Greetings and a question regarding deaths while adding new fish.

[ReefDruid]

Originally Posted by Myka

Fwiw, API are perfectly fine test kits. I have found them to give very similar readings to Salifert and Elos.

The description of the dying fish makes me think that the fish either had Brooklynella or Marine Velvet. It would be odd though if the new fish did not pass this on to any of the existing fish. Wild Clownfish are very susceptible to both of these diseases as are Pigmy Angelfish to a bit lesser degree.

I suggest setting up a quarantine tank for new fish so that there is much less risk of a new fish introducing a pathogen. Both Brooklynella and Marine Velvet tend to be VERY contagious.

I also suggest buying captive bred fish whenever possible. In my opinion, there is absolutely no reason for a hobbyist to be buying wild caught Clownfish when they are mass produced as captive bred. You are likely to have much better luck with a captive bred fish.

Yes, the clowns we have that are captive bred have been excellent. We buy tank bred whenever possible, but it isn't always. We will be holding out for a captive bred specimen on this one though.

As for the Brook, there have been no signs of discolouration, mucous or sloughing. Is it possible for Brook to kill something without any other symptoms than the respiratory distress?

Originally Posted by reefwars

My suggestion would be to check the pH of the bags that the fish are in a sudden drop in pH will result in heavy breathing and often fatality Simply dripping is often not good enough

Interesting, and it would seem to fit with the respiratory distress. I will have to test the next bag, or snag an eyedropper full of the LFS water next time I'm there.

I appreciate the responses from both of you, thank-you very much.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by ReefDruid

As for the Brook, there have been no signs of discolouration, mucous or sloughing. Is it possible for Brook to kill something without any other symptoms than the respiratory distress?

It can simply looks like respiratory distress and usually clamped fins.

It does sound like pH shock too, but I've never seen pH shock from moving fish such a short distance. I've only seen pH shock when fish have been in bags for many hours (like overseas or out of country travel). Maybe for some reason the pH at your LFS is extremely low? pH shock is something that you would observe within 10-45 minutes of introducing the fish. They usually lay on their side gasping and will sometimes dart around sporadically, then lay on their side again. Clownfish aren't overly sensitive to pH shock - Foxfaces, Tangs, and Wrasse are.