How often have you seen fish recover from shipping trauma?

earwicker7 · 02/16/2018, 12:45 PM

I received three Japanese Swallowtail Angelfish this morning... they had been shipped overnight.

I thought two of them were dead when I opened the box, as they were laying on their sides. When I grabbed the bags, they did move, but soon went back to "playing dead".

I acclimated them, and all three are now in quarantine. One of them seems healthy so far. The other two will move around if something brushes up against them (I only do this to make sure they aren't dead yet).

I am assuming that something in the shipping process left them in shock. I have never had this happen before... I have certainly lost fish in quarantine, but I haven't had to deal with half-dead fish out of the bag.

Is there much of a chance of them recuperating?

HBtank · 02/16/2018, 12:50 PM

I would ensure they are getting plenty of aeration and just monitor like you are. Much of fish "shock" from being in a bag is centered on oxygen and gill damage if any ammonia was present, so keeping DO up is a good idea IMO.

How long did you acclimate, I assume you know the procedures for shipped fish (i.e. drip is BAD, want them out of the bag ASAP once the seal is broken).

These from LA? I think I saw them on DD.

earwicker7 · 02/16/2018, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HBtank

I would ensure they are getting plenty of aeration. Mush of fish "shock" is centered on oxygen and gill damage, so keeping DO up is a good idea.

How long did you acclimate, assume you know the procedures for shipped fish (i.e. drip is BAD, want them out of the bag ASAP once the seal is broken).

There is a submerged internal skimmer with no collection cup, plus an airstone, so there is tons of oxygen... I learned my lesson when I wiped out a non-aerated quarantine tank with antibiotics.

I try not to drip acclimate... I will always ask the vendor what specific gravity they use and make sure the quarantine has the same. I heat acclimate them, then dump them in a bucket, and quickly take a reading, and most of the time, the specific gravity matches and they go straight into the tank. I was told they ship using 1.018, but it arrived at 1.015, so I had no choice but to drip.

earwicker7 · 02/16/2018, 12:59 PM

And no, they were from NY Aquatics.

HBtank · 02/16/2018, 01:03 PM

Well my fingers are crossed they perk up, one of the fish I would like to have someday. Sometimes things are just out of your control.

earwicker7 · 02/16/2018, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HBtank

Well my fingers are crossed they perk up, one of the fish I would like to have someday. Sometimes things are just out of your control.

Thanks. I really love these fish, and they aren't easy to find.

Sk8r · 02/16/2018, 01:32 PM

Prolonged trauma, no. Not good. It could just be light startling them. Fingers crossed here, too. But trouble should show up within 14 days.

ca1ore · 02/16/2018, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earwicker7

I was told they ship using 1.018, but it arrived at 1.015, so I had no choice but to drip.

In the future, just reduce the salinity in the QT. This happens to me all the time. I set the QT to 1.018 and then adjust down as necessary. No drip needed.

earwicker7 · 02/18/2018, 10:30 AM

Unfortunately, all three have died.

02/16/2018, 12:45 PM	#1
earwicker7 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 150	How often have you seen fish recover from shipping trauma? I received three Japanese Swallowtail Angelfish this morning... they had been shipped overnight. I thought two of them were dead when I opened the box, as they were laying on their sides. When I grabbed the bags, they did move, but soon went back to "playing dead". I acclimated them, and all three are now in quarantine. One of them seems healthy so far. The other two will move around if something brushes up against them (I only do this to make sure they aren't dead yet). I am assuming that something in the shipping process left them in shock. I have never had this happen before... I have certainly lost fish in quarantine, but I haven't had to deal with half-dead fish out of the bag. Is there much of a chance of them recuperating? Last edited by earwicker7; 02/16/2018 at 01:20 PM.

02/16/2018, 12:50 PM	#2
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	I would ensure they are getting plenty of aeration and just monitor like you are. Much of fish "shock" from being in a bag is centered on oxygen and gill damage if any ammonia was present, so keeping DO up is a good idea IMO. How long did you acclimate, I assume you know the procedures for shipped fish (i.e. drip is BAD, want them out of the bag ASAP once the seal is broken). These from LA? I think I saw them on DD. __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA

02/16/2018, 01:03 PM	#5
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	Well my fingers are crossed they perk up, one of the fish I would like to have someday. Sometimes things are just out of your control. __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA

02/16/2018, 01:32 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Prolonged trauma, no. Not good. It could just be light startling them. Fingers crossed here, too. But trouble should show up within 14 days. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/16/2018, 12:59 PM	#4
earwicker7 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 150	And no, they were from NY Aquatics.

02/18/2018, 10:30 AM	#9
earwicker7 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 150	Unfortunately, all three have died.