Clownfish enlarged open mouth

gazzaza · Feb 25, 2022

Hi all

I bought two young captive bred clownfish a week ago. My Darwin is fine, but the Picasso

has what seems to be an enlarged lip and he’s not eating. He isn’t still, but he stays on the corner of the tank. This has been going on for the last 3 days. I’ve tried feeding flakes, tiny pellets and missis shrimp. The tank has been running for about 2 1/2 months. There are ternate staghorn damsels, a six line wrasse and a Randall’s assessor, all of which are eating fine. Ammonia is zero and nitrites are at +-10. There aren’t any corals, only dry rock. I’m currently experiencing a diatom bloom. Tank is 5ft,2ft wide, and 2 1/2ft heigh. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

N.Sreefer · Feb 25, 2022

My guess is the effects of inbreeding. They "line breed" those designer clowns to get the colors/patterns they want.

Lets see what the experts say

#reefsquad
@Jay Hemdal
@vetteguy53081

Jay Hemdal · Feb 25, 2022

gazzaza said:
Hi all

I bought two young captive bred clownfish a week ago. My Darwin is fine, but the Picasso

has what seems to be an enlarged lip and he’s not eating. He isn’t still, but he stays on the corner of the tank. This has been going on for the last 3 days. I’ve tried feeding flakes, tiny pellets and missis shrimp. The tank has been running for about 2 1/2 months. There are ternate staghorn damsels, a six line wrasse and a Randall’s assessor, all of which are eating fine. Ammonia is zero and nitrites are at +-10. There aren’t any corals, only dry rock. I’m currently experiencing a diatom bloom. Tank is 5ft,2ft wide, and 2 1/2ft heigh. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

How have the two clowns been at coexisting? I wonder if this is a result of mechanical damage from a "lip lock".

jay

vetteguy53081 · Feb 25, 2022

I’m thinking either territorial war or damage from eating pellet foods
What foods are you feeding and are you noticing what Jay described as lip locking where fish go back and forth in this combat manner?

gazzaza · Feb 25, 2022

I’m feeding AF Marine mix soft pellets which are the smallest I could find. I don’t see any aggression between them. They’re still very young, no more than a couple of months old. I bought them directly from the breeder albeit different tanks. I’ve noticed that they both sleep in the top corner of the tank which does seem strange as all the other fish either sleep at the bottom or in the rocks.

Jay Hemdal · Feb 25, 2022

gazzaza said:
I’m feeding AF Marine mix soft pellets which are the smallest I could find. I don’t see any aggression between them. They’re still very young, no more than a couple of months old. I bought them directly from the breeder albeit different tanks. I’ve noticed that they both sleep in the top corner of the tank which does seem strange as all the other fish either sleep at the bottom or in the rocks.

They sleep next to each other? It is unlikely to be aggression then.

Since it isn’t eating, the clock is ticking. Any chance you can treat it in a hospital tank with an antibiotic?
Jay