His Wife Died...

I bought 2 random clowns out of a tank that housed maybe 30-40 for 12.99 each... One happened to be larger, so I'm assuming they're sexed. They hang out all day everyday and don't fight so again, I'm assuming they're mated, though they're still quite young and I haven't seen the female spawn.. I don't know... $100 seems like quite a lot for 2 clown fish though, I've seen mated onyx pairs for less. If anything, I'd say try picking up a single clown for like 12-15 bucks, maybe rearrange some rock to get rid of any territorial issues and see what happens. Sorry to hear about the loss though!

 

Just as a heads up, $100 bucks is REALLY expensive for a pair of false percs. About double the going rate. I paid $60 for mine and my LFS gets expensive. Thats why I was thinking they might have been something more like black's. You might want to shop around a little before your next purchase.

 

your test results are ok. how did you acclimate them two weeks ago when you got them?

 

actually - congrats on reading those color coded cards! They can be hard to read.


The SG is low part you mentioned... was there a big swing in SG (salt)?

I am also curious as to how you acclimated.





And if you get another one, match species. Different species don't really get a long.

 

I'm home now, the receipt called them "Ocellouis" Clowns $99.99 for the pair. I'm never around for the acclimation of the new add's. But he said he leaves them in the bag, floats in out water (still in the bag) for temp, then about 1/2 hour later, starts to introduce our water to the bag about every 15 minutes, after about an hour he add's them to our tank, but just a small amount of the LFS water, only because awhile ago we got ich by adding thier water to our tank. Is this the correct way? It is how the owner at the LFS said to do it...

 

Yep, that would be the correct way. ok so you acclimated them correctly. yeah how low was the sg?

 

Well, the SG at .021 is low, but that wouldnt kill a clown. Are you using a refractometer or a hydrometer for the reading?
And yes, ocellaris clowns/false percs. That is really, really expensive.

 

1.021 is fine for fowlr. hmmmm did the other clown bully it or pick on it? or maybe another fish in your tank

 

I JUST TESTED EVERYTHING AGAIN, ALL IS LIKE I STATED ABOVE, EXCEPT THE NITRATE IS EVEN LOWER (WHICH I AM HAPPY TO SAY) IT RIGHT AROUND 20 NOW, VERY LIGHT ORANGE BUT IT STILL USED TO ALWAYS BE BRIGHT YELLOW (BEFORE WE ADDED LR) I USED BOTH PLASTIC HYDROMETERS WE HAVE ONE THAT'S CALLED "SEA TEST", THAT READ SALINITY (ppt) 31 / SPECIFIC GRAVITY AT 1.023. THE OTHER IS CALLED "INSTANT OCEAN" THAT READ, SALINITY (ppt) 32 / SPECIFIC GRAVITY RIGHT BETWEEN 1.023 & 1.024. THEN I USED FOR THE FIRST TIME THE THERMOMETER LOOKING THING FLOATING IN THE TANK THAT READ 1.024 / 78 DEGREES. THEY PRETTY MUCH STAYED TOGETHER AT FIRST, THE LAST COUPLE OF DAY'S I TOLD GENE (SICK OF TYPING HUSBAND) THAT ONE OF THEM WAS GOING TO THE BACK OF THE TANK AND THE ONE OUT FRONT WOULD GO BACK SOMETIMES AND SWIM NEAR, SOMETIMES NUDGING IT, BUT I THOUGHT HE WES TRYING TO GET IT TO COME OUT MORE...BUT MAYBE HE WAS BEING MEAN. GENE MENTIONED "FOR A MATED PAIR, THEY'RE SURE NOT STAYING TOGETHER TO MUCH" I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. GENE'S GOING TO NASCAR THIS WEEKEND, IF THIS FISH DIES ON ME, I'M GONNA BE TICKED OFF...MOSTLY SAD THOUGH. THAT MIGHT BE THE END OF MY WANTING CUTE LITTLE NEMO'S... HOW'S MY TEMP, I ALWAYS WONDERED A GOOD TEMP FOR THE TANK. BTW, I FORGOT TO MENTION OUR 2 FIREFISH BEFORE. I NEVER SAW ANYONE BOTHERING ANYONE IN THERE, BUT NOW THE CLOWN IS SURE KEEPING THE 3 CROMIS AT BAY, THEY COME TOO CLOSE & HE JABS AT THEM. THE SALINITY IS USUALLY AT 1.024, IS THAT LOW?

 

Your temp is fine. Really, all your parameters are pretty good. Even the nitrates. 20-30ppm of nitrates isn't even close to being high enough to kill a clown. Something other than the water did it. And it doesn't sound like you have any bullying going on either.
But, I would highly suggest investing the $30-$40 on a good refractometer and ditching the hydrometer's. Refractometer's are much, much more accurate and reliable.