Pink streaked wrasse help

[mb5322]

I received my pink streaked wrasse from live Aquaria, he looks 90% dead with only extremely sporadic flutters moving a couple inches. Im drip acclumating per their instructions. Is this normal shipping behavior for these guys? Hes been acclimating almost an hour now with no change. I really don't want to put him in my qt with its shipping partner who is doing great at this point if its going to die. Should I just keep dripping him in the covered 5 gallon bucket to see if he makes improvements?

 

[nereefpat]

I would not drip acclimate shipped fish, because of ammonia.

Match the salinity in the qt with what is in the bag, float for temp and release.

Good luck with the wrasse

 

[mb5322]

I only dripped acclimated because thats what there customer service requested i do. When the fished showed up looking dead

 

[Tamberav]

Yah I would not drip either.

I would not write him off as dead yet. If he dies, remove his body but I have had fish show up looking rough, especially wrasse as they are poor shippers and they came around. I had a leopard wrasse that was so weak it was getting stuck to overflows and I had to turn the pumps off and help it into the rocks. I still have that fish 3 years later, so you never know.

 

[mb5322]

Yah I would not drip either.

I would not write him off as dead yet. If he dies, remove his body but I have had fish show up looking rough, especially wrasse as they are poor shippers and they came around. I had a leopard wrasse that was so weak it was getting stuck to overflows and I had to turn the pumps off and help it into the rocks. I still have that fish 3 years later, so you never know.

I typically don't drip either, however after I contacted there customer support and they told me to drip acclimate I didn't want them to be able to come back and say I didn't do what they asked so the warranty expires. Hes in qt now laying on the bottom of the tank not moving but its still breathing, fingers crossed

 

[MONTANTK]

They tend to rest/hide in a mucus caccoon I’m pretty sure. It’s normal the fish would seem quite stressed during shipping. As for the sporadic movement they don’t actively swim the way a leopard wrasse would or even a six line. They tend to hover and move around a little then hover some more. I would add it to your QT and see how it does. If it doesn’t survive I would see if LiveAquaria can remediate the situation

 

[najer]

Any news?

 

[mb5322]

Cant seem to find him this morning, but I haven’t turned all the pvc over, if he is alive I don't want to re stress it out

 

[One Reefing Boi]

I would not drip acclimate shipped fish, because of ammonia.

Match the salinity in the qt with what is in the bag, float for temp and release.

Good luck with the wrasse

do you mean the ammonia in the bag it is shipped in and you want to try and get it out of that water as quick as possible? why not drip them??

 

[saltcats]

do you mean the ammonia in the bag it is shipped in and you want to try and get it out of that water as quick as possible? why not drip them??

While the fish is in the bag, it produces CO2 which acts to lower the pH in the bag. At a lower pH, ammonia is converted to ammonium, which is significantly less toxic. The issue with drip acclimating is that once the bag is opened, that CO2-heavy air trapped inside is suddenly released and CO2 begins to offgas from the water, raising the pH, while at the same time you're dripping in water with a higher pH. This makes the ammonia become toxic again and risk burning the fish.

 

[One Reefing Boi]

While the fish is in the bag, it produces CO2 which acts to lower the pH in the bag. At a lower pH, ammonia is converted to ammonium, which is significantly less toxic. The issue with drip acclimating is that once the bag is opened, that CO2-heavy air trapped inside is suddenly released and CO2 begins to offgas from the water, raising the pH, while at the same time you're dripping in water with a higher pH. This makes the ammonia become toxic again and risk burning the fish.

interesting! I am getting my first fish online in mid Jan so glad I know this now

 

[nereefpat]

do you mean the ammonia in the bag it is shipped in and you want to try and get it out of that water as quick as possible? why not drip them??

While the fish is in the bag, it produces CO2 which acts to lower the pH in the bag. At a lower pH, ammonia is converted to ammonium, which is significantly less toxic. The issue with drip acclimating is that once the bag is opened, that CO2-heavy air trapped inside is suddenly released and CO2 begins to offgas from the water, raising the pH, while at the same time you're dripping in water with a higher pH. This makes the ammonia become toxic again and risk burning the fish.

That.

 

[One Reefing Boi]

That.

Does the same apply for corals and anemones that are shipped?

 

[nereefpat]

Does the same apply for corals and anemones that are shipped?

Good question, to which I don't have a good answer. I will say that I don't see a reason to acclimate corals other than floating for temperature. I'm not an anemone guy. Anemones and corals also wouldn't produce as much ammonia in their shipping bag.

Some others will have some opinions here, I'm sure.