mandarin and scooter blenny not doing well

smithben1983 · Dec 11, 2012

So to try to get you up to speed, I have a 180g and a 29g plumbed to the basement where there is a 125g sump, I run a skimmer and chatto. 50g water changes every 2 weeks. I have 2 maron clowns in the 29g and 3 large tangs a few clowns and a few other little fish in the 180g. there is a 2 mandarins and 3 scooters. both males are doing very bad they are laying on the sand breathing heavy and fast, can't swim well. I tested my water and seams that my ammonia came up some how its at about .5 on API test kit. Any thoughts on whats up with the fish and why its only affecting the males? The tank is about 10 months old and I add pods often.

Hyprviperx · Dec 11, 2012

how long have you had all these dragonets and also are they pod eaters only or have you weaned any of them?

smithben1983 · Dec 11, 2012

the 3 scooter dragonets have been in there for 6 months and the 2 mandarins for about 4 months. the scooters ate brine but I don't really see them do it anymore I figured they were getting enough pods.

Pkunk35 · Dec 11, 2012

You should not have ammonia readings especially in that size water volume. I would look for the source of ammonia immediately, I would also get a second test kit and test again or have a LFS test the water. It would also be helpful if you could provide more test results and any changes to the tank recently.

Are the mandarins/blennies skinny? Or fat? Any other fish feeding/swimming affected at all? And what are your feeding habits?

smithben1983 · Dec 11, 2012

they are both fat and have been great. My large blue hippo tang about 7" had came down with ick about 7 days ago, a day before I saw her with ick she had a puncture from my black long spin urchin. The puncture cleared up than a day later she had ick but was eating very well. nitrites are at 0 and nitrates at 30 pmm that was also high.

SeahorseKeeper · Dec 12, 2012

You said it's the males, right? This leads me to believe there could be some aggression going on.

NewB87 · Dec 12, 2012

I had both a mandarin and a scooter blenny both eating well and even eating frozen prawn eggs and just a week ago my mandarin died. The weirdest thing happened just a few days after that my scooter was doing just as you described and one day snapped out of it and was acting fine. Even started eating again then the day after he disappeared cold turkey. No sign of him any where he didn't jump out I'm pretty sure he burred his self and died.

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smithben1983 · Dec 12, 2012

I know. but they have been in there for some time with no issues.

smithben1983 · Dec 12, 2012

NewB87 said:
I had both a mandarin and a scooter blenny both eating well and even eating frozen prawn eggs and just a week ago my mandarin died. The weirdest thing happened just a few days after that my scooter was doing just as you described and one day snapped out of it and was acting fine. Even started eating again then the day after he disappeared cold turkey. No sign of him any where he didn't jump out I'm pretty sure he burred his self and died.

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well that is not a good sign! well I have pulled both of them out at least.

SeahorseKeeper · Dec 12, 2012

smithben1983 said:
I know. but they have been in there for some time with no issues.

The aggression can come out as they mature.

smithben1983 · Dec 12, 2012

I have both of them in a QT any thoughts on what I can do to help them?

Tabasco1 · Dec 12, 2012

Are they eating? Do you have nutramar ova? I'd say make sure they are eating. If you don't have them weaned to prepared food they will just get weaker in qt.

smithben1983 · Dec 12, 2012

so back in the display than?

Jarettc16 · Dec 12, 2012

that is prob why ur ammonia is up is from the fish dying. i had a issue w/ my ammonia after a fish and starfish died awhile back & the best way i found to get over it was from doing more frequent water changes w/ very little amount. I did water changes every 3 to 4 days w/ about 1/4 of what u normailly do

sounds like ich maybe a more serious issue than maybe u think. maybe it had already been affecting these other, dunno know bout that but would def maybe recommend doing a water change twice a week like 10 to 15 gallons. I did it for like 2 months & my tank water has been perfect ever since
might need to try and trace why u got ick, thats prob the trace of the problem.
6 months ago i had ich & struggled to keep my fish alive & did a bunch of treatments. The cause of my ich was my powerhead motor stopped working & was leaking an oil base substance into the tank. I would do a check up on the entire setup, just a suggestion