I like to kill fishes - help

GoLowDrew · 05/14/2007, 02:21 PM

I like to kill fishes. That's my track record.

History:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1107015

Short Story:

I got two "cheap" damsels, because I knew what will happen. One started to hide. Then died. The other must experienced the same thing. Both did not even last 2 weeks. This is the shortes time ever. Again, nothing wrong with water, etc, etc.

The fact that I can keep my Tomato Clown alive for this long means I'm doing something right. I know about the agressiveness of the Clowns.

One fish is not that exciting.

What should I do?

MTB · 05/14/2007, 02:35 PM

You know what I'm going to say. He is too aggressive and needs to be alone or taken back to the store. Especially in that small of tank. He made the whole tank his territory and will defend it to death. I want to say a sandsifting goby but he will probably attack that too. Unless the goby hides under the rock before the clown can catch him. Or maybe another agressive fish. I feel that is asking for trouble as well. Good luck with what ever you decide.

Edti: you aren't killing the fish, he is.

alexb518 · 05/14/2007, 02:54 PM

you do realize that both clowns and damsels are really aggressive, right? if you choose to keep the clown, then either add fish that are same size or bigger, and when you do add them, rearrange the rocks, etc. so that they can establish new territories.

Sk8r · 05/14/2007, 04:51 PM

First of all: your water. If you want to know why fish die, it's either the water or something is killing them. What kills them is sometimes disease, sometimes a predator. So first:
Your temperature, highs and lows.
Your salinity, highs and lows.
Your ph range
Your nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia readings. Numbers or colors, not just 'ok.'
Your water source? Tap? Ro/di?

Once we eliminate that as a cause, let's talk about disease. Are you quarantining, and how long?

Now let's talk about that maroon clown. There's your likely culprit, but let's eliminate all other causes before we attach blame.

GoLowDrew · 05/15/2007, 08:56 AM

Funny you mention "Maroon clown." Actually I have a Tomato clown. But in thinking what to do, and reading the Maroon clown is the most agressive clown fish, I decided to start WWIII and got one. Maybe someone "meaner" will balance things out?

My Maroon clown is a bit smaller, but seems to pull his own weight with feeding and cruising the tank. The Tomato clown did chase him a bit in the first few minutes. Now he just leaves him alone. They are doing fine so far.

I agree with disease, as these fishes are from Petco, which I have seen dead fishes in their tank. Why did I (continue to) go back? There isn't many good LFS around where I live.

Sk8r · 05/15/2007, 09:01 AM

GoLow, buy your fish online instead. I use LiveAquaria, and have never gotten an unhealthy fish. The two clowns you've got are close enough they might just pair. They'll run that tank, and pretty well do in other fish you might get, so until you get a larger tank, you're pretty well maxed out. Those clowns can grow almost to the size of your palm.

SaltyBoG Water · 05/15/2007, 10:29 AM

Ask your pet store where they get all there fish. Also ask them how they capture them. Cyanide is a way to catch some fish b/c it incapacitates them(making them easy to catch). how ever it has tremendous damage and stress to the fish. If they use nets to capture the fish it is alot heathier and the fish tend to live alot longer in captivity.

05/14/2007, 02:21 PM	#1
GoLowDrew No Title Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 390	I like to kill fishes - help I like to kill fishes. That's my track record. History: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1107015 Short Story: I got two "cheap" damsels, because I knew what will happen. One started to hide. Then died. The other must experienced the same thing. Both did not even last 2 weeks. This is the shortes time ever. Again, nothing wrong with water, etc, etc. The fact that I can keep my Tomato Clown alive for this long means I'm doing something right. I know about the agressiveness of the Clowns. One fish is not that exciting. What should I do? __________________ Thanks for answering my questions. Current Tank Info: 29G with 30lbs Live Rock, powerhead, one Clown fish.

05/14/2007, 02:35 PM	#2
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	You know what I'm going to say. He is too aggressive and needs to be alone or taken back to the store. Especially in that small of tank. He made the whole tank his territory and will defend it to death. I want to say a sandsifting goby but he will probably attack that too. Unless the goby hides under the rock before the clown can catch him. Or maybe another agressive fish. I feel that is asking for trouble as well. Good luck with what ever you decide. Edti: you aren't killing the fish, he is. __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.

05/14/2007, 04:51 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	First of all: your water. If you want to know why fish die, it's either the water or something is killing them. What kills them is sometimes disease, sometimes a predator. So first: Your temperature, highs and lows. Your salinity, highs and lows. Your ph range Your nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia readings. Numbers or colors, not just 'ok.' Your water source? Tap? Ro/di? Once we eliminate that as a cause, let's talk about disease. Are you quarantining, and how long? Now let's talk about that maroon clown. There's your likely culprit, but let's eliminate all other causes before we attach blame. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/15/2007, 08:56 AM	#5
GoLowDrew No Title Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 390	Funny you mention "Maroon clown." Actually I have a Tomato clown. But in thinking what to do, and reading the Maroon clown is the most agressive clown fish, I decided to start WWIII and got one. Maybe someone "meaner" will balance things out? My Maroon clown is a bit smaller, but seems to pull his own weight with feeding and cruising the tank. The Tomato clown did chase him a bit in the first few minutes. Now he just leaves him alone. They are doing fine so far. I agree with disease, as these fishes are from Petco, which I have seen dead fishes in their tank. Why did I (continue to) go back? There isn't many good LFS around where I live. __________________ Thanks for answering my questions. Current Tank Info: 29G with 30lbs Live Rock, powerhead, one Clown fish.

05/15/2007, 09:01 AM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	GoLow, buy your fish online instead. I use LiveAquaria, and have never gotten an unhealthy fish. The two clowns you've got are close enough they might just pair. They'll run that tank, and pretty well do in other fish you might get, so until you get a larger tank, you're pretty well maxed out. Those clowns can grow almost to the size of your palm. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/14/2007, 02:54 PM	#3
alexb518 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Mateo Posts: 514	you do realize that both clowns and damsels are really aggressive, right? if you choose to keep the clown, then either add fish that are same size or bigger, and when you do add them, rearrange the rocks, etc. so that they can establish new territories.

05/15/2007, 10:29 AM	#7
SaltyBoG Water Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 190	Ask your pet store where they get all there fish. Also ask them how they capture them. Cyanide is a way to catch some fish b/c it incapacitates them(making them easy to catch). how ever it has tremendous damage and stress to the fish. If they use nets to capture the fish it is alot heathier and the fish tend to live alot longer in captivity. __________________ If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing. - African Proverb. Current Tank Info: 29 bio cube 25 lbs LR 40 lbs LS