Flame didn't make it... Need new fish suggestions.

[OCDP]

Well, I am about to give up on fish alltogether.

I don't know what happened... the fish lived in my tank happy and healthy for nearly 2 weeks, it ate every time I fed. Then on Tuesday evening after work I came home, fed the tank.. and he didn't eat. This was odd.. I inspected him and yes I do admit to seeing a coulpe ick spots, but that's nothing serious, it's had a couple spots since I introduced it, and they all went away after feeding with Garlic. Well, when I woke up Wednesday morning... the flame was dead. I really don't think it was ick, as I had never seen the fish look too bad. I am HOPING it was not from the tank size , and unseen stress or something.

But now , I don't know what to do... all's I do know, is that I give up on expensive fish. I need to stick to small, tough fish. So.. please folks, can you give me some suggestions as to a smaller sized tough fish?? I like colour, and active fish. I feel bad... had I noticed anything wrong sooner I would have gotten it out and into someone elses system or to someone who could have QT'd him.

RIP little guy

[Invigor]

i've gone thru 3 flames, a potters, 2 copperband butterflies..feel better?

[SJSobczyk]

Scott,

Sorry to hear about your loss. I have had a couple of mysterious deaths before and sometimes there is not too much you can do about it. Alot of stress on these little buggers coming from the ocean to our tanks.

Why dont you just hold off and keep your current livestock until you get your other tank setup? Or is that sidelined for now?

Steve

[OCDP]

I know that things happen.. it's just annoying after the first 5 losses or so you start to feel like you should stop buying fish for good.

Steve, I won't be adding anymore fish to my system until the new one is up, no worries there. It has been sidelined, but not for long at all. I am ordering my Aqualight Pro today or tomorrow, once I have that all's I need is my cube and the stand... the rest is all small stuff. Should be a fun project.

Here's a dumb question.. but I'm curious:

Say I had a bad ick problem and it's in my system ... when I move to a new tank, would the ick somehow just go away? hahah, that sounds dumb.. but would it die if I switch everything over to a new tank? Adding new sand, cleaning old sand, cleaning the rocks... would this remove the parasite? I know it's a silly question and I figure it's a long shot.. but I am curious.

Thanks guys,
Scott

[allincuddy]

Scott, ick is always present in the water system, it is only when the fish are weak or stressed do the get it. I believe there is no way to get rid of ick from the water, but prevention is to keep fish healthy and non-stressed.
This applies to fresh water and if there is a difference in sw please advise Scott differently.
Thanks

[TheReefGeek]

Sounds like you just got unlucky.

You can try some colorfull gobies, or anthias maybe.

[Murminator]

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

anthias maybe.

Not in a 20G

[monza]

I for say use quarantine for sure!! It does not have to be set up all the time just when you get new live stock and the following 6-8 weeks. Your old 20g or even a 10g would work fine.

Ick is not always in your tank!

Here is a good link to read on QT tanks.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php


For a cool small fish I like purple file fish, maybe some smaller wrasses but I don't know what ones off the top of my head can go in small tanks.

Dave

[OCDP]

Thanks guys. I am going to do the QT , I just need to find a spot to setup a tank.. and that could be quite the challenge in my house.

I'll keep you guys posted,

[Delphinus]

Although I'm a HUGE fan of fairy wrasses and I think they'd do fine in certain smaller setups (I had a pair in a 20g), the problem is if you're going to stay open top, I'd actually recommend against these (and other jumpers). Firefish, jawfish,.. oh the list is large, sadly.

The problem is, they have this defensive strategy of "an incredible big burst of speed" if something startles them (and they tend to startle easily, just entering the room is enough). In a small tank, there's nowhere to go in a situation like that, except for "out." In a small open-top tank, sadly, I think their days will be numbered.

I don't think a 6line has the same tendency though. I've never tried mine in a small tank but he's a much calmer fish than any fairy wrasse I've ever kept.

Hate to rain on the parade like this but it just happens too often, i.e., hearing about fairy wrasses meeting their end as carpet jerky.