Orange spot blenny fragile?

[jasonrusso]

A couple of years ago, I got an Orange spot blenny. He made it through QT just fine, eating the whole time. Unfortunately, my angler made him a meal and I lost them both.

I've been trying to get another one recently. I bought one at my LFS that didn't eat for 2 weeks in QT, so I put him in the DT and I never saw him again.

I bought 2 more from different vendors that showed up in poor shape and died in a day or 2, and I just had a DOA from diver's den today.

This is honestly heartbreaking for me, because I think that they are so cool and they are all dying.

Are they very fragile fish?? I didn't think so.

 

[i cant think]

A couple of years ago, I got an Orange spot blenny. He made it through QT just fine, eating the whole time. Unfortunately, my angler made him a meal and I lost them both.

I've been trying to get another one recently. I bought one at my LFS that didn't eat for 2 weeks in QT, so I put him in the DT and I never saw him again.

I bought 2 more from different vendors that showed up in poor shape and died in a day or 2, and I just had a DOA from diver's den today.

This is honestly heartbreaking for me, because I think that they are so cool and they are all dying.

Are they very fragile fish?? I didn't think so.

IME they do seem to be more fragile than other blennies. I personally would get one from an LFS so you can see it eat, how it looks in terms of health and then medicate when needed instead of for no reason but that’s personally what I’d do if I had a QT tank (I don’t and have never had one but in the time I’ve been in this hobby - Earliest photo I’ve found was from 11 years ago - I’ve rarely had to deal with disease).

 

[jasonrusso]

IME they do seem to be more fragile than other blennies. I personally would get one from an LFS so you can see it eat, how it looks in terms of health and then medicate when needed instead of for no reason but that’s personally what I’d do if I had a QT tank (I don’t and have never had one but in the time I’ve been in this hobby - Earliest photo I’ve found was from 11 years ago - I’ve rarely had to deal with disease).

I used to medicate all fish regardless (the first one and best one was medicated). I've since changed to watch and see for a couple of weeks. The ones that died recently were not medicated.

 

[Tamberav]

Price of fish has gone up but quality has gone down.

I would wait for the LFS that gets one that is eating and then QT it and probably medicate. They not eating sounds like something internal.

Divers den fish are not always great quality anymore either but I suppose it was worth a shot.

 

[vetteguy53081]

When buying a new fish at store:
Ask to see it eat
observe breathing rate - Rapid or labored not good
Observe overall skin and body
See how it interacts with other fish in tank
Assure not itching or scratching

How did you acclimate the fish and for how long ?

 

[jasonrusso]

Price of fish has gone up but quality has gone down.

I would wait for the LFS that gets one that is eating and then QT it and probably medicate. They not eating sounds like something internal.

Divers den fish are not always great quality anymore either

They all look very skinny.

This is why I had high hopes for the one from Diver's Den. I could see the picture. and I have always had good luck with diver's den.

 

[Tamberav]

They all look very skinny.

This is why I had high hopes for the one from Diver's Den. I could see the picture. and I have always had good luck with diver's den.

They have sent me fish that looked like so bad compared to the pic that I wondered when they even took the pic

I used to have great luck with them. If they packed it in that stupid new bag.. instead of a box… that may have contributed to the DOA. Bleh.

I am not familiar with this specific blenny but sometimes it is transport/collection area issues.

 

[jasonrusso]

When buying a new fish at store:
Ask to see it eat
observe breathing rate - Rapid or labored not good
Observe overall skin and body
See how it interacts with other fish in tank
Assure not itching or scratching

How did you acclimate the fish and for how long ?

No acclimation today, it was clearly dead. Mouth wide open.

The others go into QT. I temp acclimate for a while, then I match the tank SG to the water in the bag. While I'm adjusting water, I squirt a turkey baster into the bag every few minutes. I also add a drop or 2 of prime into the bag in case of ammonia.

This is the process that I have been using for years, and in fact other fish that I have received in the past couple of months.

 

[jasonrusso]

They have sent me fish that looked like so bad compared to the pic that I wondered when they even took the pic

I used to have great luck with them. If they packed it in that stupid new bag.. instead of a box… that may have contributed to the DOA. Bleh.

I am not familiar with this specific blenny but sometimes it is transport/collection area issues.

It was in a box with bubble wrap around it. It was a bit cool, but I didn't really have an issue with the packaging.

 

[lion king]

I don';t think they are fragile, I only have experience with one and haven't known anyone else with one though. The one I had was very robust and bold. I think it is just indicative of the hobby as a whole today. I see more and more showing up in poor condition; and disease, forget about it, more times than not it seems.

 

[jasonrusso]

I don';t think they are fragile, I only have experience with one and haven't known anyone else with one though. The one I had was very robust and bold. I think it is just indicative of the hobby as a whole today. I see more and more showing up in poor condition; and disease, forget about it, more times than not it seems.

I have been doing saltwater for about 10 years. I can't remember any time where I have seen so many velvet outbreak posts.

Also, I have been ordering fish online for just as long. I honestly have never had a problem until last year. Every fish arrived in good condition (the one exception was a shipping delay) and made it into the DT.

It's literally like a switch was thrown last year.

On another note, I am rehoming my volitan that I was sent in error. He is growing WAY too fast and I saw him nipping my porcupine, which behavior I have NEVER seen in any lionfish I have had.

 

[lion king]

I have been doing saltwater for about 10 years. I can't remember any time where I have seen so many velvet outbreak posts.

Also, I have been ordering fish online for just as long. I honestly have never had a problem until last year. Every fish arrived in good condition (the one exception was a shipping delay) and made it into the DT.

It's literally like a switch was thrown last year.

On another note, I am rehoming my volitan that I was sent in error. He is growing WAY too fast and I saw him nipping my porcupine, which behavior I have NEVER seen in any lionfish I have had.

The porc has likely nipping at the lion, porc's are notorious nippers and I have always recommended against keeping one with lions. You probably just didn't see the porc's 1st strike and only saw the lion retaliate.

 

[jasonrusso]

The porc has likely nipping at the lion, porc's are notorious nippers and I have always recommended against keeping one with lions. You probably just didn't see the porc's 1st strike and only saw the lion retaliate.

No, I saw the whole interaction.

The lion was in the bottom corner. The porch was at the top begging. The lion looked up and nipped the porcs belly.

I've also seen the lion going after the porcs pectoral fin.

 

[jasonrusso]

So he has been in the main tank for about 3 weeks now. He found a home under a rock and seems happy.

This one came from regular Live Aquaria. He was in Qt for about a month. He ate all the nori he wanted and all the LRS I put in.

This one seems like a lifer!!