PICS! 20 long, dwarf compressiceps

[eklikewhoa]

I've always read horror stories about bringing these guys home due to their poor ability to ship/transport/acclimate but seeing how you are with the hobby I think you will come out good on this one.

[sunkenmetal]

oh that sucks...

[aquabee]

I doubt it has much to do with aggression as well seeing as though they are young and there's a lot of room to hide. I would chalk it up on weak or stressed stock. They've always been known for that.
When you start out with more juvi's you get to weed out the week and end up with a strong breeding group and worst case scenario you get a large group that grew up with each other and are accepting.

Thanks for all the concern everyone. I killed the lights yesterday and added salt, and I just drew back the window blinds this morning so I could see into the tank. This morning the one in the shell is still doing fine, the tiny one is in the rocks but looks ok, and the one that looked rough yesterday is still lookin rough, breathing a little harder, and hangin out in the same spot where the one died yesterday. Dither and plecos are still doing well.

Q, I don't think this has anything to do with weak stock. This guy has experience with breeding multiple groups of dwarf comps at home and they've done well. If anything, I think the stress of getting stuck on the freeway for 4 hours did a number on them. Weirdly enough, they did well after I did a longer acclimation to the tank... it's just weird for them to go downhill now, after they did so well before. Maybe they are just too young to transport. That's the only thing that really makes sense.

Q/Ron, I was thinking of mysis but these guys don't usually eat unless food lands right in front of their snouts and sits there for a little while. I've been feeding them NLS, which they've eaten their whole lives, but I will still try the mysis later today. Worst case scenario, the white clouds will have a treat.

Will post more updates if something happens... Still got my fingers crossed but not that hopeful.

[aquabee]

Just a quick update...
All 3 remaining comps are alive but looking poorly and still not eating. Not doing any water changes, still have salt in there and the lights are off. Added an airstone for some gentle circulation at the bottom, since I have to keep the circ pumps off. White clouds are hating the airstone and are sticking to the other side of the tank, but they'll probably just need to deal with it for a couple hours or so.
At this point I'm thinking this could be ammonia poisoning from suboptimal transport. Their gills may have gotten burned from being in a small bag with little air for 4+ hours in the car. I guess I just need to wait this out.

[barrettsline]

Just a quick update...
All 3 remaining comps are alive but looking poorly and still not eating. Not doing any water changes, still have salt in there and the lights are off. Added an airstone for some gentle circulation at the bottom, since I have to keep the circ pumps off. White clouds are hating the airstone and are sticking to the other side of the tank, but they'll probably just need to deal with it for a couple hours or so.
At this point I'm thinking this could be ammonia poisoning from suboptimal transport. Their gills may have gotten burned from being in a small bag with little air for 4+ hours in the car. I guess I just need to wait this out.

Good luck B and keep us updated. It's alsways a terrible thing when all you can do is sit back and watch somthing unfold. Wish there was I or the community could do, but I dont have ideas and i think you may be right and just have to wait it out..

[myjohnson]

What are your water parameters?

[aquabee]

What are your water parameters?

They're actually great, Thai. Using a liquid reagent kit: pH 8.3, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate < 5 ppm. Temp steady at 78F. White clouds and plecos are doin awesome still.

[aquabee]

Good luck B and keep us updated. It's alsways a terrible thing when all you can do is sit back and watch somthing unfold. Wish there was I or the community could do, but I dont have ideas and i think you may be right and just have to wait it out..

Thanks. :( Lost another one overnight, and the maybe-male that was living in a shell has now abandoned his shell and is looking really bad. I think I'm gonna lose them all within the next few days.

[SunnyHouTX]

Sadness and pain... Sorry to hear B

[aquabee]

Sadness and pain... Sorry to hear B

Blah. Thanks. It sucks cuz I haven't lost a single fish in at least 2-3 years, and that last one I lost was a finicky stiphodons. But at least I can come on here and see other ppl's awesome tanks and watch your remodeled tanks progress! Why haven't I gotten a text with pics of the new one yet, hm??

[SunnyHouTX]

Busy feeding petro fry. Them little buggers sure can put away a lot of food.

[eklikewhoa]

Another one? Maybe its the acclimating cause normally these kind of fish are shipped in and they don't have this high of a loss

[barrettsline]

Thanks. :( Lost another one overnight, and the maybe-male that was living in a shell has now abandoned his shell and is looking really bad. I think I'm gonna lose them all within the next few days.

thats terrible, it's like watching a sick child and knowing you cant take there pain onto yourself. Keep your chin up, maybe things will turn for the better. remeber it's gotta go from bad to good sometime. were her for ya

[barrettsline]

Another one? Maybe its the acclimating cause normally these kind of fish are shipped in and they don't have this high of a loss

I think Aquabee's right on this one. the extra long travel is what has put these fish over the edge. Unless ofcourse they were brought home in the same fashion they would have been shipped in. By that I mean, any and all fish I have ever had shipped and have seen shipped, have always come shipped with ice packs. This keeps water temp down and slows down the fishes metabolism, just as in all animals, just enough to reduce stress (along with stress zyme) to allow them to make a long trip to your front door. These are the answers I have been given by LiveAquaria, Pet Solutions and others I have ordered live fish from, when I asked how and why my fish would arrive alive.

[aquabee]

Nah. They weren't packaged for shipping... just placed into a plastic bag, and then we got stuck for 5 hours on the freeway. I think for sure it's that long transit time that was never intended for them. :(

#3 just died, the maybe-male that was living in a shell. Female is still alive but she's rightfully pissed about life right now. She huddled with the last male til he died. Here's a sad, sad pic:
comps.jpg

Blah. Time of death: 22:16. Sucks.