auto feeder didnt work while away

moneymm22 · Feb 28, 2022

so my auto feeder died apparently while i was away the past week, well the screen is dead. i put new batteries in before i left, but i think the feeder is just broken. anyway, only have 1 clown in a tank that is only 4 months old, no corals yet. he seemed fine, and i fed him as soon as i saw. but today he was lying on the sand with long white stringy poop hanging from him. Is this parasites? i have had him for 3 months. never a health issue, i mostly feed him pellets.

should i treat him with prazi pro? or just feed him some frozen stuff and more often over the next week?

MnFish1 · Feb 28, 2022

moneymm22 said:
so my auto feeder died apparently while i was away the past week, well the screen is dead. i put new batteries in before i left, but i think the feeder is just broken. anyway, only have 1 clown in a tank that is only 4 months old, no corals yet. he seemed fine, and i fed him as soon as i saw. but today he was lying on the sand with long white stringy poop hanging from him. Is this parasites? i have had him for 3 months. never a health issue, i mostly feed him pellets.

should i treat him with prazi pro? or just feed him some frozen stuff and more often over the next week?

I would say 'no'. Just feed him normally. If it persists you can consider a treatment.

EDIT - I did not notice the fact that the fish is 'lying on the sand'. See the posts below.

Sebastiancrab · Feb 28, 2022

I had the same issue from mine a couple of days ago and from what I have read it can be caused by feeding too little or not enough variation in diet. So I am now changing both before any treatment. If he continues to lie on the sand, post a video and ping Jay Hemdal, the resident doc.

On the auto feeder, I run two set on different times when I am out of town. I also have dual heaters with one set up in the DT and both on Inkbirds. I monitor the tank everyday with a Wyze camera.

Lyss · Feb 28, 2022

Someone more expert than I can correct me if I'm off, but I believe stringy white poop can also be from having not eaten in a while. If it was me I would be continuing to feed the fish well and making sure it is eating.

MnFish1 · Feb 28, 2022

MnFish1 said:
I would say 'no'. Just feed him normally. If it persists you can consider a treatment.

OH - BTW - I did not see the 'lying on the sand' part. Thats a problem.

Did anything else on your tank fail? Have you measured your parameters - ammonia, nitrate, pH, etc etc. temperature.

Are there any lesions? Skin sloughing? Can you send a picture?

Did you QT him - how long were you gone on your trip?

You may want to set up a hospital tank - if you can - for potential treatment.

SlugSnorter · Feb 28, 2022

moneymm22 said:
so my auto feeder died apparently while i was away the past week, well the screen is dead. i put new batteries in before i left, but i think the feeder is just broken. anyway, only have 1 clown in a tank that is only 4 months old, no corals yet. he seemed fine, and i fed him as soon as i saw. but today he was lying on the sand with long white stringy poop hanging from him. Is this parasites? i have had him for 3 months. never a health issue, i mostly feed him pellets.

should i treat him with prazi pro? or just feed him some frozen stuff and more often over the next week?

a healthy fish can survive a week without food. Maybe switch from pellets to a frozen food

MnFish1 · Feb 28, 2022

SlugSnorter said:
a healthy fish can survive a week without food. Maybe switch from pellets to a frozen food

Why do you think its lying on the sand?

SlugSnorter · Feb 28, 2022

MnFish1 said:
OH - BTW - I did not see the 'lying on the sand' part. Thats a problem.

Did anything else on your tank fail? Have you measured your parameters - ammonia, nitrate, pH, etc etc. temperature.

Are there any lesions? Skin sloughing? Can you send a picture?

Did you QT him - how long were you gone on your trip?

You may want to set up a hospital tank - if you can - for potential treatment.

if there are no other symptoms and the clown isn't just sitting there heavily breathing, I think its likely just tiredness due to malnourishment

MnFish1 · Feb 28, 2022

Lyss said:
Someone more expert than I can correct me if I'm off, but I believe stringy white poop can also be from having not eaten in a while. If it was me I would be continuing to feed the fish well and making sure it is eating.

You are correct.. The concerning thing (that I missed in the OP as well - is that the fish is 'lying on the sand'

SlugSnorter · Feb 28, 2022

MnFish1 said:
Why do you think its lying on the sand?

newer tank and younger clown, the fish can survive, not thrive. If no other symptoms maybe just tiredness and sluggishness from malnourishment

MnFish1 · Feb 28, 2022

SlugSnorter said:
newer tank and younger clown, the fish can survive, not thrive. If no other symptoms maybe just tiredness and sluggishness from malnourishment

You could very well be correct. I might do some more diagnostics

Lyss · Feb 28, 2022

MnFish1 said:
You are correct.. The concerning thing (that I missed in the OP as well - is that the fish is 'lying on the sand'

I missed that as well. Well, in a 4-month old tank I would suspect very little or no microfauna so that poor guy prob didn't eat for up to a week, and that could be the reason for both symptoms. In any case, definitely something to watch closely and be prepared to act if it turns out to be more than not having eaten.

Lyss · Feb 28, 2022

OP can you share some pics or preferably a video? That might help folks to see better if there's something else at play.

moneymm22 · Feb 28, 2022

i only saw him laying onthe sand for 10 seconds or so, once i came over to the tank he was swimming normally. as he has been since. thanks for all the help, ill feed him some frozen mussels in a bit, maybe he didnt get to eat the past week.

MnFish1 · Feb 28, 2022

moneymm22 said:
i only saw him laying onthe sand for 10 seconds or so, once i came over to the tank he was swimming normally. as he has been since. thanks for all the help, ill feed him some frozen mussels in a bit, maybe he didnt get to eat the past week.

The reason some of us are asking - is that its an extremely bad sign for any fish illness (and I assume lack of food as well) - is 'lying on the sand'. Which - I assumed (perhaps incorrectly) - meant on its side. Sitting on the sand is probably ok - especially just early in the AM. I'm glad he's doing better. Of course - poor nutrition - can be a risk for significant disease - so As many have said - close observation is the key. Happy though that he is doing better