Lionfish help

Sky04444 · 01/14/2016, 11:07 AM

So, I have a 55g with nice flow and all. Tank mates are 2 clowns, blue headed fairy wrasse, firefish, and an urchin. I have tried dwarf lionfish both fuzzy and zebra, and they die within a day or two. I order them online as I have no fish store around me. The wrasse doesn't show aggression to them ever and isn't phased by them ever. I have no idea what to do. I just want a dwarf lionfish ): I'm so sick of spending $60-$70 to just have the worst day ever.

Dkuhlmann · 01/14/2016, 11:26 AM

You need to purchase any fish from http://www.liveaquaria.com/ they have a 14 day alive guarantee

What are the water parameters of your tank? How do you acclimate them to your tank?

Sky04444 · 01/14/2016, 11:30 AM

My parameters are golden. If they weren't I'd expect that to be it. I acclimated him with the drip method that took about 40 minutes.

DrewHaus · 01/14/2016, 12:32 PM

It may just be the stress of shipping combined with a new environment. I've heard these are particularly sensitive fish. Maybe try a QT tank with plenty of hiding spots and low light next time? This would allow you to get the guy feeding and healthy before being introduced with new tankmates and established territories.

Sky04444 · 01/14/2016, 12:37 PM

Perhaps. I did QT him though. He sank to the bottom for a few hours until he started hanging in a cave like they do. After about 7 more hours he looked good to go as he was swimming about on the bottom. I never have any other trouble. I just think Blue Zoo really screwed me sending him so skinny. And I hate to be that "it's definitely not MY fault!!" guy.

DrewHaus · 01/14/2016, 01:36 PM

I can understand the frustration! I'm also interested in dwarf lionfish. Let me know if you find an acclimation process/vendor that works for you.

Sky04444 · 01/14/2016, 01:38 PM

Will do, sir.

Sky04444 · 01/14/2016, 02:57 PM

Also! Almost forgot about him, but I have a Yellow Watchman Goby. You don't think he could've got too defensive towards the lion, do you?

snorvich · 01/14/2016, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky04444

I acclimated him with the drip method that took about 40 minutes.

Wrong. Blue Zoo ships at SG 1.017 so forty minutes of drip acclimation will not work well for any fish. All fish should be placed in a quarantine with SG that matches shipping water SG. And by the way, you have some fish that will eventually become dinner.

Sky04444 · 01/14/2016, 03:30 PM

Why did you tell me I was wrong? You can't tell me my statement of me acclimating him for 40 minutes is wrong. I did that. It's a fact. Well I'll make sure to never order from them again.

snorvich · 01/14/2016, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky04444

Why did you tell me I was wrong? You can't tell me my statement of me acclimating him for 40 minutes is wrong. I did that. It's a fact. Well I'll make sure to never order from them again.

Raising SG must be done very slowly. Lowering SG can be done more quickly. Many (most) ship at SG 1.017 approximately so if your tank is anywhere near NSW (1.026) the acclimation process of a 40 minute drip simply will not work.

Sky04444 · 01/14/2016, 04:01 PM

What time or speed do you recommend? And why don't these sites tell you that?

snorvich · 01/14/2016, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky04444

What time or speed do you recommend? And why don't these sites tell you that?

They should. The best way I have found is to put them into a quarantine tank (after 15 minutes of temperature acclimation with the bag closed!) that matches the SG of the shipping water. Then over a few days gradually increase that SG to match your targeted tank water.

BigBlueTang · 01/14/2016, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky04444

Perhaps. I did QT him though. He sank to the bottom for a few hours until he started hanging in a cave like they do. After about 7 more hours he looked good to go as he was swimming about on the bottom. I never have any other trouble. I just think Blue Zoo really screwed me sending him so skinny. And I hate to be that "it's definitely not MY fault!!" guy.

Sounds like you more like had him in an acclimation tank than a QT... Am I misunderstanding? Did he pass through a 4-6 week QT? Otherwise disease may be an issue as well. Although the acclimation is probably the killer for that small of a timetable.

Sky04444 · 01/14/2016, 08:52 PM

If that's the case, I just don't understand why they wouldn't tell you that. Why would they change the salinity in the bag?

BigBlueTang · 01/14/2016, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky04444

If that's the case, I just don't understand why they wouldn't tell you that. Why would they change the salinity in the bag?

They don't.
Most places keep their salt level at lower levels than NSW just to save on salt costs.

Sky04444 · 01/14/2016, 09:46 PM

About how often do you add salt to your QT tank? A unit per day, hour, or??

BigBlueTang · 01/14/2016, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky04444

About how often do you add salt to your QT tank? A unit per day, hour, or??

Never, EVER, add salt to a tank with living organisms in it. It'll burn the gills of the fish!

That being said, topping off with saltwater at 1.026 usually does the trick. It'll raise the salinity slow enough.

