5-6 Year old Clownfish not looking so great

[zbryant91]

I have a clownfish that has been healthy and survived a couple tank crashes over the past few years that all of a sudden isn't looking so great. Monday I noticed it hanging out under a rock which is unusual as it always comes up for food every time I walk by the tank. Which is frequent as it's in the living room.

Last night, I get home from work and it's laying in the sand at an angle and breathing heavy. So I scooped it up and put it in a hanging QT basket in the DT just to keep him up top and easy to get to. Checked all the water parameters I could. ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, phosphates all 0. Ca, Mg, kh all good. Salinity 1.026. temp 78. ph 8.2. everything looks good.

This morning I did a fresh water dip (water was too cold last night to do it). Still no real change. kind of just laying in the basket like it's about to die.

No cuts or infections are noticeable. Looks perfectly fine other than laying down and breathing heavy.

Am I overlooking anything?

 

[EmdeReef]

How old is the tank? 0 nitrate doesn’t sound good for a cycled tank.

Can you post pics? Is there a way for you to move the clown to a different tank with freshly mixed saltwater? Make sure to match salinity and temperature of your DT.

 

[ScottR]

You’ve had him for 5-6 years. Could be old age. I think clownfish live 5-10 years in captivity (don’t quote me). Also could depend on what type of clownfish. Does he have a mate? I have a pair that are inseparable. How big is the tank? I’d imagine a smaller tank could shed some time. But I’ve kept freshwater fish for 20+ years - not a comparison - but some of my fish lived way past their life expectancy. I hope he pulls through. Keep us posted.

 

[zbryant91]

Well tank has been there for almost 4 years but I had a big crash and re-cycled in December when a heater exploded.

Also, I only have a ATI nitrate test kit so I can only read 0 or 20...Color was very yellow so it was close to 0. Just recently started replacing all the cheap test kits with red sea kits. but that takes time as they are expensive.

No pictures yet. Can take one in a few hours and will upload. I don't really have a way to set up an additional tank in the next few days.

 

[zbryant91]

You’ve had him for 5-6 years. Could be old age. I think clownfish live 5-10 years in captivity (don’t quote me). Also could depend on what type of clownfish. Does he have a mate? I have a pair that are inseparable. How big is the tank? I’d imagine a smaller tank could shed some time. But I’ve kept freshwater fish for 20+ years - not a comparison - but some of my fish lived way past their life expectancy. I hope he pulls through. Keep us posted.

No mate. I lost it's 1st mate after about 2 years and added another small one a few months later and it lasted a couple years. I also have a pair of clarki clowns, damsel, and chromi. A few frags as well. Everything else in the tank looks great.

60 gallon cube with a 20 gallon sump

 

[Captain Quint]

@zbryant91 I'm sorry to read of this. It is always devastating to hear this type of news. It is certainly not an old fish being ~6 years. I've had my mated pair for almost 13 years (hopeful for another 13 with them)and it would devastate me as I'm sure you are upset.

Have you added anything new? Dosing anything new? Any changes of any kind?

Please keep us advised and hopefully with all the great minds here we can figure it out. I'll be thinking of you and your baby girl.

 

[ScottR]

That’s an ample setup. All I can say is... nature. If everything is in check, it must be its time. As you said, you had other fish and if they’re looking fine, it mustn’t be the water.

 

[Captain Quint]

That’s an ample setup. All I can say is... nature. If everything is in check, it must be its time. As you said, you had other fish and if they’re looking fine, it mustn’t be the water.

Yes...let's hope for the best for sure.

 

[ScottR]

Yes...let's hope for the best for sure.

+1

 

[zbryant91]

Only thing I have changed in the last 3 weeks is I increased my Kalk potency slightly to keep up with my PH drop. No new additions in about 4-5 weeks. Just so strange that this is the same fish (along with the chromi and damsel) that survived the heater crash and tank re-cycling.

Is there any benefit in trying to do another fresh water dip or medication for it? Or should I just let it be for the time being since there is no visible infections or issues?

 

[Dom]

Fish are not immortal. Sometimes when we lose a fish, it's just natural causes.

PS. There is no such thing as a hanging quarantine basket. Any fish that is sharing water with the display tank is not quarantined.

 

[zbryant91]

No of course. I just put it in the basket in case it dies it is easier to get it out without having to move any rock

 

[zbryant91]

https://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-ClownFish.htm

Guess I'm right around average so maybe it is just time.

 

[zbryant91]

Well, Stopped at home during lunch and it's not looking quite as frail. Maybe the freshwater dip helped this morning. Even ate a couple flakes. We'll see how things progress.

 

[Saltyreef]

Hoping it pulls thru! My 6 year old naked clown has started to act funky this new year and hoping its just a behavioral trait and nothing is medically wrong with it.
As long as its eating, swimming and reacting to your movements...you can just hope for the best. Ive been nervous to proactively quarantine and medicate mine just due to his older age and how devistated i would be if i lost it.

 

[Katrina71]

That is a big beautiful baby!

 

[Mastiffsrule]

That is a good looking clown. Hoping for the best outcome for you.

 

[Erica-Renee]

https://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-ClownFish.htm

Guess I'm right around average so maybe it is just time.

This 3-6 year time frame is WAY Wrong.. I have a pair of clowns that are now about 18 years old and have known many others who have them 20 years are more. I keep thinking 35 years is there average life .

 

[Erica-Renee]

Well, Stopped at home during lunch and it's not looking quite as frail. Maybe the freshwater dip helped this morning. Even ate a couple flakes. We'll see how things progress.

Very cute Clown and i wish Her lots of luck.. Have you tried to get her a new mate? Not sure they can get lonely but a few times i have separated mine upgrading and servicing tank and she GOES TOTALLY BONKERS Looking for him . If i get my hand in the tank near him or there coral she bits my hand and draws blood... We call her Miss Meanie the Terrorist clown . She is about 5 inches and 18 years old the two .. or there about

 

[ngoodermuth]

Have any of your fish ever been de-wormed? Any white-stringy poop? Internal parasites can cause similar symptoms.

Glad she’s doing a little better!