Will my clownfish live?

[VO6]

Hello everyone, I just bought a “pair” of black clownfish and the shipment got delayed. They were supposed to be delivered yesterday but got delivered earlier today.

The smaller of the two is breathing heavily and has been swimming in a vertical position - while the bigger one seems fine but seems to be shedding some of its slime coat.

I’m worried that the small one won’t make it overnight. I’ll be attaching a picture. I wish I could upload a video but it’s not posting.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Did they eat when offered food?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello everyone, I just bought a “pair” of black clownfish and the shipment got delayed. They were supposed to be delivered yesterday but got delivered earlier today.

The smaller of the two is breathing heavily and has been swimming in a vertical position - while the bigger one seems fine but seems to be shedding some of its slime coat.

I’m worried that the small one won’t make it overnight. I’ll be attaching a video.

Increase oxygen with airstone and turn down light intensity to assure fish is relaxed
Did you properly acclimate them?
Will check video shortly

 

[Bj’s Reef]

I hope they recover. I’m following to see how things work out.

 

[VO6]

Did they eat when offered food?

I haven’t tried offering food yet

Increase oxygen with airstone and turn down light intensity to assure fish is relaxed
Did you properly acclimate them?
Will check video shortly

I don’t think I have an extra air pump lying around but I will be turning the light off now. When they arrived I temp acclimated them and added them to a small bucket. I proceeded to add a bit of tank water into the bucket until the salinity matched the tanks salinity.

 

[VO6]

I hope they recover. I’m following to see how things work out.

I hope so too, they’re absolutely gorgeous. I’m really worried about the small one

 

[VO6]

Here’s the video,
Hopefully it loads :/

EDIT: it’s not loading

 

[VO6]

Once I turned off the light, the smaller clown started swimming normally?

 

[Idech]

I can see it but most people don’t with this format. The small one really looks in distress. If you don’t have an air pump, aim a powerhead at the surface to create movement.

 

[VO6]

I can see it but most people don’t with this format. The small one really looks in distress. If you don’t have an air pump, aim a powerhead at the surface to create movement.

Just found a spare air pump and an air stone and just put into the tank. Hopefully, this helps and the small one will be fine

 

[VO6]

Bad news, the small one is now lying on the bottom :/

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here’s the video,
Hopefully it loads :/

EDIT: it’s not loading

Ok, I see the clown now. Assure not too much current and again keep it relaxed. I would not attempt feeding until tomorrow as these fish are adjusting.
How did you acclimate them and for how long?

 

[VO6]

Ok, I see the clown now. Assure not too much current and again keep it relaxed. I would not attempt feeding until tomorrow as these fish are adjusting.
How did you acclimate them and for how long?

I acclimated by adding some water to the bucket I had them in for a duration of 30-40ish minutes until the salinity in the bucket matched the tanks salinity

the water they were in (ORA) was 1.022 and my tank was 1.025

I was being a bit fast with it than I normally would bc I knew the water in the bags were not good at all

 

[saltcats]

I haven’t tried offering food yet


I don’t think I have an extra air pump lying around but I will be turning the light off now. When they arrived I temp acclimated them and added them to a small bucket. I proceeded to add a bit of tank water into the bucket until the salinity matched the tanks salinity.

How different was the salinity?

 

[VO6]

How different was the salinity?

1.022 to 1.025

 

[Jay Hemdal]

1.022 to 1.025

That's a bit of a large specific gravity rise, but should not have been fatal by itself. One issue is that in delayed shipments, the ammonia in the shipping bag gets really high. Fish in that situation require a different acclimation process:

Acclimation Methods

Acclimating Animals to Aquariums Jay F. Hemdal c.2020 Introduction to acclimation techniques Most beginning aquarists hear that they must “acclimate” any new animals they add to their aquarium. Acclimation (sometimes termed...

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Jay