Clown fish rubbing head on rocks

[Wavesurfer]

I recently started a new tank about a week ago and added a clown fish after 2 days. Recently it's bee rubbing it's head on rocks and acting all twitchy. Anybody have an idea what's wrong?

 

[G_Sanab922]

Clown fish are weird. With that said, i'm sure it's fine. I've had my clowns for about 7-8 months and they do that sometimes.

 

[Stephanie11]

Way too soon to add a fish. Any more specs on your tank?

 

[Wavesurfer]

Glad to know, I'll keep my eye on it and see if it develops into something more worrisome. Thanks.

 

[Adrock]

I recently started a new tank about a week ago and added a clown fish after 2 days. Recently it's bee rubbing it's head on rocks and acting all twitchy. Anybody have an idea what's wrong?

well might need a little more input, when u set up the tank did you cycle the tank before adding fish ? scratching on rocks may mean ich or a type of parasite infection ...no always though

 

[Wavesurfer]

I didn't cycle it. It's a small tank ~4.5 gallons, I've been keeping an eye on PH, Nitrates, Nitrites and Ammonia. All were well, if anything spikes (Which it hasn't yet) I plan to do a big water change. Last few days the water has been a little cloudy, just today it cleared up quite a bit. Anything else you would need to know?

 

[NanaReefer]

Yeah, why didn't you cycle the tank? Just because it's small?

 

[Wavesurfer]

I heard it is sometimes easier to cycle it with a fish.

 

[Waters]

Definitely not easier.....plus you are using an incorrect type of fish. Clownfish are much more sensitive to ammonia and nitrite than other members of the damsel family. Regardless, I would cycle the tank with a piece of shrimp from the grocery store and wait to add any fish until you can provide a stable environment. Even if the fish survives, you won't know what damage was caused.

 

[Stephanie11]

A lot of times cycle with a fish means the fish dies which then a long cycle can begin. I don't really want to get into that one.

 

[PepperDeath]

I have started a bunch of tanks with a fish and live rock from a friends tank. Almost always the bacteria in the live rock is enough to take care of the load from the fish. As long as your testing a lot and as soon as anything spikes you do a big water change and the tank usually cycles pretty fast

 

[Wavesurfer]

Thats how I started my tank!

 

[Waters]

I have started a bunch of tanks with a fish and live rock from a friends tank. Almost always the bacteria in the live rock is enough to take care of the load from the fish. As long as your testing a lot and as soon as anything spikes you do a big water change and the tank usually cycles pretty fast

That is how I started my tank as well.....if you introduce established/cured live rock, it already contains the necessary bacteria to complete the nitrogen cycle. I had my live rock shipped over a period of 4 days and still never experienced the initial cycle. Even starting that way you have to be careful of die off and a possible mini cycle so everything needs to be monitored for a while.