Bonded pair in QT

Sapelo · 03/11/2015, 12:18 PM

Yesterday morning I received my ORA bonded pair of cleaner gobies from Live Aquaria. They seemed to arrive well, water was warm from their travel pack and box looked in good shape. I floated them in their individual bags for 20 minutes and then drip acclimated them both into a 20 gallon QT. Upon release they instantly swam together and seemed quiet happy to be rejoined.
A few hours later, however, one of the pair clearly had had a rougher trip than the other and was not doing as well, hiding behind the heater in the tank and not swimming around as freely. I left them alone.
Last night, the stronger of the two readily took some food but the weaker again was hiding at the back of the tank.
By this morning, the stronger has become the aggressor, chasing the mate around at will. I quickly set up a 5 gallon QT tank and transferred the weaker fish into a tank by itself.
I have two questions:
1. Is there anything I should have done differently in this situation? Since they were a bonded pair I planned to quarantine them together and transfer them to the DT together. Was this a bad approach?
2. Is there anything I can do now to help the weaker fish. Since they just arrived I was not dosing anything and have not really witnessed any signs of illness other than what I suspect is exhaustion.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Dmorty217 · 03/11/2015, 03:02 PM

There isn't anything you can do really to stop the aggression besides separate them. Feeding enriched food with selcon and vitachem is a start to help the one that didn't ship as well. They have a short lifespan to begin with of only 2 yrs...

GilliganReef · 03/11/2015, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

There isn't anything you can do really to stop the aggression besides separate them. Feeding enriched food with selcon and vitachem is a start to help the one that didn't ship as well. They have a short lifespan to begin with of only 2 yrs...

My neon goby I had in a Fish only lived for 4 years no problem . I know it only survived a year or two when transfered to my friends tank.

Sapelo · 03/13/2015, 08:06 AM

Thanks for the feedback. I removed the weaker fish to a smaller tank and it improved almost immediately, started eating and moving around. I waited two days and reintroduced the two fish this morning. At first things seemed to go very well, they were almost dancing together, swimming around in tandem. But within 10 minutes the old aggression returned and I had to separate them again. So much for "bonded pair?"

julie180 · 03/13/2015, 09:53 AM

Take out the aggressor next time. Leave the weaker fish to get established in the QT for a week or so and try again.

Sapelo · 03/13/2015, 10:35 AM

I'm right there with you, this is exactly what I've done. I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you!

julie180 · 03/13/2015, 03:46 PM

Hope it works out well.

rogerstammy · 03/13/2015, 04:12 PM

I might be wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that you should have the tank dark or lights off to assist with the transition.

Sapelo · 03/14/2015, 04:47 AM

Thanks. I did start with the lights off for a few hours on the first day but turned them on so I could feed in the evening. When the trouble began I turned the lights back off. Now that they are separate they have lighting on a regular basis.I guess the most puzzling factor for me is that they are supposed to be a bonded pair. Maybe one of them changed their mind during shipment? Ha!

Mythicalelf · 03/14/2015, 07:59 AM

Instead of risking one killing the other I would see if there was a local reefer that would trade one of them and you keep one of them.

Sapelo · 03/14/2015, 11:23 AM

And that may be what I end up having to do. Still I do wonder about selling bonded pairs that then turn against each other. Seems odd...then again, I'm new so maybe not so odd....

julie180 · 03/14/2015, 01:08 PM

Stick a "couple" of people in a stressful situation and they might turn on each other too!

Once the weaker one is healthy and established for some time, give it a try again. An option I have never used, but seems to work for people is an acclimation box, keep them together, but separated to get used to each other. Maybe rekindle their love

Sapelo · 03/15/2015, 07:07 AM

I wondered about an acclimation box, I don't have one but will look into it.
The weaker fish has definitely gotten stronger and more comfortable in the 20 gallon without the aggressor (who looks "angry" in the little tank -- if fish can look angry? Ha).

Yep, I can understand how an overnight travel might leave some hard feelings between former friends. We'll see what happens in a couple more days. Thanks for your suggestions!

Sapelo · 03/19/2015, 07:35 AM

Success! Last night after lights out, I replaced Mr. Aggressor in the QT. This morning both are swimming happily together, shared a peaceful breakfast and appear quite happy. Thanks for all of the suggestions!

julie180 · 03/19/2015, 07:36 AM

Hope things stay happy for them.

