Help! New clownfish not doing well!

[ReefPup]

I purchased 2 clowns yesterday and today when I go to check in them the big one is laying on it's side on the bottom and can't swim well. It looks like he is having issues maintaining buoyancy when he swims he just falls back to the bottom.

He is also breathing very hard.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

#fishmedics

 

[Cell]

Need full parameters and tank history. Is this a new QT tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I purchased 2 clowns yesterday and today when I go to check in them the big one is laying on it's side on the bottom and can't swim well. It looks like he is having issues maintaining buoyancy when he swims he just falls back to the bottom.

He is also breathing very hard.

How was fish introduced/acclimated and for how long?
I assume no quarantine or at minimum a bath such as ruby rally pro bath? May be two factors here alone

 

[ReefPup]

How was fish introduced/acclimated and for how long?
I assume no quarantine or at minimum a bath such as ruby rally pro bath? May be two factors here alone

They are in the quarantine tank, I brought them home, matched my salinity to the salinity in the bag, floated them for 30 minutes and put them in. He has passed away now but did I do something wrong? The smaller one seems to be doing ok he's eating.

 

[vetteguy53081]

They are in the quarantine tank, I brought them home, matched my salinity to the salinity in the bag, floated them for 30 minutes and put them in. He has passed away now but did I do something wrong? The smaller one seems to be doing ok he's eating.

There are many wats to acclimate. Below is my method. All in all you want to equalize temperature first then add water in increments and match the salinity. 30 mins May have been too quick in turn leading to shock but also, questions how stable was the fish at the lfs, if netting fish was aggressive as examples

My acclimation method (not the only one out there):
I generally:
Float for 20-30 minutes
Transfer fish and water into a clean bucket
Then . . . .
Measure the Ph, salinity and temperature of the bag water. If you can, make up some water in a container that has exactly the same measurements as the bag readings and move the fish right over, then you can add a cup of tank water to bucket every 15 mins 6 times (almost 1.5 hours)
Then check salinity in bucket and compare to tank. If no match or very close, add a cup of water every few mins until youve reached salinity and trap fish in same cup and pour off water and release into display. Release under LOW light before lights out.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

They are in the quarantine tank, I brought them home, matched my salinity to the salinity in the bag, floated them for 30 minutes and put them in. He has passed away now but did I do something wrong? The smaller one seems to be doing ok he's eating.

What was the starting difference between the salinity in the bag versus that of your tank?

 

[ReefPup]

What was the starting difference between the salinity in the bag versus that of your tank?

1.020 for both that's what my LPS keeps their tanks at.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

1.020 for both that's what my LPS keeps their tanks at.

Good, I just wanted to rule out osmotic shock....