Clownfish acting funny

Kylecva · Jul 25, 2015

So my pair of black ice clowns have started acting weird since I've put on a new light. Is this normal? They are real twitchy in their movements but other times they are just fine. Everything in the tank including the yellow watchmen goby are acting normal and the corals are so much better with the new lights. Anything I should be worried about? Or are they just adjusting?

EDO · Jul 25, 2015

if they are doing this twitchy thing next to each other it maybe a mating dance

gpwdr · Jul 25, 2015

yes it is

Kylecva · Jul 25, 2015

EDO said:
if they are doing this twitchy thing next to each other it maybe a mating dance

It's not next to each other that's why I'm worried

Kylecva · Jul 25, 2015

gpwdr said:
yes it is

Yes it is? What?

EDO · Jul 25, 2015

can you get a video of it?

Kylecva · Jul 25, 2015

I'll try tomorrow when the lights come on. When the lights are off they are fine.

gpwdr · Jul 25, 2015

My clown fish twitch like what you are talking about. They really get twitchy before they lay their eggs. Sometimes the female sees me and gets weird and twitchy. I thought it wanted food but when I put my hand in the tank I got bit and I couldn't believe it drew blood.

Kylecva · Jul 25, 2015

Alright well I will just watch them then. Just kinda freaked me out they have never acted like this before.

Humblefish · Jul 25, 2015

As mentioned above, most likely their mating dance or the male showing submission to the female. How long have you had them?

Kylecva · Jul 25, 2015

4-5 weeks they are doing it even at opposite ends of the tank.

Humblefish · Jul 25, 2015

Kylecva said:
4-5 weeks they are doing it even at opposite ends of the tank.

Could also be something in their gills, like flukes or ich. Post a video if you can.

Kylecva · Jul 25, 2015

Humblefish said:
Could also be something in their gills, like flukes or ich. Post a video if you can.

I'm almost positive that it's not ich they have no white spots whatsoever. I will post a video as soon as the lights come on tomorrow. Right now they are fine floating very peacefully now that the lights are off. I did just as a cleaner shrimp Monday and the clowns are already letting it clean them. Is there anything I can do right now? Water change?

Humblefish · Jul 25, 2015

Kylecva said:
I'm almost positive that it's not ich they have no white spots whatsoever. I will post a video as soon as the lights come on tomorrow. Right now they are fine floating very peacefully now that the lights are off. I did just as a cleaner shrimp Monday and the clowns are already letting it clean them. Is there anything I can do right now? Water change?

Ich does not have to be visible to be present. Sometimes it can harbor inside a fish's gills, out of sight. Same holds true for flukes.

Nothing you can do really until you have a better idea of what you might be dealing with. As mentioned above, this may just be normal clownfish behavior. Posting a video will probably help us tell for sure. Never a bad idea to test water parameters (especially ammonia & pH) just to be safe.

Kylecva · Jul 26, 2015

Humblefish said:
Ich does not have to be visible to be present. Sometimes it can harbor inside a fish's gills, out of sight. Same holds true for flukes.

Nothing you can do really until you have a better idea of what you might be dealing with. As mentioned above, this may just be normal clownfish behavior. Posting a video will probably help us tell for sure. Never a bad idea to test water parameters (especially ammonia & pH) just to be safe.

Wow! I had no idea! I was always told you would be able to see white spots all over. How do you treat flukes? I will post a video first thing tomorrow!

Humblefish · Jul 26, 2015

Kylecva said:
Wow! I had no idea! I was always told you would be able to see white spots all over. How do you treat flukes? I will post a video first thing tomorrow!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/flukes.208065/