03/11/2015, 12:18 PM	#1
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	Bonded pair in QT Yesterday morning I received my ORA bonded pair of cleaner gobies from Live Aquaria. They seemed to arrive well, water was warm from their travel pack and box looked in good shape. I floated them in their individual bags for 20 minutes and then drip acclimated them both into a 20 gallon QT. Upon release they instantly swam together and seemed quiet happy to be rejoined. A few hours later, however, one of the pair clearly had had a rougher trip than the other and was not doing as well, hiding behind the heater in the tank and not swimming around as freely. I left them alone. Last night, the stronger of the two readily took some food but the weaker again was hiding at the back of the tank. By this morning, the stronger has become the aggressor, chasing the mate around at will. I quickly set up a 5 gallon QT tank and transferred the weaker fish into a tank by itself. I have two questions: 1. Is there anything I should have done differently in this situation? Since they were a bonded pair I planned to quarantine them together and transfer them to the DT together. Was this a bad approach? 2. Is there anything I can do now to help the weaker fish. Since they just arrived I was not dosing anything and have not really witnessed any signs of illness other than what I suspect is exhaustion. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

03/11/2015, 03:02 PM	#2
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	There isn't anything you can do really to stop the aggression besides separate them. Feeding enriched food with selcon and vitachem is a start to help the one that didn't ship as well. They have a short lifespan to begin with of only 2 yrs... __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

03/13/2015, 04:12 PM	#8
rogerstammy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 22	I might be wrong, but I thought I read somewhere that you should have the tank dark or lights off to assist with the transition. __________________ It's not about getting what you want, it's wanting what you have.

03/13/2015, 08:06 AM	#4
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	Thanks for the feedback. I removed the weaker fish to a smaller tank and it improved almost immediately, started eating and moving around. I waited two days and reintroduced the two fish this morning. At first things seemed to go very well, they were almost dancing together, swimming around in tandem. But within 10 minutes the old aggression returned and I had to separate them again. So much for "bonded pair?"

03/13/2015, 09:53 AM	#5
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Take out the aggressor next time. Leave the weaker fish to get established in the QT for a week or so and try again.

03/13/2015, 10:35 AM	#6
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	I'm right there with you, this is exactly what I've done. I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you!

03/13/2015, 03:46 PM	#7
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Hope it works out well.

03/14/2015, 04:47 AM	#9
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	Thanks. I did start with the lights off for a few hours on the first day but turned them on so I could feed in the evening. When the trouble began I turned the lights back off. Now that they are separate they have lighting on a regular basis.I guess the most puzzling factor for me is that they are supposed to be a bonded pair. Maybe one of them changed their mind during shipment? Ha!

03/14/2015, 07:59 AM	#10
Mythicalelf Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: USA Posts: 315	Instead of risking one killing the other I would see if there was a local reefer that would trade one of them and you keep one of them.

03/14/2015, 11:23 AM	#11
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	And that may be what I end up having to do. Still I do wonder about selling bonded pairs that then turn against each other. Seems odd...then again, I'm new so maybe not so odd....

03/14/2015, 01:08 PM	#12
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Stick a "couple" of people in a stressful situation and they might turn on each other too! Once the weaker one is healthy and established for some time, give it a try again. An option I have never used, but seems to work for people is an acclimation box, keep them together, but separated to get used to each other. Maybe rekindle their love

03/15/2015, 07:07 AM	#13
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	I wondered about an acclimation box, I don't have one but will look into it. The weaker fish has definitely gotten stronger and more comfortable in the 20 gallon without the aggressor (who looks "angry" in the little tank -- if fish can look angry? Ha). Yep, I can understand how an overnight travel might leave some hard feelings between former friends. We'll see what happens in a couple more days. Thanks for your suggestions!

03/19/2015, 07:35 AM	#14
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	Success! Last night after lights out, I replaced Mr. Aggressor in the QT. This morning both are swimming happily together, shared a peaceful breakfast and appear quite happy. Thanks for all of the suggestions!

03/19/2015, 07:36 AM	#15
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Hope things stay happy for them.