I need TT help

[shesacharmer]

I am making my second attempt to TT a One Spot Foxface. The first Foxface never seemed 'right' from day one. It's eyes were cloudy and it paced the tank constantly. When it was obviously Ich infested I removed all fish from the DT and commenced TT using two totes with an airstone, heater, and thermometer and pvc hiding places.

In the first go around I lost the Foxface on the day 12 of TT...but I also lost the Flame Angel on Day 2 and the McCoskers Flasher Wrasse on Day 10. The remaining six fish survived TT and are all in QT.

I got a new, much smaller, One Spot Foxface four days ago (and two Blue Gudgeons) and commenced TT right away. I ensured this morning that the SG and temperature were identical to the first tote prior to moving the fish. I was encouraged that the One Spot let down his camouflage today and was investigating his new surroundings. Twelve hours later he was dead. No symptoms...just dead.

Each of these fish came from different LFS. I'm naturally very distraught to have lost them both but I want to make sure that I'm doing every thing I'm supposed to. I've reviewed the TT sticky and I'm very frustrated.

Can anyone offer some suggestions for me?

[EnderTurtle]

Sorry about your current situation. I am in the same situation and on Day 9 I realized there was one ich spot on my yellow tang. So dissapointing. Day 8 my Barnacle Blenny jumped out of my tank. It's all frustrating and if they still have ich on Day 20 of tank transfers (I will do 2 more transfers to make sure ich is gone), I am going to proceed with not treating ich.

Are you using bleach to decontaminate the tanks? Is it possible something you're putting in the tank is poisonous to the fish? I hear Fox faces are difficult to keep.

By the way you should not use airstones even if they have dried. The airstones are too pourous to ensure Ich spores are killed. I dont even use the same tubing. No filters either.

What size are the tanks youre using for the transfers?

[tallguy88]

I have attempted TT multiple times to rid ICH on all new coming fish. The first three times I failed the fish all ended up not making it thru the process until this last attempt. What I have found successful this time around!

1. Use water from your DT (First three attempts I used water that was mixed for 24 hours then put into my QT,I think for whatever reason the water wasn't as stable as the DT water so it caused added stress to the fish)

2. One fish in TT at a time (two of my three failed attempts had two fish in the 20g QT tanks I was using for TT I think it was causing stress I never saw the fish go after each other but maybe was causing an issue... I would exclude schooling fish or mated pairs I don't see TT them together to be a problem)

3. Use a container not a net to catch the fish and transfer (I think using my green net was adding to the stress when chasing them around the tank pulling them out and dumping into new tank. Try draining the water level down a lot to make it easier to corner the fish between the glass corners and your suitable sized container.

This is just my experience and what I have found from trial and error. Also after 4 transfers I monitor the fish for 2 more weeks with Prazipro others may say monitor longer but this is what I did and workers great. Wants the fish out of the QT 20g tank and into my 90g DT to reduce stress.

[AZBigJohn]

The only other suggestion I have heard is QT the fish for 2 weeks, and get them eating and stronger before starting TT. That seems to break the initial stress of capture, transportation and re homing from the stress of rapid TT.

Just a though I have heard works.

[shesacharmer]

Thank you for your suggestions. I'm having my doubts about the One Spot Foxface altogether that's for sure. I'm told that they are quite hardy but my experience is that they are neurotic. I thought getting a smaller one might help with that. I realize my bad luck with Foxface's might be coincidental. The fish might just have been sicker than they seemed. I don't know.

I'm using 14 gallons of water, mixed a day ahead and stirred by powerhead and heated to temp. I do use a very small amount of bleach, soak, and rinse thoroughly, before drying everything for more than 24 hours. I fill the next tote a day ahead so it will be at the right temp on time. The three fish I had in there now were very small and huddled together alot. I don't think they were stressing one another if anything they seemed comforted. I'm very confused that the One Spot actually relaxed, turned yellow and was swimming around before he died.

I throw away the airstones after each water change and use a fresh one. Even if a parasite or two made it through being exposed to air on the tubing it shouldn't be enough to kill a reasonably well fish...it would simply extend the TT like you mentioned. I don't use a net; I use Tupperware and the transfer is very quick. I was careful to check salinity.

The six small fish that survived my first TT are all doing ok in my 25 gal QT with HOB filter (just floss changed daily or more) and carbon. I do small water changes on that tank every three days. All those fish are contented and getting along with no aggression issues.

The Gudgeons and the Foxface were both eating pellets the day he died...so he didn't starve.

I'm really disheartened. I think all my new fish will come from LA where they have a 14 day guarantee to get them through TT.

[shesacharmer]

I appreciate the feedback. It's tough to lose our fish, new or not. I think that I will try the QT prior to TTM. It's the only thing that makes sense at this point.

[hogfanreefer]

Originally Posted by tallguy88

I have attempted TT multiple times to rid ICH on all new coming fish. The first three times I failed the fish all ended up not making it thru the process until this last attempt. What I have found successful this time around!

1. Use water from your DT (First three attempts I used water that was mixed for 24 hours then put into my QT,I think for whatever reason the water wasn't as stable as the DT water so it caused added stress to the fish)

2. One fish in TT at a time (two of my three failed attempts had two fish in the 20g QT tanks I was using for TT I think it was causing stress I never saw the fish go after each other but maybe was causing an issue... I would exclude schooling fish or mated pairs I don't see TT them together to be a problem)

3. Use a container not a net to catch the fish and transfer (I think using my green net was adding to the stress when chasing them around the tank pulling them out and dumping into new tank. Try draining the water level down a lot to make it easier to corner the fish between the glass corners and your suitable sized container.

This is just my experience and what I have found from trial and error. Also after 4 transfers I monitor the fish for 2 more weeks with Prazipro others may say monitor longer but this is what I did and workers great. Wants the fish out of the QT 20g tank and into my 90g DT to reduce stress.

I agree. Snorvich and Spar clued me in to use DT water.

I've figured a way to catch the fish with little or no stress or chasing. I have a short piece of 2" pipe with a 45 degree ell on each end in my TT tanks. When I get up before work to transfer the fish are always still in there. I just reach in and put my hands over both ells, lift it out of the tank and let all the water drain carefully without letting the fish out (last time I let it drain in to a colander). Slide the fish in to the new tank. They really don't seem stressed by this.