Clownfish

[j3ss323]

I purchased two clownfish off eBay.
I’ve learned my lesson on not QT’ing fish before.
So this time I did not risk it.

I began QT July 10 with 2.16 copper. One of the fish was more active and the other one seemed stressed at all times and only hanged out in the bottom corner. When I would feed them, one clown went for food and the other at times ate when food would land close enough.

July 14
I noticed a cut on his mouth, it was white. I Began dosing nitrofurazone because thought it may have been an infection.

July 21
Today the clownfish died.

Does anyone know what it could of been? Uronema? Aggression? (Although I didn’t see any); Stress?

Could I have dosed something better to give it a better chance of survival?

 

[MnFish1]

It was likely aggression between the 2 clowns, its impossible to say with the picture/description you wrote unfortunately... But good job on a QT. Did you check your copper daily, ammonia, etc?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I purchased two clownfish off eBay.
I’ve learned my lesson on not QT’ing fish before.
So this time I did not risk it.

I began QT July 10 with 2.16 copper. One of the fish was more active and the other one seemed stressed at all times and only hanged out in the bottom corner. When I would feed them, one clown went for food and the other at times ate when food would land close enough.

July 14
I noticed a cut on his mouth, it was white. I Began dosing nitrofurazone because thought it may have been an infection.

July 21
Today the clownfish died.

Does anyone know what it could of been? Uronema? Aggression? (Although I didn’t see any); Stress?

Could I have dosed something better to give it a better chance of survival?

I doubt uronema as well as any signs of fighting and hard to assess a fish once dead but several possibilities are:
Fish is a tad thin and may have been weakened
shipping stress
Acclimation issue

How did you measure copper and I assume Coppersafe?
Mixing nitrofurazone similar to Furan should not be mixed with copper as it will break down bonders in the coppersafe to start with and as an antibacterial, you need to change water with nitro every 72 hours and should have been dosed at 180mg per 10 gals

 

[j3ss323]

I doubt uronema as well as any signs of fighting and hard to assess a fish once dead but several possibilities are:
Fish is a tad thin and may have been weakened
shipping stress
Acclimation issue

How did you measure copper and I assume Coppersafe?
Mixing nitrofurazone similar to Furan should not be mixed with copper as it will break down bonders in the coppersafe to start with and as an antibacterial, you need to change water with nitro every 72 hours and should have been dosed at 180mg per 10 gals

I used Copper Power.
Measured with Hanna Kit
I followed BRS Method.
100% water change every 3 days in new sterile tank.

 

[j3ss323]

It was likely aggression between the 2 clowns, its impossible to say with the picture/description you wrote unfortunately... But good job on a QT. Did you check your copper daily, ammonia, etc?

I see. I hardly saw any but could have been
I did check ammonia daily. Learned that last QT

 

[MnFish1]

I see. I hardly saw any but could have been
I did check ammonia daily. Learned that last QT

yes - its hard to see much of the time. (aggression). I would carefully watch the other fish - if it was a disease at play - it would have likely affected both clowns similarly.

 

[j3ss323]

yes - its hard to see much of the time. (aggression). I would carefully watch the other fish - if it was a disease at play - it would have likely affected both clowns similarly.

I will continue to monitor the other clown. Although that one seems to be happy and eating well. It’s just so sad to see a fish die.

 

[MnFish1]

I will continue to monitor the other clown. Although that one seems to be happy and eating well. It’s just so sad to see a fish die.

Yes - sorry to hear!!

 

[PharmrJohn]

yes - its hard to see much of the time. (aggression). I would carefully watch the other fish - if it was a disease at play - it would have likely affected both clowns similarly.

With aggression, I've seen recently that an individual recommending another to train a camera on the tank. Then, upon removing human interaction with the tank x20 minutes or so, fire up the link and see what they do behind closed doors. Makes a lot of sense. As they are not distracted by someone in the room.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I used Copper Power.
Measured with Hanna Kit
I followed BRS Method.
100% water change every 3 days in new sterile tank.

You need to be very careful with the BRS method - even a 100% water change may not avoid high ammonia levels, depending on the size of the tank. Also, as you likely know, doing a 100% change can be stressful if not done very carefully.

That said, when I hear two clownfish kept in the same conditions, and one dies with skin damage and the other is fine, I usually conclude tankmate aggression.