How long until Tailspot Blenny stops being stressed (white splotchy spots)

SonRK · 12/14/2014, 06:37 PM

I have a QT setup downstairs for my new incoming fish before they go in the display tank.

Tailspoy Blenny, a little over an inch long, so it must be young. Picked him up about a week ago

Ammonia/Nitrites are nonexistent, Nitrates aren't that high, maybe 10-15ppm at most.

I have it in a QT with liverock from my display (I did some re-aquascaping on the display, and removed some pounds, figured I wasn't going to keep it in a tub of saltwater to keep it alive, so I was going to use it for my QT knowing full well that if it has a disease or something, I would just dry them out afterwards)

Well it's been 7 days, he still has the splotchy white spots. Via Google, I found threads that this means they're stressed. He has PVC pipe, rockwork, etc. to hide himself in, but he still is splotchy. I drop him some NLS Pellets, and he eats it pretty quickly.

So he's eating, doesn't really seem to hide/explore, is splotchy, and kind of sits around motionless for a while.

Hopefully he lasts the 6 weeks in there, but if he gets better, I hope he doesn't freak out and stay splotchy in the main tank for over a week+

HeavyK32 · 12/14/2014, 07:09 PM

Silly question.... But do you have a light on the QT tank? I have a tailspot blenny in my tank and when the lights go out he appears to have the white spots when he tucks himself away into the miniscule hole in the rock work he call home. Just my experience, thought I would share.

SonRK · 12/14/2014, 07:14 PM

I don't have a light on the tank, just lighting in the room.

I go downstairs when my lights on my DT turn on (11am), and turn them off roughly 10-11hours later.

Today I went downstairs and he was perched on top of the PVC pipe, but as soon as I entered the room he went hiding somewhere. At least I got to see more of his personality, heh. Still all white splotchy though.

Sk8r · 12/14/2014, 07:31 PM

They're quite shy. They also jump like bandits. Be careful to have a jump screen. He'll get better as he gets into a fully textured tank. Remember this guy was probably caught in a living reef.

HeavyK32 · 12/14/2014, 07:36 PM

My blenny is the furthest thing from shy!!!! Always out and about picking at rocks and begging for food when I am around. Good luck with yours!!

SonRK · 12/14/2014, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

They're quite shy. They also jump like bandits. Be careful to have a jump screen. He'll get better as he gets into a fully textured tank. Remember this guy was probably caught in a living reef.

That's actually really interesting.

I almost completely forgot that some (most?) of these animals were literally taken from their homes. My two clownfish were tank-bred and all my corals were frags. Either from people's home tanks, frag swap, frag tank at LFS, etc. So those have had a chance to exist in like..confined tank homes.

My CUC is from ReefCleaners, I think they mass breed them as opposed to catching them live from somewhere.

I guess being taken from the ocean, being shipped, tossed into a fish store, and then bought and placed into a tank with pipes and rock would make any animal feel uneasy.

Newsmyrna80 · 12/14/2014, 07:45 PM

Covering the sides of the tank will help cut down on the stress. My Tailspot hid from me and had the big white blotches for a couple of weeks. Now he's the most gregarious one in the tank. Just give your guy a little time.

SonRK · 02/09/2015, 05:20 PM

Well

Rest In Peace Blenny

It passed away today, well I found its bones near where it used to hide. I assume my clean up crew worked fast.as.hell.

It was always still white and splotchy whenever I saw it in the tank, and it was always hiding. Thought it would eat stray food from filter feeding. I found something strange in the tank and I took it out with a baster. I looked at it and it was little tiny bones, and I saw a "tail" and I can't find my Tailspot anywhere. I took a picture of it to have you guys confirm, but I rather not. I'm pretty sure that it's my fish.

My clowns, corals, etc. all look good though so I'm pretty sure it's not a parameter issue. Sigh

-edit- After the 6 week period, I did put it in the main tank hoping it would de-stress or feel better. It was about 3 weeks in the main tank when he perished

Victorg1001 · 02/09/2015, 10:49 PM

Sorry for your loss

12/14/2014, 06:37 PM	#1
SonRK Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 107	How long until Tailspot Blenny stops being stressed (white splotchy spots) I have a QT setup downstairs for my new incoming fish before they go in the display tank. Tailspoy Blenny, a little over an inch long, so it must be young. Picked him up about a week ago Ammonia/Nitrites are nonexistent, Nitrates aren't that high, maybe 10-15ppm at most. I have it in a QT with liverock from my display (I did some re-aquascaping on the display, and removed some pounds, figured I wasn't going to keep it in a tub of saltwater to keep it alive, so I was going to use it for my QT knowing full well that if it has a disease or something, I would just dry them out afterwards) Well it's been 7 days, he still has the splotchy white spots. Via Google, I found threads that this means they're stressed. He has PVC pipe, rockwork, etc. to hide himself in, but he still is splotchy. I drop him some NLS Pellets, and he eats it pretty quickly. So he's eating, doesn't really seem to hide/explore, is splotchy, and kind of sits around motionless for a while. Hopefully he lasts the 6 weeks in there, but if he gets better, I hope he doesn't freak out and stay splotchy in the main tank for over a week+

12/14/2014, 07:31 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	They're quite shy. They also jump like bandits. Be careful to have a jump screen. He'll get better as he gets into a fully textured tank. Remember this guy was probably caught in a living reef. __________________ 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%.

12/14/2014, 07:45 PM	#7
Newsmyrna80 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 2,312	Covering the sides of the tank will help cut down on the stress. My Tailspot hid from me and had the big white blotches for a couple of weeks. Now he's the most gregarious one in the tank. Just give your guy a little time. __________________ 80 gal frag with 30 gal refugium, Orphek Atlantik LED, Red Sea RSK300 skimmer, predominately SPS and LPS Current Tank Info: 80 gallon reef tank with 30 gal refugium

02/09/2015, 05:20 PM	#8
SonRK Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 107	Well Rest In Peace Blenny It passed away today, well I found its bones near where it used to hide. I assume my clean up crew worked fast.as.hell. It was always still white and splotchy whenever I saw it in the tank, and it was always hiding. Thought it would eat stray food from filter feeding. I found something strange in the tank and I took it out with a baster. I looked at it and it was little tiny bones, and I saw a "tail" and I can't find my Tailspot anywhere. I took a picture of it to have you guys confirm, but I rather not. I'm pretty sure that it's my fish. My clowns, corals, etc. all look good though so I'm pretty sure it's not a parameter issue. Sigh -edit- After the 6 week period, I did put it in the main tank hoping it would de-stress or feel better. It was about 3 weeks in the main tank when he perished Last edited by SonRK; 02/09/2015 at 05:28 PM.

12/14/2014, 07:09 PM	#2
HeavyK32 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 2	Silly question.... But do you have a light on the QT tank? I have a tailspot blenny in my tank and when the lights go out he appears to have the white spots when he tucks himself away into the miniscule hole in the rock work he call home. Just my experience, thought I would share.

12/14/2014, 07:14 PM	#3
SonRK Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 107	I don't have a light on the tank, just lighting in the room. I go downstairs when my lights on my DT turn on (11am), and turn them off roughly 10-11hours later. Today I went downstairs and he was perched on top of the PVC pipe, but as soon as I entered the room he went hiding somewhere. At least I got to see more of his personality, heh. Still all white splotchy though.

12/14/2014, 07:36 PM	#5
HeavyK32 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 2	My blenny is the furthest thing from shy!!!! Always out and about picking at rocks and begging for food when I am around. Good luck with yours!!

02/09/2015, 10:49 PM	#9
Victorg1001 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 85	Sorry for your loss