Clownfish Behavior

[Xazax]

I have had two occelaris clowns and an orchid dottyback in quarantine for about two weeks now. The dottyback has been great. The larger clown looks amazing, happy, always on the move. The smaller one has been staying on the bottom with fins usually tucked in close. He has some fin deterioration but otherwise shows no signs of sickness and eats quite voraciously.

I am thinking this may be part of them establishing dominance but I'm quite new at this. The larger clown has fins all extended and nips at the smaller occasionally but not a lot. Here is the smaller:

I just checked my water, ammonia and nitrite at 0, nitrate around 10. I have kept the cupramine copper level around .4 Here is my quarantine tank:

 

[Humblefish]

You sure the dottyback isn't picking on him? They can be mean little fish.

 

[Xazax]

You sure the dottyback isn't picking on him? They can be mean little fish.

I haven't seen any aggression from the dottyback yet. Though he is usually the first to hide when I come up to the tank so he could be doing it when I'm not there. I have definitely seen some from the other clown though. Do you think aggression is likely the issue?

 

[Humblefish]

I haven't seen any aggression from the dottyback yet. Though he is usually the first to hide when I come up to the tank so he could be doing it when I'm not there. I have definitely seen some from the other clown though. Do you think aggression is likely the issue?

Possible, dottybacks like to chase/bite other fish. Could be the "fin deterioration" you are seeing. Other possibility is a slight bacterial infection (fin rot). I would soak his food in vitamin supplements (exs. Selcon, Zoecon, Vita-chem) to boost the immune system for that. I would only dose antibiotics if it got a lot worse.

 

[Xazax]

Possible, dottybacks like to chase/bite other fish. Could be the "fin deterioration" you are seeing. Other possibility is a slight bacterial infection (fin rot). I would soak his food in vitamin supplements (exs. Selcon, Zoecon, Vita-chem) to boost the immune system for that. I would only dose antibiotics if it got a lot worse.

Ok, thanks for the suggestions! I have only been soaking in garlic to encourage them to easy no other supplements. I will pick some up tomorrow.

 

[Xazax]

One thing I can't seem to find anything on is what it typically means when they have their fins all pulled in tight to their body. I think my searches aren't working because of the wording.

 

[Maritimer]

Maybe search on "clamped fins"?

~B.

 

[Xazax]

Maybe search on "clamped fins"?

~B.

That was definitely the term I was looking for. Thank you! It seems that it is primarily a sign of stress so could still be anything.

 

[Humblefish]

Unfortunately, "clamped fins" could be an indicator of anything from stress to a parasite/worm problem to a bacterial infection.

 

[Xazax]

Well, for anyone who finds this in their future Google searches here's the end result: the clown continued to do the same thing (clamped fins, skinny, staying at the bottom). He would always zip around during feeding time though and he never showed any other signs if illness. They had all been in there almost four weeks and the other two were the image of perfection. I thought if I put them in the display he could get stronger.

He died the first night, stuck on the power head. I guess I should have brought him back. Everyone else still looking/acting great.

 

[Maritimer]

Sorry to hear that...

~B.

 

[melypr1985]

I'm sorry for your loss

 

[michellejy]

I'm sorry to read that.