Clown is Lethargic, Not Eating

[rooneyj889]

Hey all, i've had one of my clowns for just over a week and the other I got on Sunday. The one i've had for a week is fine and eating plenty and swimming around the tank. However, the one I got on sunday is just sitting in the bank of the tank, on the bottom and moving around every once and a while but not all the much. Additionally, I haven't seen him eat anything. I know this is normal fish behavior but i am starting to get worried since it has been a few days. Anyone have any suggestions, recommendations? They get on perfectly fine with each other and there's no aggression between the two.

 

[glb]

Hey all, i've had one of my clowns for just over a week and the other I got on Sunday. The one i've had for a week is fine and eating plenty and swimming around the tank. However, the one I got on sunday is just sitting in the bank of the tank, on the bottom and moving around every once and a while but not all the much. Additionally, I haven't seen him eat anything. I know this is normal fish behavior but i am starting to get worried since it has been a few days. Anyone have any suggestions, recommendations? They get on perfectly fine with each other and there's no aggression between the two.

Have you tried spot feeding him? I’d give him some mysis shrimp that you put right in front of him to see if you can get him to eat.

 

[vetteguy53081]

It may be intimidated by the other clown. To verify, remove the original clown into a CLEAN bucket and see if the new one becomes more active, then you'll know. If so, add a rock or other structure or even an anemone to ditract the clown.

 

[rooneyj889]

It may be intimidated by the other clown. To verify, remove the original clown into a CLEAN bucket and see if the new one becomes more active, then you'll know. If so, add a rock or other structure or even an anemone to ditract the clown.

The other clown is a lot smaller than this one and they seem to get along quite well, I was thinking about doing that or moving the clown to a QT tank so i can track feeding etc easier

 

[Labora]

Not eating can be the first sign of disease. It might be best to QT. Look out for white stringy poop.

 

[rooneyj889]

Not eating can be the first sign of disease. It might be best to QT. Look out for white stringy poop.

I will. I don't have a quarantine tank set up yet but i can set one up tomorrow if needed. Do i need to let it sit for a few days? Will that be a problem?

 

[rooneyj889]

UPDATE: Still not eating, though he is swimming about a little more. However, he is breathing very fast. Wondering if i should take him out and set up a quarantine tank for him.

 

[Labora]

Mine started with not eating,, then they got the heavy breathing and white stringy poop. They died soon later. If its the same thing going around right now, I would quarantine asap with additives.

What in the world is happening with my clownfish?

High everyone, I'm hoping the experts here can help me because I am totally stumped and at a loss for what to do. I have a 90 gallon system with 3 pairs of clowns (separated by dividers). I lost the first one a few weeks ago. The only symptoms were he just suddenly stopped eating, then...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[rooneyj889]

Mine started with not eating,, then they got the heavy breathing and white stringy poop. They died soon later. If its the same thing going around right now, I would quarantine asap with additives.

What in the world is happening with my clownfish?

High everyone, I'm hoping the experts here can help me because I am totally stumped and at a loss for what to do. I have a 90 gallon system with 3 pairs of clowns (separated by dividers). I lost the first one a few weeks ago. The only symptoms were he just suddenly stopped eating, then...

www.reef2reef.com

What additives would you recommend?

 

[terraincognita]

What additives would you recommend?

As a note i'd QT both the fish.

It seem the bigger one has a parasite, and if it's Ich or something it'll be in the water column and eventually infect your other clown too.

if you can get us some photos or videos.

Other than being cowed is he showing other signs? Rapid breathing?

Could be flukes. Did you Freshwater dip before adding?

He 100% has parasites, get him into QT and start treating for Ich and Flukes, until you can 100% verify what it is.

But 80% it's one of those. IF you can't get him in it today and treatment started I'd only give him another day or 2. Rapid breathing is always final signs for me in every single case I've ever p[personally dealt with.

you could look at it compared to any other animal. If they suddenly had rapid breath like that it's a grave sign.

 

[Labora]

They recommend General Cure API in the thread, and a couple other things.

 

[rooneyj889]

As a note i'd QT both the fish.

It seem the bigger one has a parasite, and if it's Ich or something it'll be in the water column and eventually infect your other clown too.

if you can get us some photos or videos.

Other than being cowed is he showing other signs? Rapid breathing?

Could be flukes. Did you Freshwater dip before adding?

He 100% has parasites, get him into QT and start treating for Ich and Flukes, until you can 100% verify what it is.

But 80% it's one of those. IF you can't get him in it today and treatment started I'd only give him another day or 2. Rapid breathing is always final signs for me in every single case I've ever p[personally dealt with.

you could look at it compared to any other animal. If they suddenly had rapid breath like that it's a grave sign.

I know the fish store i got them from uses copper in their water so i'm very surprised. Oh well going to pick some stuff up

 

[terraincognita]

I know the fish store i got them from uses copper in their water so i'm very surprised. Oh well going to pick some stuff up

#1 rule in saltwater.

No matter what you LFS says, or tells you, how "great", "parasite free", and "clean" their fish are, they can never ever know that getting them, IN there's no disease, these fish are caught from the Ocean, and then kept in a staging area from Wholesalers.

They probably come into contact with water that's been in contact with 10,000+ other fish. In fact if you LFS promotes that their fish are Parasite free, they should be giving a gurantee.

If they give a gurantee, in that case, **** all of this, go back to the store with your two obviously sick fish, and say "what the heck copper treatment man?"

but 99% they don't offer a guarantee on fish.

So whether or not they happened to contract Ich is really a high %.

Also sure, maybe they treat with copper, but maybe they got the fish in that day, and you bought him that day. In that scenario, doesn't matter as he basically never got the treatment.

Since they're the only fish in your tank, you can look at lots of options.

Have you stocked coral?

If you only have those 2 fish in your tank and nothing else you don't even need a QT, you can medicate the DT.

 

[rooneyj889]

#1 rule in saltwater.

No matter what you LFS says, or tells you, how "great", "parasite free", and "clean" their fish are, they can never ever know that getting them, IN there's no disease, these fish are caught from the Ocean, and then kept in a staging area from Wholesalers.

They probably come into contact with water that's been in contact with 10,000+ other fish. In fact if you LFS promotes that their fish are Parasite free, they should be giving a gurantee.

If they give a gurantee, in that case, **** all of this, go back to the store with your two obviously sick fish, and say "what the heck copper treatment man?"

but 99% they don't offer a guarantee on fish.

So whether or not they happened to contract Ich is really a high %.

Also sure, maybe they treat with copper, but maybe they got the fish in that day, and you bought him that day. In that scenario, doesn't matter as he basically never got the treatment.

Since they're the only fish in your tank, you can look at lots of options.

Have you stocked coral?

If you only have those 2 fish in your tank and nothing else you don't even need a QT, you can medicate the DT.

All the clowns there are bred at the store. I have one other royal gramma in the tank and no coral.