Mass Clownfish Deaths

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67chevellemalibu2

67chevellemalibu2

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I have been at this for about 4 months and this is the most difficult hobby I have ever been in.
Contemplated throwing in the towel a few times already.
I couldn’t keep a Clownfish alive if my life counted on it.
Probably have lost about eight. It’s not about the money to me, it’s the fish.
Just had my 125 gallon professionally maintained yesterday. All parameters are good.
I bought a bonded pair of Fancies two weeks ago. Both swimming around, eating immediately.
Woke up this morning and the male was dead. No signs of trauma or external parasites.
No I did not quarantine them.
Frustrated. I will never buy another clown again!!
I do enjoy my tank immensely, though. Not ready to give up!!
 
Hang in there, I feel your pain trust me. Once your tank get to the level you want it will be satisfying.
Are you able to get a quarantine setup and maybe try once again?
 
Nutramar Foods
If there's been multiple attempts at introducing a clown and they continue to die, then suspect the LFS stock/conditions. Brooklynella and Velvet are big problem now.

As always, QT your new introductions for observation and treatment as necessary.
 
Would you mind sharing a little more information regarding your tank/system?
What are your parameters? (Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, etc). What test kits are used?
Do you normally have your system maintained professionally, or was this a check-in?
Do you utilize RODI for water changes/top-off?

You mentioned being at-it for 4 months. Is this 4 months since your tank has cycled?
4 months is still relatively new, how did you cycle your tank, and what was your determining factor as to its' completion?

With that many fish introduced to your system with 100% loss, a deeper look into your answers to the above questions will give everyone some more information to go off of.
 
If you've only been in the hobby for 4 months and have lost 8 clownfish, there is obviously something very wrong. And at only 4 months I'm going to guess that part of the issue is you pushing too hard and too fast. There is an old saying in this hobby, "Nothing go happens quickly in a marine aquarium!'

At 4 months some reefers haven't even put a fish in the tank yet, and you've lost 8 clownfish? If it's not the money and you feel bad for the fish, quit pushing so hard to be ahead of there you should be. And I hate to say it, but IMHO a bigger percentage of new tanks go bad that are being maintained professionally than being maintained by the owner. And telling us the water parameters were OK, isn't going to help. Which water parameters? Did the maintenance guy know you have been having problems? Have you been getting all your fish from the same supplier? Is there anything else in the tank?

Don't feel too bad, way too many people start into this hobby, get frustrated and quit. I'd guess 90% of the time it's due to moving forward too fast or not doing enough testing and maintenance. I started 15 years ago with a 30g tank it I struggled for a long time as well. And even now, at 15 years bad stuff happens that are still my fault. I have a 6 line wrasse in my tank and lots of tiny white feather dusters. Online I saw a nice uncommon feather duster for sale so I bought it. Two days later the wrasse ate it! It was a calculated risk on my part, but in reality, I knew better!

Slow down and give us more info to try and be helpful. Once you get the hang of it and get past that urge to rush things, you'll do better.

And good luck.
 
Ron Reefman said:
If you've only been in the hobby for 4 months and have lost 8 clownfish, there is obviously something very wrong. And at only 4 months I'm going to guess that part of the issue is you pushing too hard and too fast. There is an old saying in this hobby, "Nothing go happens quickly in a marine aquarium!'

At 4 months some reefers haven't even put a fish in the tank yet, and you've lost 8 clownfish? If it's not the money and you feel bad for the fish, quit pushing so hard to be ahead of there you should be. And I hate to say it, but IMHO a bigger percentage of new tanks go bad that are being maintained professionally than being maintained by the owner. And telling us the water parameters were OK, isn't going to help. Which water parameters? Did the maintenance guy know you have been having problems? Have you been getting all your fish from the same supplier? Is there anything else in the tank?

Don't feel too bad, way too many people start into this hobby, get frustrated and quit. I'd guess 90% of the time it's due to moving forward too fast or not doing enough testing and maintenance. I started 15 years ago with a 30g tank it I struggled for a long time as well. And even now, at 15 years bad stuff happens that are still my fault. I have a 6 line wrasse in my tank and lots of tiny white feather dusters. Online I saw a nice uncommon feather duster for sale so I bought it. Two days later the wrasse ate it! It was a calculated risk on my part, but in reality, I knew better!

Slow down and give us more info to try and be helpful. Once you get the hang of it and get past that urge to rush things, you'll do better.

And good luck.
Click to expand...
Two different LFS.
Currently in tank :
Diamond Goby
Coral Beauty
Melanarus Wrasse
Blonde Naso Tang
Fancy Clownfish
 
Dystinction said:
Would you mind sharing a little more information regarding your tank/system?
What are your parameters? (Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, etc). What test kits are used?
Do you normally have your system maintained professionally, or was this a check-in?
Do you utilize RODI for water changes/top-off?

You mentioned being at-it for 4 months. Is this 4 months since your tank has cycled?
4 months is still relatively new, how did you cycle your tank, and what was your determining factor as to its' completion?

With that many fish introduced to your system with 100% loss, a deeper look into your answers to the above questions will give everyone some more information to go off of.
Click to expand...
I bought an 5 year established tank and transferred the same water.
Yes, it was cycled.
 
www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com
You say you've lost 8 clownfish. Was this all at one time or was this over the course of time? Basically how many clowns did you have in the tank at a time?
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
Were all the current fish from that transferred tank or you purchased?

To rule out disease you could purchase a black molly and watch for disease.
Slowly acclimate the black molly from fresh to salt. I use an ato with some saltwater to do this.
 
What a horrible thing to go through! Especially since clowns are supposedly among the easiest of freshwater fish to keep. You haven't lost any other fish?

Troubleshooting ideas:
- may want to try quarantining them and getting them used to the tank in an acclimation box. Do you think something might have been bullying them?

- may want to try getting them directly from ORA prior to QTing them (ORA is a very large and reputable fish farm. You can order them directly through liveaquaria)
https://secure.liveaquaria.com/category/3352/ora-fish-coral-inv

- maybe some parasite is in the tank? If so, you might want to wait a few months before trying again.
 
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IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

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  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

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  • No.

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  • Other (please explain).

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