First Fish Purchase - Are they OK?

We just bought our first pair of fish, two Oscillas Clowns, and went through a 30 a semi gradual acclimation procedure, after letting the bags sit in the QT for about 10 minutes. Tank temperature was a lower due to cooler weather, no heater at the time, and after they were in the tank they went to the bottom and huddled together, with one of them kind of wanting to be on its side. We got nervous that the tank was too cold and got a heater in and have it warmed up to 75. They are still huddling together and the one still likes to be on its side, but they seem to be playing with each other and trying to stay active.

Parameters are:
Nitrate - 2.5
Nitrite - 0
Ammonium - <0.25
pH - 8.0
SG - 1.022

Flow is good. Running an Aqeon HOB.

Didn't eat when we dropped it in. Pellets. Just got the fish this afternoon, so don't have much history at this point for feeding.

Temp went up from 70 to 75, but I brought it back to 73. Will hold there til tomorrow and try to bring it up a degree.

So, is this OK behavior for the transition, or did we do some harm?

Just nervous and thought I'd ask.

Thanks

Scott

 

behavior for clowns is like that. just keep an eye on them for a few days, but i also have 2 clowns and if they are not in there anemone they swim on top of each other in the corner like you described. clowns generally swim like that. they move their whole body when they swim. when the lights go out, they also do that and find a corner to go to. hope this relieves some tension.

 

Its common for fish to not eat for a day or two after being placed into a new environment. Clowns are odd creatures, movement included. Its hard to distinguish a bad movement for a clown movement lol. But if its rollong onto its side for long periods of time or turning upside down then you would have a prob. Sound fine atm.

 

Sounds normal.

Many times clowns will not eat initially so do not over feed in an attempt to get them to eat, you will only compromise your water quality.

Young clowns can be shy initially.

 

It sounds like they are acclimating and maybe bonding which is a good thing.....

 

Thanks everyone!! You see them in FIsh Store and their behavior was different, so will watch them closely and try and keep their environment stable.

Scott

 

Just curious, why are you keeping your temp so low? 73 should still be fine for them, just lower than you see most people run their tanks at.

 

How big is the tank, sorry I missed that.

Don't overload your biosystem by getting too many fish, especially too fast.

I agree with your advice that should be normal. BUT.

I think your SG is too low, as is your temp. Shouldn't be any readable Ammonia of nitrates.

 

Tank size is a 10 Gallon QT. It only has the two clowns.

I am going to try and get SG up. I'll start replacing evap water with Salt instead of RODI. Temp is at 76 now.

I've never gotten a zero Nitrate on my DT or QT. The DT has been cycling for over 10 weeks. The Ammonia is cloudy, so don't really know how to read it. I guess it could be called 0.

Also, fish are doing good today. Very active swimming throughout the tank.

Scott

 

Now that I know this is his QT, in that case your salinity is perfect, you don't want it any higher. And 76 is also a perfect temp. Lower salinity and temps means the water will have increased dissolved oxygen. Which is exactly what you want in a QT IMO.