Lawnmower Blenny died within minutes.

[danenelsen]

Hello, i just purchased a Lawnmower Blenny from my local Petco, which I've had success from before, and he died within 10 minutes of being in the acclimation box. I tested, and the water is good. The only thing that happened is when I put him in, there wasn't quite enough water. He was partially submerged for about 30 seconds before I added enough water in. What could have happened?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello, i just purchased a Lawnmower Blenny from my local Petco, which I've had success from before, and he died within 10 minutes of being in the acclimation box. I tested, and the water is good. The only thing that happened is when I put him in, there wasn't quite enough water. He was partially submerged for about 30 seconds before I added enough water in. What could have happened?

Can be fish beating itself to death due to low water level, lack of oxygen and also how was fish acclimated and for how long? Without seeing fish- hard to confrm

 

[danenelsen]

Can be fish beating itself to death due to low water level, lack of oxygen and also how was fish acclimated and for how long? Without seeing fish- hard to confrm

Here is a picture. I put him in a bucket, with the water that he was in, and a drip line coming in from my aquarium. I had just started the acclimation process, I walked away for about 10 minutes, came back to check, and he was dead. I also got a Hermit Crab and he's doing fine.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Here is a picture. I put him in a bucket, with the water that he was in, and a drip line coming in from my aquarium. I had just started the acclimation process, I walked away for about 10 minutes, came back to check, and he was dead. I also got a Hermit Crab and he's doing fine.

How long did it take you to get the fish home? How did you acclimate it? Do you know the starting salinity compared to the final salinity?

Jay

 

[danenelsen]

How long did it take you to get the fish home? How did you acclimate it? Do you know the starting salinity compared to the final salinity?

Jay

I live only a short distance from Petco, it maybe took 5 minutes. I was acclimating it in a 5 gallon bucket using the drip method before I found it dead. Acclimation was still in progress.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I live only a short distance from Petco, it maybe took 5 minutes. I was acclimating it in a 5 gallon bucket using the drip method before I found it dead. Acclimation was still in progress.

Did you aerate the bucket?
Many pet stores keep their fish in low salinity. Those are difficult to acclimate to full salinity, that’s why I asked what the starting and ending salinities were.
It could also have been damaged when they netted it up.

Here is my article on fish acclimation:

Acclimation Methods

Acclimating Animals to Aquariums Jay F. Hemdal c.2020 Introduction to acclimation techniques Most beginning aquarists hear that they must “acclimate” any new animals they add to their aquarium. Acclimation (sometimes termed...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

 

[danenelsen]

Did you aerate the bucket?
Many pet stores keep their fish in low salinity. Those are difficult to acclimate to full salinity, that’s why I asked what the starting and ending salinities were.
It could also have been damaged when they netted it up.

Here is my article on fish acclimation:

Acclimation Methods

Acclimating Animals to Aquariums Jay F. Hemdal c.2020 Introduction to acclimation techniques Most beginning aquarists hear that they must “acclimate” any new animals they add to their aquarium. Acclimation (sometimes termed...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

Okay! Thanks for the article. I missed the question about salinity. The salinity from the store was actually a little higher than mine. It was sitting at 37ppt, and mine was at 34ppt. I did not aerate the bucket.

 

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

Okay! Thanks for the article. I missed the question about salinity. The salinity from the store was actually a little higher than mine. It was sitting at 37ppt, and mine was at 34ppt. I did not aerate the bucket.

Woah that's high! My petco runs their too low and I have to acclimate them over a week or two in a other tank

 

[Reef Devils]

Okay! Thanks for the article. I missed the question about salinity. The salinity from the store was actually a little higher than mine. It was sitting at 37ppt, and mine was at 34ppt. I did not aerate the bucket.

That is a high salinity. I always get my fish quarantined. It is the best way to make sure your fish is healthy and have success in the future. The quarantine tanks my fish are in have a lower salinity than my tank. Lower salinity can be easier on the fish.

 

[danenelsen]

That is a high salinity. I always get my fish quarantined. It is the best way to make sure your fish is healthy and have success in the future. The quarantine tanks my fish are in have a lower salinity than my tank. Lower salinity can be easier on the fish.

Okay, I'm just surprised because the invert that I got, is doing just fine. I thought they were more sensitive to salinity than fish, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Reef Devils]

Okay, I'm just surprised because the invert that I got, is doing just fine. I thought they were more sensitive to salinity than fish, but maybe I'm wrong.

Correct. Most invertebrates and marine plants are more sensitive than fish to salinity changes. I would definitely recommend quarantine everything that goes into the tank. Even corals but you can always do a coral dip.