My Coral Beauty went fins up, now what?

My CB had problems. Fin Rot. Used Melafix. Seemed to help. I don't think it ever got over the move. It never looked healthy. Dull, washed out. Never once saw it eat anything, but it wasn't starving. Seemed fine, then didn't see it for 3 days. Finally found him and had to move a ton of rock just to get to him.

So.... I wanted a Flame Hawkfish, but decided not to put anymore fish in. Figured I would see what nature would do. Well.... now I have an opening.

??? So I want another dwarf angel. Probably another Coral Beauty. Is any dwarf any "better" than another? Do they all hide all day or was that just my sick one? I do want another Angel. Do they aclimate well, feed, generally hardy??? Just asking for some experiences.

Also... Since I'm adding another fish.. should I add two at the same time??? Meaning is it better to only introduce possible sickness once, or does adding more than one at a time increase chances of a break out. I don't have a quarantine tank, but my LFS will hold onto them for a while for you to make sure they don't come down with something. Figured I would go for the Flame Hawkfish now.

Any input is most appriciated. My current stats are in my sig, minus the CB. R.I.P.

 

Well, for starters, sorry for your loss. CBs are cool fish. I have one. And no, they don't tend to hide......they like to make their way around the tank. The flame angel is also a good dwarf angel. It likes to be seen and has good survivability. Both are a little questionable with corals, so beware. Chances are things will be OK, but there is always that rogue DA that spoils things.

With the flame hawkfish, your inverts will be their breakfast, lunch and dinner. They prefer shrimp, but may eat your HC and snails as well. They also eat feather dusters. You may want to nix this fish from your wish list. Bummer man. They are nice fish.

 

I liked the Hawkfish for the personality. LFS suggested it, and they know what I have. I certainly don't want predators. Been tossing around the idea of an anenome but can't pull the trigger for that reason. My blenny or something else already does a fine job of pruning the Feathe duster, don't need any more help in that dept.

The Angel is a sure thing. CBs are really, well... beautiful. Might do more research on the Hawkfish.

 

I have a CB and love it. Shes always out swimming around and weaving in and out of the rock, corals, etc.The only coral she ever tends to nip a little on are the stems of my existing brown clove polyps. She never nips at anythig fragile. I have corals that can curl up and protect themselves quickly. GSP's, clove polyps, short dragon eye polyps, feather duster, and a leather toadstool. If they ever get bothered, they quickly receed back into hiding and have less of a chance of getting hurt. The one coral that I worry about getting hurt bad by the CB is the hammer coral. It doesnt receed very quickly at all!.
My advice is go for another CB. You love the colors already and just make sure you try to stick to corals that have a better chance of receeding just in case you get one of those random coral-attaching Dwarf Angels.

Good luck to you!

 

I think that you run the same risk. Water is circulated in tanks at lfs's, so technically, you could say that the fish in all the small tanks are all in the same water. But, if one fish has a disease thats due to a small cut, open wound, fin rot, or a previous tank, home or encounter, the fish you buy with it may not. The only bad thing about adding more than one fish at once, is the increased bio load. I am guilty of doing it, but it all depends on how well your tank can handle two new fish. I forgot to look to see how big your tank is, but if its as small as mine (20g), then you run the risk of overstocking too quickly.

Another point I just thought about. If you do add 2 fish at once to a tank, and one of them has a disease unknown to you, the stress that would occur to the fish already in your tank would be higher than if it was just one new fish, and the increased stress would have a chance of making it more likely for them to contract the same disease/sickness. Its all up to you.

Sorry for the long response. I have been writing with a pen all day and it almost feels good to type haha.

 

i would def do more research on the hawk..and listen to what pharmjohn said. A lot of LFS will tell you to buy almost anything..even if its one you think you trust. Just the other day one of my favorite guys at the LFS suggested a tang for my 28 gallon. I guess what im saying is i would trust what people tell me on this forum that what ANY LFS would say. So do more research, but dont buy it just b/c the lFS said it would be ok. Good luck

P.S. im voting for the flame angel, they just look so cool!

 

Thanks for all the input guys.

So.... was at the LFS and they had aCB that was very active. Very happy and not scared at all. It was on hold though. Go back today and they changed their mind.

So.... I had to have it. Great colors very active. So I bring it home. After some minor turf scuffles w/ the YT, everyone is happy. Although.... it just keeps doing laps like nonstop. I hope it isn't mental?

My last one I now know was sickly and unhealthy. It just hid in the rocks all day. Generally go away when I was around. This one just keeps swimming laps. Not scared at all though. Not bothered by my presence at all. I hope it is a good one.

 

Before some one says it. Sorry for the crappy pics, I got to get to work. Actually, work has nothing to do with it.;D

 

If your fish are anything like mine...they'll swim to the other side of the tank and think it's a whole new world to explore that they've never seen before. It's only a 55 tank. Maybe my fish are just stupid...but it sure keeps them busy and healthy. No rock is the same, even if it has been in there for 2 years. :

 

BEAUTIFUL tank by the way! Fish and all!