Trouble introducing new fish. Acclimation box?

FortyFour · 01/23/2019, 11:09 PM

I always appreciate the input I get here!

After QT, I introduced 4 fish to my 110G last night while the lights were off.

Current inhabitants: clown pair, melenarus wrasse, yellow watchman goby, flame hawkfish.

New inhabitants: McCoskers wrasse, Midas Benny, and 2 sapphire damsels.

I let the lights run as usual today. The McCosker wrasse (tiny) is getting punished by either the hawkfish or melanarus wrasse (both have size). I didn’t see it happen but I noticed 1 and then a second fin laceration (chunk). I took the McCosker out and put it back in QT.

Assuming it makes it, is a week or 2 in observation reasonable? Since I don’t know who the culprit is, I am thinking of waiting a week, and reintroducing via acclimation box. Then, leaving the lights off for 2 days.

Does that sound reasonable? I didn’t find any bonafied compatibility flags with my current stock list.

I was going to wait a couple months and then introduce a yellow wrasse, exquisite (or solarensis), and yellow tang. So the acclimation box will be useful either way.

Tastee · 01/23/2019, 11:57 PM

I haven’t done it myself but I saw a post about a nice design elsewhere, picture below. PM me if you want a link.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

FortyFour · 01/24/2019, 09:31 AM

Looks good, but will likely buy this time around.

The McCosker survived the night in observation so I’ll start fattening it up.

If anyone else has thoughts on how to reintroduce please let me know.

FortyFour · 01/25/2019, 06:48 AM

Does anyone else have experience with this situation?

mann1139 · 01/25/2019, 07:48 AM

What are the sizes on the fish?

FortyFour · 01/25/2019, 10:48 AM

The McCosker is small, the potential culprits are big.

mann1139 · 01/26/2019, 03:21 PM

I had a melanarus wrasse for a couple years with a couple other similar tankmates without issue. I would have said the wrasse was more 'target' than 'bully'.

Hawkfish can be grumpy, so that doesn't surprise me.

You may just have to keep your tankmates above a certain size/aggressiveness level that the small wrasse doesn't meet.

FortyFour · 02/22/2019, 11:57 PM

Closing the loop. I put the wrasse into my QT tank for a couple weeks to recover. Used an acclimation box for 2 days, introduced to the tank, and then lights off for 2 days. All is well. I bought the acclimation box on amazon for less than $20.

01/23/2019, 11:09 PM	#1
FortyFour Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 371	Trouble introducing new fish. Acclimation box? I always appreciate the input I get here! After QT, I introduced 4 fish to my 110G last night while the lights were off. Current inhabitants: clown pair, melenarus wrasse, yellow watchman goby, flame hawkfish. New inhabitants: McCoskers wrasse, Midas Benny, and 2 sapphire damsels. I let the lights run as usual today. The McCosker wrasse (tiny) is getting punished by either the hawkfish or melanarus wrasse (both have size). I didn’t see it happen but I noticed 1 and then a second fin laceration (chunk). I took the McCosker out and put it back in QT. Assuming it makes it, is a week or 2 in observation reasonable? Since I don’t know who the culprit is, I am thinking of waiting a week, and reintroducing via acclimation box. Then, leaving the lights off for 2 days. Does that sound reasonable? I didn’t find any bonafied compatibility flags with my current stock list. I was going to wait a couple months and then introduce a yellow wrasse, exquisite (or solarensis), and yellow tang. So the acclimation box will be useful either way.

01/23/2019, 11:57 PM	#2
Tastee Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 277	I haven’t done it myself but I saw a post about a nice design elsewhere, picture below. PM me if you want a link. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

01/24/2019, 09:31 AM	#3
FortyFour Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 371	Looks good, but will likely buy this time around. The McCosker survived the night in observation so I’ll start fattening it up. If anyone else has thoughts on how to reintroduce please let me know.

01/25/2019, 06:48 AM	#4
FortyFour Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 371	Does anyone else have experience with this situation?

01/25/2019, 07:48 AM	#5
mann1139 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jersey Posts: 178	What are the sizes on the fish?

01/25/2019, 10:48 AM	#6
FortyFour Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 371	The McCosker is small, the potential culprits are big.

01/26/2019, 03:21 PM	#7
mann1139 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jersey Posts: 178	I had a melanarus wrasse for a couple years with a couple other similar tankmates without issue. I would have said the wrasse was more 'target' than 'bully'. Hawkfish can be grumpy, so that doesn't surprise me. You may just have to keep your tankmates above a certain size/aggressiveness level that the small wrasse doesn't meet.

02/22/2019, 11:57 PM	#8
FortyFour Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 371	Closing the loop. I put the wrasse into my QT tank for a couple weeks to recover. Used an acclimation box for 2 days, introduced to the tank, and then lights off for 2 days. All is well. I bought the acclimation box on amazon for less than $20.