New arrivals not doing well - assistance appreciated.

[lilacamy931]

Tank Stats:
55g
occupants already in there: 2 cardinals, 2 guppies
Recently cycled, 27C, live plants, sand, fluval 306 filter, aqua sky lighting.

New arrivals: 2 x 1 inch schoutedeni puffers.

What happened: They were misdelivered it took a couple of extra hours to get them home safe. When arrived one was belly up and one was extremely stressed and weak.
We slowly heat and water acclimatised them over a 45 min period. Hubby noticed on the belly up one (which I thought was dead) was fluttering so we decided to try.

Now: I have had them in a sieve in the tank for 4 hours as they were pretty weak.
I've quickly done a 25%water change as small minimal ammonia showing now back 0.
I haven't released them into the main part of the tank as was concerned they were not strong enough.

Advice needed:
Do I keep them in the large sieve inside the tank overnight and see how they are in the morning?

Or do I chance it and release into the tank as potential more stress on them being in the sieve?

 

[skjl47]

Hello; Release them.

 

[lilacamy931]

Thank you - i will do so shortly

 

[Coryloach]

Yes, release immediately to the main tank. Also, start doing daily 50%+ water changes, the bigger, the better, until fish improve. Don't worry about stressing the fish via water changes. The lack of clean water will kill them way faster.

Don't worry about swinging stats via water changes either. Unless the tank water is very deteriorad, there will not be enough of a change that would affect fish negatively. And last but not least, if you release already weakened fish into a tank that gets reading for ammonia/nitrite, then they are most likely doomed.

 

[lilacamy931]

Thank you

They are released fully in tank and held their own, checked on them a short while ago and still going but naturally shy. lights are off to assist destress.

Monitoring water stringently

 

[magpie]

I hope they pull through. Good idea on the lights off.

 

[Coryloach]

Monitoring the water is not as important as doing the actual water changes. There are a lot of things that are detrimental to fish and we can't test for. Unless life is in the way, I'd really take some time to change goods amount of water over the next week/weeks.

 

[lilacamy931]

I can 100% be on board for daily water changes if that really won't be detrimental to them. Free weekends for sure and during week while I do work can perform water changes once a day as soon as home.

I have two large bottles of Prime so more than happy to for their health

 

[Coryloach]

I've dealt with newly purchased sickly fish for periods of 3-4 months before I figured out the issue. Daily water changes is what saved them. Then eventually the right med tipped things finally to the right direction as my fish came diseased.

In your case the fish could just be super weak from previous bad keeping and transport. Super clean water will help them completely recover. However, sometimes stress like that can trigger a development of disease. The water changes are to prevent the disease and possible death. Otherwise fish don't just tip over from a one off stress, or a trip in a bag.

Good luck with your fish. All fingers crossed they make it through.

 

[lilacamy931]

C Coryloach - thanks for the advice, I have some natural treatment in the water to boost immnunity and will soak in garlic juice.