Clownfish Acting Strange

[Noob Aquarist]

Just bought my first two clownfish from LFS about 4 days ago. I checked my parameters before I acclimated them and water was perfect.

About two days ago one of my clowns (the smaller one) started acting really shy, swimming a little different, and not eating. (Feeding them Emerald Entre frozen food and flakes) The other clown seems to be acting normal.

Any suggestions on what to do? I really dont want to lose this guy ($25.00 !!!!!)

 

[Tkey3425]

Just bought my first two clownfish from LFS about 4 days ago. I checked my parameters before I acclimated them and water was perfect.

About two days ago one of my clowns (the smaller one) started acting really shy, swimming a little different, and not eating. (Feeding them Emerald Entre frozen food and flakes) The other clown seems to be acting normal.

Any suggestions on what to do? I really dont want to lose this guy ($25.00 !!!!!)

How long has your tank been up?

 

[Noob Aquarist]

It had cycled for about 6 weeks before I added any fish.. 20 lbs of live sand 60 lbs of dry live rock. Could it be my Phosphate levels?

 

[Tkey3425]

It had cycled for about 6 weeks before I added any fish.. 20 lbs of live sand 60 lbs of dry live rock. Could it be my Phosphate levels?

Could be or it could be a disease or parasite from the LFS tanks. So you see any white patches or specks. If the fish is breathing heavy that would be a sign but how much surface movement do you have in the tank? Also what is your salinity and temp.

 

[Noob Aquarist]

I have quite a bit of surface movement comeing from my powerhead. my temp ranges anywhere from 76 - 80 degrees my salinity is at 1.025. No spots on that fish at all... it could be stress from acclimation??? This was my first time acclimating a fish. Like a said though, the other clown is doing fine.

 

[Noob Aquarist]

I forgot to add... He does seem to be breathing heavily.

 

[Tkey3425]

I have quite a bit of surface movement comeing from my powerhead. my temp ranges anywhere from 76 - 80 degrees my salinity is at 1.025. No spots on that fish at all... it could be stress from acclimation??? This was my first time acclimating a fish. Like a said though, the other clown is doing fine.

How did you acclimate them in detail and your temp should ideally only change 1-2 degrees throughout the day.

 

[Noob Aquarist]

I used the bag method... Placed the bag in the water to adjust the temp of the bag water to that of the DT for 15 minutes then added 1/2 cup of DT water to the bag every four minutes until the bag was full. Emptied half of the bag water in the sink then repeated adding 1/2 cup every four minutes until the bag was full again. then netted the fish and placed in the tank.

 

[Tkey3425]

That method should have been fine. I drip acclimate everything over a 2 hours period no matter how hardy but clowns are pretty hardy. How big are they? Many small ones in my experience don't make it.breathing heavy is probably a sick fish. If you have good surface agitation then you need to pull the fish out and QT ASAP before it affects the rest of the fish. Put it in a 10 gallon bare bottom tank with a small powerhead and treat the fish to try and save it

 

[Noob Aquarist]

Poor guy got stuck in a rock and I ended up haveing to pull him out... Didn't fair too well so i had to get rid of him. Tough loss... Thanks for your help anyways!

 

[Tkey3425]

Poor guy got stuck in a rock and I ended up haveing to pull him out... Didn't fair too well so i had to get rid of him. Tough loss... Thanks for your help anyways!

It happens. Don't get discouraged. Some fish just don't handle the stress well. Some do.