Why did my fish die?

[arking_mark]

Sequence of events:
1. Clown fish that I had for about 3 years.
2. A couple of months ago it had its tail bitten off so I moved it to my observation tank.
3. About 6 weeks ago I upgraded my observation tank from 13.5gal to 25gal (same sand, rock, etc...no issues)
4. I got 3 pincushion urchins and 2 RBTAs yesterday
5. Removed 2/3 of my Culerpa Prolifera just prior to adding the urchins and RBTAs as the tank rock needed some clearing for the RBTAs.
6. Went to check up on the RBTAs and Urchins after about 1.5hr and found my clown up against the powerhead almost dead. RBTAs and Urchins were fine.
7. Moved him immediately to the main tank with an acclimation box.
8. He died shortly thereafter. There was no evidence of damage on the fish. When found on powerhead and death, its mouth and gills were wide open.

I don't think removing the Calerpa Prolifera would cause an issue...pin cushion urchins aren't toxic...so could it be something with the RBTAs?

 

[blaxsun]

Something possibly stirred up from removing the Culerpa Prolifera?

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

It coulda just been moving him. I'm sorry man. :/
D

 

[arking_mark]

Something possibly stirred up from removing the Culerpa Prolifera?

Nothing stirred up...just easily came off the rock. If stirring up was going to be an issue, that would have happened with the tank upgrade.

 

[blaxsun]

Nothing stirred up...just easily came off the rock. If stirring up was going to be an issue, that would have happened with the tank upgrad.

Only fish in observation, yes?

 

[arking_mark]

It coulda just been moving him. I'm sorry man. :/
D

The fish wasn't moved till it was near death...and both tanks are in sync with parameters...as the OT gets its water change from the DT.

 

[arking_mark]

Only fish in observation, yes?

Yes...only fish.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Hm. Must of missed that. Guess that would of been why u moved to qt duh! Lol sorry.
D

 

[blaxsun]

Yes...only fish.

Is it possible it never fully recovered and succumbed to the previous injury?

 

[arking_mark]

Is it possible it never fully recovered and succumbed to the previous injury?

Nope. It's been doing just fine for months in the OT.

 

[blaxsun]

Nope. It's been doing just fine for months in the OT.

I had a clown that suffered a similar injury, and it hung on for a few more months despite indications that it was improving. If it was the only fish, other than a problem with the tank parameters I'm drawing a blank.

 

[arking_mark]

I had a clown that suffered a similar injury, and it hung on for a few more months despite indications that it was improving. If it was the only fish, other than a problem with the tank parameters I'm drawing a blank.

Since it happened right after removing calerpa and adding Urchins and RBTAs, I suspect it's something related to them. Toxin or sting from RBTAs,?

 

[blaxsun]

Since it happened right after removing calerpa and adding Urchins and RBTAs, I suspect it's something related to them. Toxin or sting from RBTAs,?

Can't see the RBTAs or the urchins, but I guess anything is possible. I've got 2 clownfish that run the daily gamut of a half dozen BTA, two condy and several tube anemones.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Sequence of events:
1. Clown fish that I had for about 3 years.
2. A couple of months ago it had its tail bitten off so I moved it to my observation tank.
3. About 6 weeks ago I upgraded my observation tank from 13.5gal to 25gal (same sand, rock, etc...no issues)
4. I got 3 pincushion urchins and 2 RBTAs yesterday
5. Removed 2/3 of my Culerpa Prolifera just prior to adding the urchins and RBTAs as the tank rock needed some clearing for the RBTAs.
6. Went to check up on the RBTAs and Urchins after about 1.5hr and found my clown up against the powerhead almost dead. RBTAs and Urchins were fine.
7. Moved him immediately to the main tank with an acclimation box.
8. He died shortly thereafter. There was no evidence of damage on the fish. When found on powerhead and death, its mouth and gills were wide open.

I don't think removing the Calerpa Prolifera would cause an issue...pin cushion urchins aren't toxic...so could it be something with the RBTAs?

Caulerpa algae do contain a series of toxins. I've never heard of them killing a fish outright, but maybe?

Effects of caulerpenyne, the major toxin from Caulerpa taxifolia on mechanisms related to sea urchin egg cleavage

Caulerpenyne (CYN), the major metabolite synthesized by the alga Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl), inhibited the first cleavage of sea urchin eggs without af…

www.sciencedirect.com

Jay

 

[SlugSnorter]

something stirred up, some very very nasty disease stored in those btas, the injury the clown had before combined with the stress from adding the new stuff killed the clown.

Sequence of events:
1. Clown fish that I had for about 3 years.
2. A couple of months ago it had its tail bitten off so I moved it to my observation tank.
3. About 6 weeks ago I upgraded my observation tank from 13.5gal to 25gal (same sand, rock, etc...no issues)
4. I got 3 pincushion urchins and 2 RBTAs yesterday
5. Removed 2/3 of my Culerpa Prolifera just prior to adding the urchins and RBTAs as the tank rock needed some clearing for the RBTAs.
6. Went to check up on the RBTAs and Urchins after about 1.5hr and found my clown up against the powerhead almost dead. RBTAs and Urchins were fine.
7. Moved him immediately to the main tank with an acclimation box.
8. He died shortly thereafter. There was no evidence of damage on the fish. When found on powerhead and death, its mouth and gills were wide open.

I don't think removing the Calerpa Prolifera would cause an issue...pin cushion urchins aren't toxic...so could it be something with the RBTAs?

 

[Paul B]

Fish dying with mouth and gills wide open indicates ammonia poisoning. Just my opinion.

 

[SlugSnorter]

Fish dying with mouth and gills wide open indicates ammonia poisoning. Just my opinion.

I feel the BTAs and Urchins would be hit first. Even fairly injured clowns are quite hardy to params when compared to those two

 

[arking_mark]

Caulerpa algae do contain a series of toxins. I've never heard of them killing a fish outright, but maybe?

Effects of caulerpenyne, the major toxin from Caulerpa taxifolia on mechanisms related to sea urchin egg cleavage

Caulerpenyne (CYN), the major metabolite synthesized by the alga Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl), inhibited the first cleavage of sea urchin eggs without af…

www.sciencedirect.com

Jay

I've ripped out tons of it before. Never 2/3rds, but close to half when I upgraded tanks. Again, this was just pulled from the rock work and nothing stirred up.

I'm not sure Prolifera has toxins that would kill an otherwise relatively healthy fush.

 

[arking_mark]

something stirred up, some very very nasty disease stored in those btas, the injury the clown had before combined with the stress from adding the new stuff killed the clofish.

The injury was months old. I'm not sure anything I added would stress the fish...maybe the RBTAs...but it's a clown fish.

 

[SlugSnorter]

The injury was months old. I'm not sure anything I added would stress the fish...maybe the RBTAs...but it's a clown fish.

a weakened clown can still be killed by an RBTA.