First, to answer the Q's above:
1) Water parameters: pH = 7.8, Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = slight (using API drop kit), temperature = 80F
2) Tank size & inhabitants: 5 gallon tank, just the DP
3) Feeding/wc schedule: I got the DP yesterday, and have not fed yet. I plan to do 50% weekly water changes.
4) It's a new tank.. it has sand as the substrate as well as some river rocks and gravel from my established 75gal goldfish tank. There is a stump decoration with caves for hiding and a fake plant. Will be adding live plants soon.
5) It has been running for a day. I seeded the filter with media from my 75gal, as well as added some gravel.
The little guy was fine last night. A little stressed, as to be expected, but it seemed like normal "new fish" behavior. This morning, he's just bottom sitting and breathing hard. He will get up and swim for a bit, but he just sits back down again. He looks very stressed. I'm tempted to change the water, but as params are good, I don't want to risk stressing him out more for nothing. Does this sound like normal new fish behavior?
New DP is bottom sitting
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
-
Pufferpunk
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Re: New DP is bottom sitting
Sounds like you're doing everything right. Great job in setting up amn instantly-cycled tank! I'm not sure what's going on with him though... Any chemical/aerosols sprayed near his tank? Was it cleaned out with anything?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: New DP is bottom sitting
Thanks for your quick reply! The cycle seems to be ok so far.. but I will keep checking params to make sure the seeding was successful.
Nothing has been sprayed near the tank. I sterilized it like how I always sterilize my QT tanks--I used bleach and hot water. But I am very, very thorough when it comes to rinsing and drying. The whole process took a few hours at least, most of it was just rinsing with hot water. This is the only thing I could think of, so I did a large water change (~70% I'd say), and this seemed to improve things. He came out from under the stump to watch as I siphoned the water out, and began swimming in higher levels of the tank as I refilled. Now he is sitting at the bottom again, it's only been 5 minutes since the water change.
I don't want to keep picking at him if this is just normal stress. What do you think?
Nothing has been sprayed near the tank. I sterilized it like how I always sterilize my QT tanks--I used bleach and hot water. But I am very, very thorough when it comes to rinsing and drying. The whole process took a few hours at least, most of it was just rinsing with hot water. This is the only thing I could think of, so I did a large water change (~70% I'd say), and this seemed to improve things. He came out from under the stump to watch as I siphoned the water out, and began swimming in higher levels of the tank as I refilled. Now he is sitting at the bottom again, it's only been 5 minutes since the water change.
I don't want to keep picking at him if this is just normal stress. What do you think?
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Pufferpunk
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Re: New DP is bottom sitting
Is he still gasping?
for future reference, Oxyclean is safer & just as good as using bleach. Breaks down to harmless H2 & O, in water. Quick rinse & you're dome.
for future reference, Oxyclean is safer & just as good as using bleach. Breaks down to harmless H2 & O, in water. Quick rinse & you're dome.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: New DP is bottom sitting
No, he's not really gasping anymore. He is swimming around a bit, actually. He's mostly hiding though. I think he's going to be alright..
I had no idea about the oxyclean! Thanks for the tip
I had no idea about the oxyclean! Thanks for the tip
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JRC3
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Re: New DP is bottom sitting
He may have just been sleeping. My last little DP I had in QT for six weeks would always sleep on the bottom in the corner. It would take him an hour or so to wake up when I turned the light on. My other DPs always sleep up in a plant somewhere. My new guy is now in the main tank and he sleeps in plants too.
There are many knowledgeable fish keepers on this forum willing to help and give great advice...The advice is free; What you choose to do with it gives it value.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: New DP is bottom sitting
Except for the panting part...
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: New DP is bottom sitting
It would be nice if he were just sleeping, but I don't think this is the case 
He is still hiding under the stump, breathing quickly. I don't know what else I can do for him.. So this is definitely not normal new fish stress?
He is still hiding under the stump, breathing quickly. I don't know what else I can do for him.. So this is definitely not normal new fish stress?
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Pufferpunk
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Re: New DP is bottom sitting
Yes, possibly...
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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DrKennethNoisewater
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Re: New DP is bottom sitting
welcome to the forum. someone here should be able to help. i wish i had some input.
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bertie 83
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Re: New DP is bottom sitting
It may just be stress. Keep an eye on the parameters and on him and keep us informed of any changes. It's early days
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
Re: New DP is bottom sitting
That's what I'm hoping.. I'll keep a close eye and have my test kit handy
Re: New DP is bottom sitting
Unfortunately the little guy did not survive the night I think it will be a while before I try that again...
I think it will be a while before I try that again...-
Pufferpunk
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Re: New DP is bottom sitting
Sometimes we just get a sick one that can't recover, no matter what we do. You sound like a great puffermom, try again!
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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bertie 83
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Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
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Re: New DP is bottom sitting
+1 I would try again you may have just had bad luck
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly