Several died right after arrival - Are they sick?

PachecoBoston · Apr 16, 2019

Unfortunately, I trusted and even paid in advance $1450.00 for 6 fishes that were sent in 2 shipments. They came like that with lots of white spots, 1 came dead already all beaten up and the others start dying one after another and now my other fishes in my system are sick and even couple died already.
Can anyone give me your opinion here since you all are experts, please.
Are this sicks fishes? Will infect my system.

The person said to me they were already in QT for 3 weeks for me in his QT tank, so nothing to worry about.
The place is in Texas and calls exotic fishes.
I sent the money upfront, he was very nice, as soon as I got this sick fishes and I asked for his help and later the money, he disappeared. Thanks everyone

Crabs McJones · Apr 16, 2019

Welcome to R2R! So sorry to hear about your fish

We do have a couple of experts on the panel that may be able to help. @4FordFamily @HotRocks @Big G @ngoodermuth @Frtdrmrose7 and the #reefsquad

#WelcometoR2R

PachecoBoston · Apr 16, 2019

hello @4FordFamily @HotRocks and @Big G I was referedto you to ask if you know what is this in the fish that arrived to me. They all died right after. this is my question https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/s...er-arrival-are-they-sick.585785/#post-5952939

drstardust · Apr 16, 2019

Very sorry for your losses. That is marine velvet disease.

PachecoBoston · Apr 16, 2019

drstardust said:
Very sorry for your losses. That is marine velvet disease.

Thanks man, now I know...how could someone send me fish like that is that I don't undderstand

Geebs19 · Apr 16, 2019

PachecoBoston said:
Thanks man, now I know...how could someone send me fish like that is that I don't undderstand

Disregard, this was mis information

drstardust · Apr 16, 2019

PachecoBoston said:
Thanks man, now I know...how could someone send me fish like that is that I don't undderstand

That is a harder question to answer. More than likely, the fish weren't showing symptoms initially and the vendor likely felt they were ok to ship. The stress of shipment made the disease spring out with a vengeance. Of course, some vendors sadly don't care what state their fish are in, and will ship/sell anything that isn't dead. Not saying that's the case here, and I don't assume such negligence in anybody, but it unfortunately exists.

HotRocks · Apr 16, 2019

Welcome to R2R, and sorry your first post had to come in the disease forum

Definitely marine velvet...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

Where did you get these fish from? What a shame.

You need to go to the second post on the link above and follow the emergency treatment protocol. That affliction is very heavy and all fish exposed are in serious jeopardy. So sorry to hear about this.

HotRocks · Apr 16, 2019

Geebs19 said:
They may not have shown signs prior, the stress from shipping may have caused it to impact them like this.

If they were shipped next day air they were covered in velvet when bagged. Velvet takes at least 48 hours to cycle and the white spots won't usually appear until after the parasites have made at least 2 cycles in the tank they are being housed.

4FordFamily · Apr 16, 2019

drstardust said:
Very sorry for your losses. That is marine velvet disease.

Agree

PachecoBoston said:
Thanks man, now I know...how could someone send me fish like that is that I don't undderstand

You can expect every batch of fish to contain velvet these days, particularly with the fish you’ve chosen. Achilles tangs for example will succumb to even the lightest infestation of parasites. They’re sitting ducks for them allowing them to reproduce exponentially every few days, literally.

Sorry for your losses. You’ll need to remove all survivors and treat in copper or CP, and run any tanks they were in completely fallow (devoid of fish) for 76 days. If you wish to keep fish like this, I’d read up extensively on quarantining.

Let us know how you can help. Here’s an article on acanthurus tangs (particularly Achilles, PBT, and similar) that I wrote regarding disease.

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/ich-and-acanthurus-tangs-years-of-experience-and-ich-management.106/

RIreefGuy · Apr 16, 2019

So sorry for your loss. =(

gobble · Apr 16, 2019

Maybe a dumb question but why doesn't velvet kill them in the ocean?

Frtdrmrose7 · Apr 16, 2019

gobble said:
Maybe a dumb question but why doesn't velvet kill them in the ocean?

Because fish are constantly moving and not in a small bowl (compared to the ocean)containing an active infection that keeps multiplying.

HotRocks · Apr 16, 2019

gobble said:
Maybe a dumb question but why doesn't velvet kill them in the ocean?

The concentration in the ocean is minimal. The gallons of water to fish ratio is not even close in the sea compared to glass boxes.

In the wild a fish gets a parasite or two on the gills it falls off and they move on. In a tank the parasites multiply rapidly and the concentration increases every time the parasites complete a cycle leaving the fish no escape.

Big G · Apr 16, 2019

Sorry for your losses

Sashaka · Apr 16, 2019

So sad. If you paid using PayPal, you can put in a claim and try to get your money back.

IMHO, as you're so new to saltwater fish keeping, you may want to start with fish that are less expensive and much more hardy than the fish you chose...at least until you learn a bit more. Again, so sorry for your loss. It's heartbreaking to see so many beautiful fish in bags.

PachecoBoston · Apr 17, 2019

HotRocks said:
Definitely marine velvet...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

Where did you get these fish from? What a shame.

You need to go to the second post on the link above and follow the emergency treatment protocol. That affliction is very heavy and all fish exposed are in serious jeopardy. So sorry to hear about this.

Yes they are from Exotic Fish N Tank from Texas - Rodney Hicks is the owner. He never replied me anymore after this happended. And I sent the money with 1 month in advance

Frtdrmrose7 · Apr 17, 2019

PachecoBoston said:
Yes they are from Exotic Fish N Tank from Texas - Rodney Hicks is the owner. He never replied me anymore after this happended. And I sent the money with 1 month in advance

Do they have a guarantee? If not and you used Paypal I would file a dispute.

Halal Hotdog · Apr 17, 2019

This is the unfortunate case with many fish vendors now a days. A lot of people talk about building a fishes immunity and just letting them fight these parasitic infections. I strongly disagree with that mentality. Usually people go through something similar to what is happening to you, then they setup a medicated QT tank to severely reduce the possibility of this happening again. I am very sorry about what you are going through. If the vendor is not responding then I would file a complaint with the payment method used to purchase these fish. Quite a bit of work will be necessary to turn your tank into a parasite free environment and treat the existing fish, but it is doable.

Manthanol · Apr 17, 2019

PachecoBoston said:
Yes they are from Exotic Fish N Tank from Texas - Rodney Hicks is the owner. He never replied me anymore after this happended. And I sent the money with 1 month in advance

Sorry for your loss. My work is about 1 mile from Exotic Fish N Tank, swung by 3 times during business hours to check out the store but the doors were locked every time. Looking thru the windows I noticed it is a small store with fish only. As you notice they don't answer the phone either. Not a good business model. The store seemed shady to me, good luck I hope you are able to get your money back.