Oscellaris clown compatibility ?

I recently started a cube tank and have an ORA Oscellaris clown since the beginning. I tried to pair up a smaller ORA but that one died within a few days. I then tried to pair up now 2 smaller black oscellaris clowns and they have both died. The first black one didn't seem as active as the second one & thought he was doing fine, as he made it almost 2 weeks & would swim with the ORA until yesterday when I noticed he didn't look so healthy. Is it not possible to keep an ORA and a black one together?

Anyone have experience with this?

I'm hoping to run a bit to my LFS and replace one but if someone here thinks it is a bad idea perhaps I will look for something else as a tank mate with my goby, ORA clown, yellow & lime corris wrasse.

 

Is your tank cycled, skimmer, filtration, LR, params?

 

Ocellaris are hardy fish so I would check your params as panfish mentioned.

It's best to pair an established clown with a smaller one, but it doesn't always work. Easiest method is usually finding two together already and getting them. I have one established Ocellaris on my tank and I have had no luck trying to pair it up, I am debating bringing it back and just buying two new smaller ones in the same tank.

 

Well, you have had three fish die... Usually fish don't do that, so, something is going on and it probably isn't a bad idea to figure out what before adding more.

Could you give us some background info on your tank and give us your parameters?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

The tank is cycled. It is a Solana 34 gl cube tank with built in skimmer and ATO. About 2 weeks ago my levels were verified at the LFS to be within acceptable limits. I just did a water change a few days ago (Tuesday, I think). I am only able to check salinity at home, which is 1.023. I will take a water sample with me & have everything verified.

 

I think you'll feel more secure if you at least grab yourself an API Master SW test kit set so you can at least make sure you're not dealing with any Ammonia in your system. LFS can be sketchy at times, depending where you go.

 

I will definitely look into getting my own test kit. It is certainly worth the investment. Although I have complete faith in my nearest LFS, which deals in only saltwater and have helped me out a number of times with questions, etc. They have been in the business now for 15 years as well as do maintenance on tanks for offices, etc. that don't have the time to maintain it themselves.

 

What do the fish look like when they die? Is there any redness or blisters? There are some diseases such as Uronema which tend to kill newly added fish, but not always established fish. Also, stress from transfer could be an issue, especially if parameters are quite different. And, certainly, sometimes female clowns will not allow a new fish in their territory. Of course, toxins, such as ammonia are always another possible culprit, although, they would likely effect other things as well.

 

I did not notice any blisters or redness on any of the smaller clowns. I did notice what looked like a visible line in all of them running horizontal down the length of their bodies in the center, as though they looked like they weren't eating as well (if that makes any sense).

The first clown death may have been stress as it died within a day of adding it to the tank. The second clown (1st black) died within a few days but I noticed it was never really active in the tank to begin with. The third clown (2nd black) have been in the tank & he was a very active swimmer when I purchased him and he continued to be active in the tank & eat very well too. The other previous clowns didn't eat that well.

 

Do you acclimate? This sounds like a stress related disease.as they sound emaciated and it sounds like theateral line is showing.