I have new tank. It's a 28 gallon JBJ nano cube. Ammonia, nitrite & nitrate levels are all zero. Ph & salinity are fine, temperature 77 degrees. Last week there was a slight elevation with phosphorus, but nothing, and I quote, that would be above what you would expect from normal feeding.
Tank inhabitants... 2 Ocellaris clown fish, one each Chromis cyaneus (Blue Reef Chromis) and Chromis margaritifer (Bicolor Chromis), a hairy pin cushion urchin and a few small Kenya tress on a piece of rubble with green star polyps.
All the fish have been together in the tank for over 2 weeks. The clownfish were the last fish additions. Upon adding the clownfish, I noticed that one seemed to have settled in the corner of the tank near the heater. He seemed to prefer to swim vertically. Given the odd habits of the species, I did not think much of it. All is well, everything in the tank seems to get along, a good start right?
This morning I noticed something very odd. The clownfish that normally stays in the corner was swimming front and center with the other clownfish. It has never paired up with the other fish except for when the other clownfish or bi-color chromis came over to it's location and 'hung out' with it. Now it was happily swimming horizontally with its brethren and the bi-color chromis. It was then that I noticed the blue reef chromis was nowhere to be seen, he was always front and center. I found him, deceased in the rear of the tank.
There is nothing that would indicate that he died from 'new tank syndrome'. He did not appear stressed in any manner. He ate well and overall seemed to have adjusted to the tank perfectly. I know these are all peaceful fish, but does anyone think it could be likely that the other fish 'ganged up' on the blue chromis? I can't help but wonder if he was bullying the clown fish into the corner and the other fish said enough is enough! If the clownfish was still swimming in his usual spot in his normal manner, I would not have given it a second thought. It seems far to coincidental that his behavior changed when the blue chromis was out of the picture.
Thoughts?
Tank inhabitants... 2 Ocellaris clown fish, one each Chromis cyaneus (Blue Reef Chromis) and Chromis margaritifer (Bicolor Chromis), a hairy pin cushion urchin and a few small Kenya tress on a piece of rubble with green star polyps.
All the fish have been together in the tank for over 2 weeks. The clownfish were the last fish additions. Upon adding the clownfish, I noticed that one seemed to have settled in the corner of the tank near the heater. He seemed to prefer to swim vertically. Given the odd habits of the species, I did not think much of it. All is well, everything in the tank seems to get along, a good start right?
This morning I noticed something very odd. The clownfish that normally stays in the corner was swimming front and center with the other clownfish. It has never paired up with the other fish except for when the other clownfish or bi-color chromis came over to it's location and 'hung out' with it. Now it was happily swimming horizontally with its brethren and the bi-color chromis. It was then that I noticed the blue reef chromis was nowhere to be seen, he was always front and center. I found him, deceased in the rear of the tank.
There is nothing that would indicate that he died from 'new tank syndrome'. He did not appear stressed in any manner. He ate well and overall seemed to have adjusted to the tank perfectly. I know these are all peaceful fish, but does anyone think it could be likely that the other fish 'ganged up' on the blue chromis? I can't help but wonder if he was bullying the clown fish into the corner and the other fish said enough is enough! If the clownfish was still swimming in his usual spot in his normal manner, I would not have given it a second thought. It seems far to coincidental that his behavior changed when the blue chromis was out of the picture.
Thoughts?