weirdo problem

sublime-1 · 05/14/2007, 11:07 AM

Alright, I took my wife to NYC for the weekend so we set the lights on timer, tested them the night before, and away we went.

We have a 90G with 2 x Yellow Tailed Dams, and a couple serpent stars, and various little cleanup critters.

Anyway, when we returned yesterday, I couldn't find either of the dams.

Well, I was going to feed them before I unpacked, and when I got to looking for them I found one wedged between a piece of LR and a piece of glass. The other was hiding in a dark corner.

Whe I got them out in the open tank, I noticed one of them was a very pale grayish white, where he should be blue. Also, the other one was a milky color as well.

Now, mind you they are cycle fish and I am not at all interested in keeping the buggers, but I also don't want them to be miserable.

I feed them anyway, they didn't eat they just sat in the current of the SEIOs and got blown around the tank, albeit upright, and obviously able to steer.

They looked severely ill. I am not sure if they got stuck under the LR for 2 days and couldn't make it out or what.

My water temp was 79 when I got home and I doubt it got any lower. It has been peg steady at 80deg. for a week and a half.

I immediately did a water test and had the following.

PH 8.1
Temp - 79
SG - 1.022
Ammonia - undetectable
Nitrate - 15
DK - 9

.

This morning, I woke up and grabbed my coffee, went upstairs and sat waiting for the lights to kick on.

When they did, out came both Damsels, and in ran the 2 Serpents to their little caves.

The Damsels were bright blue, and swimming around vigorously.

I fed them, and they ate like there was no tomorrow.

What gives ?

BD

alan214 · 05/14/2007, 11:37 AM

It's possible the serpent stars were chasing the damsels.

As far as why they were fine the next morning, if they were very stressed the night before, they could look like they're near death. By morning, they had chilled out and were fine again.

Keep a close eye on those serpent stars.

sublime-1 · 05/14/2007, 11:39 AM

I will,

As much as I know I need to get rid of the serpent's (especially the big one) My wife love's them.

I guess I need to just put them in a bag and take them up to the LFS.

Maybe trade em in on some more clean up crew.

I am aiming to cycle the tank for at least 2 more months before stocking.

I still want to learn more about dosing, and have an itch to replumb, drain, and possibly drill my 90.

So, of course, I don't want to invest in livestock just to wig them out with a drain, drill and refill.

Thanks,
Brad

slapshot16 · 05/14/2007, 12:30 PM

My blue damsels are always lighter in color when the lights first come on. I think it is fairly normal for them to change shades of colors with the lights. I doubt the serpents will disturb the fish unless they are sick and then they will eat your fish if they are caught.

arts007 · 05/14/2007, 01:53 PM

When you returned were the lights on or off, because yeah alot of fish do lose their color when the lights go off, or they lose their color due to stress... possible that the 2 damsels were going at it and stressing each other. But Im thinking its the lights off thing and is normal

sublime-1 · 05/14/2007, 05:39 PM

lights were out, it was around midnight. I might buy the color thing if they werent obviously swimming erratic and acting dumb.

Oh well, they seem fine today. Will watch and see.

Shagsbeard · 05/14/2007, 05:53 PM

I'd bet they were picking on each other rather than having the star pick on both.

sublime-1 · 05/14/2007, 06:27 PM

so odd still.

One had lost almost all his blue color. He looked like a burn victim.

Today they are both blue and vibrant yellow.

Thanks for the advice.

BD

Nano Chris · 05/15/2007, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sublime-1

Now, mind you they are cycle fish and I am not at all interested in keeping the buggers, but I also don't want them to be miserable.

For one you are not supposed to cycle your tank with fish, lr should be enough, or a peace of shrimp from your local market, its cruel to do that to fish.

sublime-1 · 05/15/2007, 09:39 AM

Ok,

I was not "cycling" the tank.

The tank is an established tank that was moved. I simply put Damsels in there because should a cycle kick-off due to the move, they are much more tolerant and hardy than other species.

Thanks,

BD

05/14/2007, 11:07 AM	#1
sublime-1 Habitual line-stepper Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 146	weirdo problem Alright, I took my wife to NYC for the weekend so we set the lights on timer, tested them the night before, and away we went. We have a 90G with 2 x Yellow Tailed Dams, and a couple serpent stars, and various little cleanup critters. Anyway, when we returned yesterday, I couldn't find either of the dams. Well, I was going to feed them before I unpacked, and when I got to looking for them I found one wedged between a piece of LR and a piece of glass. The other was hiding in a dark corner. Whe I got them out in the open tank, I noticed one of them was a very pale grayish white, where he should be blue. Also, the other one was a milky color as well. Now, mind you they are cycle fish and I am not at all interested in keeping the buggers, but I also don't want them to be miserable. I feed them anyway, they didn't eat they just sat in the current of the SEIOs and got blown around the tank, albeit upright, and obviously able to steer. They looked severely ill. I am not sure if they got stuck under the LR for 2 days and couldn't make it out or what. My water temp was 79 when I got home and I doubt it got any lower. It has been peg steady at 80deg. for a week and a half. I immediately did a water test and had the following. PH 8.1 Temp - 79 SG - 1.022 Ammonia - undetectable Nitrate - 15 DK - 9 . This morning, I woke up and grabbed my coffee, went upstairs and sat waiting for the lights to kick on. When they did, out came both Damsels, and in ran the 2 Serpents to their little caves. The Damsels were bright blue, and swimming around vigorously. I fed them, and they ate like there was no tomorrow. What gives ? BD __________________ 50G pseudo'cube underway Current Tank Info: 100G FOWLR

05/14/2007, 11:37 AM	#2
alan214 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 1,258	It's possible the serpent stars were chasing the damsels. As far as why they were fine the next morning, if they were very stressed the night before, they could look like they're near death. By morning, they had chilled out and were fine again. Keep a close eye on those serpent stars. __________________ I live really close to the airport. The other day I was walking across the living room and the stewardess told me to take my seat. Current Tank Info: 73G FOWLR

05/14/2007, 11:39 AM	#3
sublime-1 Habitual line-stepper Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 146	I will, As much as I know I need to get rid of the serpent's (especially the big one) My wife love's them. I guess I need to just put them in a bag and take them up to the LFS. Maybe trade em in on some more clean up crew. I am aiming to cycle the tank for at least 2 more months before stocking. I still want to learn more about dosing, and have an itch to replumb, drain, and possibly drill my 90. So, of course, I don't want to invest in livestock just to wig them out with a drain, drill and refill. Thanks, Brad __________________ 50G pseudo'cube underway Current Tank Info: 100G FOWLR

05/14/2007, 01:53 PM	#5
arts007 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 600	When you returned were the lights on or off, because yeah alot of fish do lose their color when the lights go off, or they lose their color due to stress... possible that the 2 damsels were going at it and stressing each other. But Im thinking its the lights off thing and is normal __________________ Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99% perspiration, which is why engineers sometimes smell really bad. Current Tank Info: 120g SPS reef tank. 2x 400 watt Reeflux 12k on lumenbrights

05/14/2007, 05:39 PM	#6
sublime-1 Habitual line-stepper Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 146	lights were out, it was around midnight. I might buy the color thing if they werent obviously swimming erratic and acting dumb. Oh well, they seem fine today. Will watch and see. __________________ 50G pseudo'cube underway Current Tank Info: 100G FOWLR

05/14/2007, 12:30 PM	#4
slapshot16 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 341	My blue damsels are always lighter in color when the lights first come on. I think it is fairly normal for them to change shades of colors with the lights. I doubt the serpents will disturb the fish unless they are sick and then they will eat your fish if they are caught.

05/14/2007, 05:53 PM	#7
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	I'd bet they were picking on each other rather than having the star pick on both.

05/14/2007, 06:27 PM	#8
sublime-1 Habitual line-stepper Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 146	so odd still. One had lost almost all his blue color. He looked like a burn victim. Today they are both blue and vibrant yellow. Thanks for the advice. BD __________________ 50G pseudo'cube underway Current Tank Info: 100G FOWLR

05/15/2007, 09:39 AM	#10
sublime-1 Habitual line-stepper Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 146	Ok, I was not "cycling" the tank. The tank is an established tank that was moved. I simply put Damsels in there because should a cycle kick-off due to the move, they are much more tolerant and hardy than other species. Thanks, BD __________________ 50G pseudo'cube underway Current Tank Info: 100G FOWLR