Sky04444 · 01/14/2016, 10:10 PM

Right, right. I figured you had a way of moving it or something idk. Alrighty. I'll see if it works this time. Thanks for the advice, sir!

BigBlueTang · 01/14/2016, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky04444

Right, right. I figured you had a way of moving it or something idk. Alrighty. I'll see if it works this time. Thanks for the advice, sir!

Haven't ever been called sir before..

Something I could get used to....

snorvich · 01/15/2016, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBlueTang

Never, EVER, add salt to a tank with living organisms in it. It'll burn the gills of the fish!

That being said, topping off with saltwater at 1.026 usually does the trick. It'll raise the salinity slow enough.

What he said. Salinity will gradually raise over a period of several days.

snorvich · 01/15/2016, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sky04444

If that's the case, I just don't understand why they wouldn't tell you that. Why would they change the salinity in the bag?

It is up to us to recognize and deal with the issue. Ironically one supplier ships at 1.017 from one location and at 1.025 from their other location. But we need to test and accommodate.

snorvich · 01/15/2016, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBlueTang

Haven't ever been called sir before..

Something I could get used to....

You will need a few more years . . .

scooter31707 · 01/15/2016, 01:00 PM

I agree. I purchased from Blue Zoo couple times and each time they came in at 1.016. My SG is 1.025. It took me almost 4.5 hours to reach .025. I learned my lesson and if I am ordering from a vendor, I will call them and ask what their Salinity is and match the QT with that and gradually rise it up on my own once they are acclimated.

BigBlueTang · 01/15/2016, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

You will need a few more years . . .

Psh. Sir is only a title anyways.

I like master a lot more.

01/14/2016, 11:07 AM	#1
Sky04444 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 21	Lionfish help So, I have a 55g with nice flow and all. Tank mates are 2 clowns, blue headed fairy wrasse, firefish, and an urchin. I have tried dwarf lionfish both fuzzy and zebra, and they die within a day or two. I order them online as I have no fish store around me. The wrasse doesn't show aggression to them ever and isn't phased by them ever. I have no idea what to do. I just want a dwarf lionfish ): I'm so sick of spending $60-$70 to just have the worst day ever.

01/14/2016, 11:26 AM	#2
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	You need to purchase any fish from http://www.liveaquaria.com/ they have a 14 day alive guarantee What are the water parameters of your tank? How do you acclimate them to your tank? __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

01/14/2016, 11:30 AM	#3
Sky04444 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 21	My parameters are golden. If they weren't I'd expect that to be it. I acclimated him with the drip method that took about 40 minutes.

01/14/2016, 12:32 PM	#4
DrewHaus Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 122	It may just be the stress of shipping combined with a new environment. I've heard these are particularly sensitive fish. Maybe try a QT tank with plenty of hiding spots and low light next time? This would allow you to get the guy feeding and healthy before being introduced with new tankmates and established territories.

01/14/2016, 12:37 PM	#5
Sky04444 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 21	Perhaps. I did QT him though. He sank to the bottom for a few hours until he started hanging in a cave like they do. After about 7 more hours he looked good to go as he was swimming about on the bottom. I never have any other trouble. I just think Blue Zoo really screwed me sending him so skinny. And I hate to be that "it's definitely not MY fault!!" guy.

01/14/2016, 01:36 PM	#6
DrewHaus Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 122	I can understand the frustration! I'm also interested in dwarf lionfish. Let me know if you find an acclimation process/vendor that works for you.

01/14/2016, 01:38 PM	#7
Sky04444 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 21	Will do, sir.

01/14/2016, 02:57 PM	#8
Sky04444 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 21	Also! Almost forgot about him, but I have a Yellow Watchman Goby. You don't think he could've got too defensive towards the lion, do you?

01/14/2016, 03:30 PM	#10
Sky04444 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 21	Why did you tell me I was wrong? You can't tell me my statement of me acclimating him for 40 minutes is wrong. I did that. It's a fact. Well I'll make sure to never order from them again.

01/14/2016, 04:01 PM	#12
Sky04444 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 21	What time or speed do you recommend? And why don't these sites tell you that?

01/14/2016, 08:52 PM	#15
Sky04444 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 21	If that's the case, I just don't understand why they wouldn't tell you that. Why would they change the salinity in the bag?

01/14/2016, 09:46 PM	#17
Sky04444 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 21	About how often do you add salt to your QT tank? A unit per day, hour, or??

01/14/2016, 10:10 PM	#19
Sky04444 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 21	Right, right. I figured you had a way of moving it or something idk. Alrighty. I'll see if it works this time. Thanks for the advice, sir!

01/15/2016, 01:00 PM	#24
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I agree. I purchased from Blue Zoo couple times and each time they came in at 1.016. My SG is 1.025. It took me almost 4.5 hours to reach .025. I learned my lesson and if I am ordering from a vendor, I will call them and ask what their Salinity is and match the QT with that and gradually rise it up on my own once they are acclimated.