Welp. My chromis are broken.

kittenbritches · Sep 27, 2021

As some of you may have seen, I had to tear down and rebuild my tank over the weekend due to a major leak. All of my fish and corals were emergency housed in a 10g for about 30 hours.

I got four blue/green black axil chromis last Thursday (4 days ago). I lost one to my HOB skimmer, and a second died the morning after being put in the 10g.

I got everything back in the 40g late last night and the two remaining chromis are acting like clownfish — bobbing in the rear corner with their two new besties, my snowflake clowns. Prior to the leak they were swimming all over, and it encouraged my more timid fish (I'm looking at you, orchid dottyback) to leave their caves and corners. Now everything is back to hugging the glass and hiding under rocks.

Additionally, one of the two remaining chromis is definitely less active than the other, and I won't be surprised if it doesn't make it through the day.

Between not looking great and being bullied by the other chromis, which looks fine (even if it is pretending to be a clown), I'm sure this little fishy is about to meet the clearing at the end of its path.

Do you think my chromis are irrevocably broken, or will they (it) start swimming around the other 90% of the tank again?

Fish Think Pink · Sep 27, 2021

kittenbritches said:
As some of you may have seen, I had to tear down and rebuild my tank over the weekend due to a major leak. All of my fish and corals were emergency housed in a 10g for about 30 hours.

I got four blue/green black axil chromis last Thursday (4 days ago). I lost one to my HOB skimmer, and a second died the morning after being put in the 10g.

I got everything back in the 10g late last night and the two remaining chromis are acting like clownfish — bobbing on the rear corner with their two new besties, my snowflake clowns. Prior to the leak they were swimming all over, and it encouraged my more timid fish (I'm looking at you, orchid dottyback) to leave their caves and corners. Now everything is back to hugging the glass and hiding under rocks.

Additionally, one of the two remaining chromis is definitely less active than the other, and I won't be surprised if it doesn't make it through the day. Between not looking great and being bullied by the other chromis, which looks fine (even if it is pretending to be a clown), I'm sure this little fishy is about to meet the clearing at the end of its path.

Do you think my chromis are irrevocably broken, or will they (it) start swimming around the other 90% of the tank again?

Think after significant stress, you are seeking how quickly will happen BBA - Bounce Back Ability. Give them time to resettle and I think chromis will eventually swim around entire tank once is is over trauma of emergency leak repair and rehousing. Good for you doing all that work in 30 hours - WOW! You were on a salvation mission and had a plan.

Cell · Sep 27, 2021

Assuming they survive, I bet they regain their confidence over time.

kittenbritches · Sep 27, 2021

Fish Think Pink said:
Think after significant stress, you are seeking how quickly will happen BBA - Bounce Back Ability. Give them time to resettle and I think chromis will eventually swim around entire tank once is is over trauma of emergency leak repair and rehousing. Good for you doing all that work in 30 hours - WOW! You were on a salvation mission and had a plan.

Good point. I'm definitely stressing about the stress on the fish. I don't think I've left that manic, omg, fix it now state.

I hope they go back to normal (and both survive).

Sleeping Giant · Sep 27, 2021

I think they will be fine in a couple of days

kittenbritches · Sep 27, 2021

Sleeping Giant said:
I think they will be fine in a couple of days

Fingers crossed!!

Sleeping Giant · Sep 27, 2021

kittenbritches said:
Fingers crossed!!

kittenbritches · Sep 27, 2021

Sleeping Giant said:

That better be an actual gif of you! Haha

Wyvern · Sep 27, 2021

They are just tripping out, give them tasty things to reduce PTSD.

After trying/failing to remove my Midas blenny for inspection/ med dip weeks ago (ended up just being a scratch and some sand, not velvet and uronema)
He is just now starting to not hate my guts and hide when I come by, he has since claimed a new rock and nipped my wrasse for getting too close.

People who say fish have no memories are idiots, and some fish are downright intelligent.

My clowns are attempting to break my other fish, the others just watch them gyrate in the corner and ask "what the heck is that? Should we be doing that too?"

kittenbritches · Sep 27, 2021

Wyvern said:
They are just tripping out, give them tasty things to reduce PTSD.

After trying/failing to remove my Midas blenny for inspection/ med dip weeks ago (ended up just being a scratch and some sand, not velvet and uronema)
He is just now starting to not hate my guts and hide when I come by, he has since claimed a new rock and nipped my wrasse for getting too close.

People who say fish have no memories are idiots, and some fish are downright intelligent.

My clowns are attempting to break my other fish, the others just watch them gyrate in the corner and ask "what the heck is that? Should we be doing that too?"

I do a pretty impressive clownfish shimmy. I get why your other fish want to join in.

I gave them a bit of frozen tasties, and put up a sheet of nori, which they're both excited and confused about.

My clowns actually just came out and are hanging in the opposite corner. Sick of sharing, or being good examples?

69reefman · Sep 27, 2021

Excellent job in recovery KB. Very impressed with your resilience, and fortitude in not giving up. Kudos to you.

kittenbritches · Sep 27, 2021

69reefman said:
Excellent job in recovery KB. Very impressed with your resilience, and fortitude in not giving up. Kudos to you.

Thank you so much! That really means a lot!

Wyvern · Sep 27, 2021

Ha! My clowns occasionally venture out, but slowly migrate to the corner.

My Blenny always gives them the evil eye by his rock, but they are too oblivious to pay notice.

PeterEde · Dec 21, 2021

As the old joke goes.
Look a rock says the fish.
Lap of the tank. look a rock says the fish.
Yes I know they have better memories than that.

Duncan62 · Dec 21, 2021

kittenbritches said:
As some of you may have seen, I had to tear down and rebuild my tank over the weekend due to a major leak. All of my fish and corals were emergency housed in a 10g for about 30 hours.

I got four blue/green black axil chromis last Thursday (4 days ago). I lost one to my HOB skimmer, and a second died the morning after being put in the 10g.

I got everything back in the 40g late last night and the two remaining chromis are acting like clownfish — bobbing in the rear corner with their two new besties, my snowflake clowns. Prior to the leak they were swimming all over, and it encouraged my more timid fish (I'm looking at you, orchid dottyback) to leave their caves and corners. Now everything is back to hugging the glass and hiding under rocks.

Additionally, one of the two remaining chromis is definitely less active than the other, and I won't be surprised if it doesn't make it through the day. Between not looking great and being bullied by the other chromis, which looks fine (even if it is pretending to be a clown), I'm sure this little fishy is about to meet the clearing at the end of its path.

Do you think my chromis are irrevocably broken, or will they (it) start swimming around the other 90% of the tank again?

2 Years ago I came home to my blue chromis almost stuck to the floor. Jumped out. I put him back. He swam end over end for a week. It's was both sad and hilarious. I still have him. He's missing scales from a large pistol shrimp encounter. Lol