Is it normal for Orchid Pseudo to lay down motionless?

[eamike261]

Please see video above. Just added this Orchid Psuedo to the tank about 3 days ago. He hasn’t eaten yet (that I’ve seen) but he has been coming out of the rockwork when I feed my clowns. He’s getting braver but today I found him just laying in a cove like this...

Is something wrong is this common sleep behavior for Orchid Pseudo? My clowns don’t lay motionless when they sleep.

 

[JsL]

My orchid dottyback doesn't lay out in the open like that. It prefers hanging out in caves and overhangs. Something doesn't look right.

Is it an ORA bred fish or wild caught?

 

[eamike261]

My orchid dottyback doesn't lay out in the open like that. It prefers hanging out in caves and overhangs. Something doesn't look right.

Is it an ORA bred fish or wild caught?

Thanks for the reply. It's ORA. It's about one inch long so relatively young I'd guess.

 

[norfolkgarden]

That isn't normal. But your coral looks good and the clown seems ok.

If it is brand new it may just need a few days to settle in.

Did you acclimate it over 45 minutes to an hour?

 

[eamike261]

That isn't normal. But your coral looks good and the clown seems ok.

If it is brand new it may just need a few days to settle in.

Did you acclimate it over 45 minutes to an hour?

I acclimated him for about an hour but I don’t have a drip setup so I just poured a bit of water into his bag. I hope he perks up soon.

 

[norfolkgarden]

I acclimated him for about an hour but I don’t have a drip setup so I just poured a bit of water into his bag. I hope he perks up soon.

Adding more water to the bag is the same way that I acclimate them.
I will usually double the volume, then dump out half, and then double the volume again.

I also do a fresh water bath for 5 minutes with heavy aeration.
It is crazy the flukes and stuff that can be left in the fresh water when you are done.

The orchid looks like it's breathing heavily.

Google fresh water baths/dips.
The first time was traumatic (for me, not the fish) but after that they are effortless.

Catching the orchid and giving it a 5 minute bath might help with anything on its gills.

I'm guessing you didn't quarantine?

A lot of people don't. But a fresh water bath should be a minimum.
A good quarantine protocol would be even better.
(From another guy who never quarantined for years. A few bad tank wipeouts helped me change my mind. [emoji53])

 

[eamike261]

Adding more water to the bag is the same way that I acclimate them.
I will usually double the volume, then dump out half, and then double the volume again.

I also do a fresh water bath for 5 minutes with heavy aeration.
It is crazy the flukes and stuff that can be left in the fresh water when you are done.

The orchid looks like it's breathing heavily.

Google fresh water baths/dips.
The first time was traumatic (for me, not the fish) but after that they are effortless.

Catching the orchid and giving it a 5 minute bath might help with anything on its gills.

I'm guessing you didn't quarantine?

A lot of people don't. But a fresh water bath should be a minimum.
A good quarantine protocol would be even better.
(From another guy who never quarantined for years. A few bad tank wipeouts helped me change my mind. [emoji53])

I've never even heard of a freshwater bath for fish but it looks like a great idea. I would definitely try that but I have a feeling there is zero chance I can catch him with a net because of all my rock :/

You're correct that I did not quarantine. I will start someday for sure.

 

[norfolkgarden]

I've never even heard of a freshwater bath for fish but it looks like a great idea. I would definitely try that but I have a feeling there is zero chance I can catch him with a net because of all my rock :/

You're correct that I did not quarantine. I will start someday for sure.

Yeah, It seems hard to justify it when your quarantine tank is almost going to be the size of your display tank.

And you're going to have less than half a dozen fish anyway.

Definitely Google the fresh water bath.
It's at least an excellent step in the right direction.

 

[eamike261]

Yeah, It seems hard to justify it when your quarantine tank is almost going to be the size of your display tank.

And you're going to have less than half a dozen fish anyway.

Definitely Google the fresh water bath.
It's at least an excellent step in the right direction.

Ugh I cannot capture him. And I have too many rocks with coral to pick them up and move them. I guess I’m learning this is a major downside to the type of aqua scape that I have

 

[eamike261]

Yeah, It seems hard to justify it when your quarantine tank is almost going to be the size of your display tank.

And you're going to have less than half a dozen fish anyway.

Definitely Google the fresh water bath.
It's at least an excellent step in the right direction.

Well I was able to catch him. I was sitting near the tank when he randomly jolted towards the surface and seemed to frantically be swimming upward. I snagged him in the net but he died within about 30 seconds of putting him in the fresh water dip. The stress/shock of the dip may have been too much in his likely near-death state either way I guess it was the best chance I had to save him. Thanks, good to know about it for future fish before adding them to my tank.