Any hope for my flame angel

OARrocks · 03/14/2007, 04:49 PM

got him about a week ago, feeding great in the store brought him home and he was picking at the rocks for the first few days occasionally eating bits of mysis and cyclopeez, but the last few days hes just been behind the rocks mainly swimming back there not out front. Today hes holed up in a hole in one of my rocks, just breathing really heavy.

he's about 2" no marks, spots, torn fins. no threatening tank mates.( firefish, mandarin, cleaner shrimp)
All params are fine. ph 8.2 ammonia 0 trite 0 trate 10. Temp 75 plenty or rockwork. 55 gal tank.
All the other fish are fine.

Do you guys think he was just harmed/damaged from collection.
Do any of the products that say they are good for fish breathing heavy work?
Losing this fish which i havent even had for that long, is almost bumming me out of the hobby...any advice

thanks

Peter Eichler · 03/14/2007, 04:57 PM

Sounds to me like the result of poor collection habits and stress from his journey to your tank, perhaps even chemicals from the collection.

Do you have good flow at the surface of your tank to ensure proper gas exchange? It's not unheard of that your current fish could get used to low oxygen levels while a new specimen is stressed by them.

Lastly, out of curiosity, why are you keeping your temp so low?

OARrocks · 03/14/2007, 05:15 PM

oxygen levels should be fine powerhead keeps the surface moving pretty good, I run a skimmer and the tanks about 2 feet from a window.

I dont have a heater or any corals for that matter so i dont worry about it being a little low.

thanks for the reply. if only this was happening to my $18 fish and not my $50!! lol

Peter Eichler · 03/14/2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OARrocks
oxygen levels should be fine powerhead keeps the surface moving pretty good, I run a skimmer and the tanks about 2 feet from a window.

I dont have a heater or any corals for that matter so i dont worry about it being a little low.

thanks for the reply. if only this was happening to my $18 fish and not my $50!! lol

Why don't you have a heater? Keeping water temps stable is very important and I bet your temp is dipping some at night. I don't see why not having corals makes you think it's ok to keep your temp low.

BrianCM · 03/14/2007, 11:42 PM

i agree with Peter Eichler your fish still need the temp around 80 or so.

zach0660 · 03/14/2007, 11:44 PM

I think I bought a Marineland 250w heater for like $30. it does a great job a keeping my tank around 80.

davidryder · 03/15/2007, 12:26 AM

Yeah temperature swings can be stressful, especially with new tank arrivals. Flame angels aren't super hardy to begin with. I hope it's ok... that's my favorite fish in the ocean.

03/14/2007, 04:49 PM	#1
OARrocks Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 393	Any hope for my flame angel got him about a week ago, feeding great in the store brought him home and he was picking at the rocks for the first few days occasionally eating bits of mysis and cyclopeez, but the last few days hes just been behind the rocks mainly swimming back there not out front. Today hes holed up in a hole in one of my rocks, just breathing really heavy. he's about 2" no marks, spots, torn fins. no threatening tank mates.( firefish, mandarin, cleaner shrimp) All params are fine. ph 8.2 ammonia 0 trite 0 trate 10. Temp 75 plenty or rockwork. 55 gal tank. All the other fish are fine. Do you guys think he was just harmed/damaged from collection. Do any of the products that say they are good for fish breathing heavy work? Losing this fish which i havent even had for that long, is almost bumming me out of the hobby...any advice thanks

03/14/2007, 04:57 PM	#2
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	Sounds to me like the result of poor collection habits and stress from his journey to your tank, perhaps even chemicals from the collection. Do you have good flow at the surface of your tank to ensure proper gas exchange? It's not unheard of that your current fish could get used to low oxygen levels while a new specimen is stressed by them. Lastly, out of curiosity, why are you keeping your temp so low? __________________ April 2015 TOTM

03/15/2007, 12:26 AM	#7
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	Yeah temperature swings can be stressful, especially with new tank arrivals. Flame angels aren't super hardy to begin with. I hope it's ok... that's my favorite fish in the ocean. __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

03/14/2007, 05:15 PM	#3
OARrocks Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 393	oxygen levels should be fine powerhead keeps the surface moving pretty good, I run a skimmer and the tanks about 2 feet from a window. I dont have a heater or any corals for that matter so i dont worry about it being a little low. thanks for the reply. if only this was happening to my $18 fish and not my $50!! lol

03/14/2007, 11:42 PM	#5
BrianCM Moved On Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Bellevue,Ne Posts: 102	i agree with Peter Eichler your fish still need the temp around 80 or so.

03/14/2007, 11:44 PM	#6
zach0660 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NE Posts: 549	I think I bought a Marineland 250w heater for like $30. it does a great job a keeping my tank around 80.