Tigger in Trouble

[SaltyFarts]

Bought this blue throat trigger at the LFS today. They said he’d just come in and had only been in the store a day. Floated him in my tank to adjust his temperature and then let him out of the bag into my 2.5 gallon bucket to drop acclamate. As soon as he got in the bucket he leaned over sideways and laid down. He’s still alive because his eye follows me, but is just laying there. I stopped dripping and have left the air stone in there. Been like this about 15 minutes with no change. I’m afraid it’s been to much for him moving into the store and now this. Not sure what to do?

 

[1WildBill]

Beautiful fish. I drip acclimate in the bag personally. Use the acclimation box for time out if they get too aggressive.

 

[SaltyFarts]

Beautiful fish. I drip acclimate in the bag personally. Use the acclimation box for time out if they get too aggressive.

Maybe I need to that next time. He seemed fine in the bag. As soon as I put him in the tub it was lights out.

 

[1WildBill]

Did you have any water in the box from the store? What I usually do, remove half the water from the bag and slowly add tank water after I have temperature acclimated the bag.

 

[SaltyFarts]

Did you have any water in the box from the store?

Yes, all the water in there is from the bag that came from the store. I put the bag in the bucket and up end it to put the fish and water in the bucket. I started my drip line and got maybe a teaspoon of water in there before I noticed he was fading. I walked off for a few minutes and when I came back noticed he’s now largely upright. I’m hoping he’s just stressed and will recover if I take it slow enough. Thank you by the way, it is a beautiful fish, i’m really excited about it.

 

[1WildBill]

It is a gorgeous fish. Good luck. I hope he pulls thru. I monitor the water from the store and as I add water. Slowly increasing the salinity so the fish doesn’t go into shock.

 

[Waters]

Triggers will sometimes do that as a defensive measure.....are you sure that isn't the case?

 

[Swoody]

Honestly I wish you the best of luck with him but I would never buy a fish that just entered the LFS that day.....can you imagine the journey and the stress that he is been through only to be pulled from a tank again and have to go through it for more of the day to get to your tank and then acclimated etc.... I love the blue throat and have a male female pair in my tank they’re great fish I hope he makes it.....good luck

 

[4FordFamily]

I don’t drip acclimate because their bag is full of nasty water that turns quickly to ammonia when released. I match my quarantine tank to the salinity of the LFS and float the bag for temp.

Do you have methelyn blue on hand? I worry you’ve burned its gills with ammonia and this can help.

 

[SaltyFarts]

Triggers will sometimes do that as a defensive measure.....are you sure that isn't the case?

They lay down and go effectively “comatose” as a defense mechanism? If so that may be the case here. It happened pretty much as soon as I put him in the bucket, he seemed pretty okay im the bag just prior to.

 

[SaltyFarts]

Honestly I wish you the best of luck with him but I would never buy a fish that just entered the LFS that day.....can you imagine the journey and the stress that he is been through only to be pulled from a tank again and have to go through it for more of the day to get to your tank and then acclimated etc.... I love the blue throat and have a male female pair in my tank they’re great fish I hope he makes it.....good luck

Thank you. Yeah, I’d had that thought but he seemed pretty vigorous at the store so I thought he’d be okay. Still hoping he turns around.

 

[SaltyFarts]

I don’t drip acclimate because their bag is full of nasty water that turns quickly to ammonia when released. I match my quarantine tank to the salinity of the LFS and float the bag for temp.

Do you have methelyn blue on hand? I worry you’ve burned its gills with ammonia and this can help.

That’s actually a really good idea. I’ll have to give that a go. I don’t have any methelyn blue on hand, this is my 3rd fish, I’m pretty new to this game. I will get some tomorrow though, looks like it may be useful here.

 

[4FordFamily]

That’s actually a really good idea. I’ll have to give that a go. I don’t have any methelyn blue on hand, this is my 3rd fish, I’m pretty new to this game. I will get some tomorrow though, looks like it may be useful here.

Did you add the fish to your tank? You don’t want it sitting in any bag water (or any small amount of water) long. It cools fast and fouls fast.

 

[GoVols]

To @4FordFamily 's point:

I would not use an air stone during "drip" acclimation either.

Hoping for the best.

 

[SaltyFarts]

To @4FordFamily 's point:

I would not use an air stone during "drip" acclimation either.

Hoping for the best.

Thanks, is the airstone then exacerbating the ammonia problem? I tested the bag water we was sitting in and saw it was at about 0.5 parts ammonia. At that point I moved him to my QT tank.

 

[1WildBill]

Qt is the best at this point. You can start treating if necessary.

 

[GoVols]

Thanks, is the airstone then exacerbating the ammonia problem?

Yes,
An air stone can magnify the ammonia. Pushing out Co2 and bringing in Oxygen

In the bag Co2 will drop the ph. The lowered ph will offset the ammonia.
If you raise the ph (air stone) the ammonia becomes lethal in the bagged water.

Wish you all the best.

 

[SaltyFarts]

Yes,
An air stone can magnify the ammonia. Pushing out Co2 and bringing in Oxygen

In the bag Co2 will drop the ph. The lowered ph will offset the ammonia.
If you raise the ph (air stone) the ammonia becomes lethal in the bagged water.

Wish you all the best.

Okay, thank you for the insight. I thought I was doing good by oxygenating the water. I had not considered the effect it would have on the ph.

 

[Ecvernon]

In response to your first post, it may be normal behavior. When my bluethroat trigger is removed fr0m the tank or put into a timeout box, the first thing he does is extend his top fin and lock into one position. I wouldn't be immediately alarmed unless he starts breathing rapidly.

 

[SaltyFarts]

Well the trigger did ultimately survive. Got him into the QT and he would not eat for about 4-5 days but then finally did start. He now eats regularly and is quite vigorous. Thank you to everybody that posted with advice, it was greatly appreciated!