years ago and things have definitely changed since then. I research everything prior and try to be patient and not rush into anything. We go to two places for our fish and corals. They both have the healthiest tanks we have seen. We have seen some really bad ones. The one guy we buy from, he’s very honest. He won’t sell us anything unhealthy and he tells us what he feeds them and when blah blah blah. The Leopard Wrasse was eating well there. I’m hoping he’s just adjusting. I’m thinking that the ones we lost (we bought them at the other place we go to) we not well established. I am going to work on setting up a quaritine tank. AND the wish list is a fantastic idea! Thank you for suggesting that.

Amanda Bitner · Jun 15, 2018

I will toot my horn for a second tho because I’m super proud...all of our corals are doing amazing! We have roughly 12 and the only one we were worried about was the first one that went in. We thought it died but then came back and is growing like crazy! We are quickly learning about placement and how important it is.

foxt · Jun 15, 2018

If the leopard was eating and out at the LFS, then I too am hopeful that he'll come around for you. It is possible that the other fish were just victim to too many moves in too short of a time. Next time you visit either shop, talk to them about what happened and see what they tell you. Were there any guarantees from either place?

Sounds like you are taking everything slow and doing your research - great start! It is a rewarding hobby, but you do need to have patience ... best of luck to you!

Here is a very long thread that may give you some ideas on what kind of fish community you might want to build. You can post your wish list there, or just start your own thread ... someone will be along to comment on your ideas!
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/n...for-your-tank-post-here-and-well-help.200605/

foxt · Jun 15, 2018

Amanda Bitner said:
I will toot my horn for a second tho because I’m super proud...all of our corals are doing amazing! We have roughly 12 and the only one we were worried about was the first one that went in. We thought it died but then came back and is growing like crazy! We are quickly learning about placement and how important it is.

Congratulations on that .. isn't it great when stuff works out the way you had hoped?