Couple Deaths

[Happyfeet]

Ok I had my first death(s)

 

I came in today and saw my Emerald crab on top of a rock doing what us best described as standing on its tip toes. In a matter of 30 or 40 seconds it crumpled into a ball rolled onto its back much like a spider and died.

 

Then I noticed when I was feeding my Chromis that one was missing, and did not come out during feeding (he has always been a loner, but he always comes out during feeding) I haven't found his body so he may actually be alive.

 

Then I notice my feather duster is retracted and has been retracted, It's still alive because it pokes out a little bit and then withdraws completely back into its tube.

 

Params are

Ammonia - 0

Nitrite - 0

Nitrate - .5

Phosphate - .25

Ph - 8.2

Salinity - 1.024

Temp - 79

(everything has been consistant over the week with these readings, I test daily)

I'm confused because the feather duster has been happy until I added the pistol shrimp and I was forced to move the feather duster because the pistol shrimp was digging around him and making the duster pretty unhappy.

 

The Emerald Crabs have been fine moving about and eating constantly since I put them in.

 

Emerald Crabs have been in for 2 days and the feather duster has been in for 5 days. Chromis have been in for a week and a half.

 

Any ideas on whats wrong?

Edited October 20, 2009 by Happyfeet

[Happyfeet]

Since it will probably be asked, I drip acclimated over the course of 3 hours on everything in the tank.

[Happyfeet]

It also appears my feather duster is giving off a web like substance, maybe mucus?

[Happyfeet]

On the bright side all my Chromis are now accounted for.. he was evidently just being an artard.

[Jan]

Could be the feather duster is letting out some sort of toxin? Also is your SG always 1.024? Isn't that low? I'm getting so confused with that.

 

It also appears my feather duster is giving off a web like substance, maybe mucus?

[L8 2 RISE]

1.024 isnt a problem. I'd keep it at 1.025-1.026, but 1.024 definitely isnt a problem. the feather duster is just molting, or what I call molting. Mine do it once every couple of weeks. Blow off the web stuff and it should be fine by tomorrow. how many emeralds do you have? A lot of people put too many emeralds in and they starve. I'd bet that it wasnt your fault if it was only two days, in my experience, some just die... also, Id bet it was already dead when you saw it, it was just being suspended. It could also have been a molting.

[Happyfeet]

Could be the feather duster is letting out some sort of toxin? Also is your SG always 1.024? Isn't that low? I'm getting so confused with that.

I meant Specific Gravity, sorry

[Jan]

You're fine. I'm confused because I've heard that 1.026 is high, yet most everyone keeps their SG at 1.026. I've heard 1.025 is perfect and anything below 1.025 is low and yada yada......so i'm confused a little about what is correct.

 

I meant Specific Gravity, sorry

[Happyfeet]

1.024 isnt a problem. I'd keep it at 1.025-1.026, but 1.024 definitely isnt a problem. the feather duster is just molting, or what I call molting. Mine do it once every couple of weeks. Blow off the web stuff and it should be fine by tomorrow. how many emeralds do you have? A lot of people put too many emeralds in and they starve. I'd bet that it wasnt your fault if it was only two days, in my experience, some just die... also, Id bet it was already dead when you saw it, it was just being suspended. It could also have been a molting.

 

Yeah I did a lot of reading with specific gravity and as I've read anywhere between is 1.022-1.027 is fine for fish and inverts, corals prefer the higher salinity.

 

I had 2 emerald Crabs in the tank, haven't seen the other one. I'd be surprised if he starved, he died on a rock with brown diatom algae still on it.

 

The feather duster is looking better, not back to itself yet, I changed his location in the tank, because, I think it had too much flow and its crown was getting beat up.

 

The other Chromis is still alive he put in an appearance for a couple minutes.

 

I just saw a bunch of stuff off and started to freak I guess.

[lanman]

Until an animal has been in your tank for 6 months - it's somebody else's fault. The Bob rule.

 

bob

[Happyfeet]

Until an animal has been in your tank for 6 months - it's somebody else's fault. The Bob rule.

 

bob

 

Sounds like a good rule!

[Nate]

Until an animal has been in your tank for 6 months - it's somebody else's fault. The Bob rule.

 

bob

 

Ha ha Bob!