Clownfish Help

[tdileo]

Guys I'm freaking out. I just got these 2 new beautiful mocha clowns yesterday and I think something is wrong. The same thing happened with my last pair of clowns and the tank has been clown free for months. The do great and then suddenly at night they turn super pale and crash at the bottom. I can't bear to lose these guys too. Does anybody have ANY clue what it is? All my other fish are fine

 

[Tahoe61]

Fish do not sleep like we think of sleep, but some fish types may not have the vibrant coloration in this night state and my clowns lay on the on the sand all the time or the mag float or a coral, they just lay on down. Are you using LED night illumination? I prefer total darkness.

 

[tdileo]

Fish do not sleep like we think of sleep, but some fish types may not have the vibrant coloration in this night state and my clowns lay on the on the sand all the time or the mag float or a coral, they just lay on down. Are you using LED night illumination? I prefer total darkness.

My tank is in total darkness. They look completely normal during the day but at night turn super pale. I don't expect normal colors at night but this just seems too pale to be healthy and they are acting strange.

 

[Tahoe61]

Clowns are strange, if they are showing no other signs of disease I would not be concerned.

 

[tdileo]

Clowns are strange, if they are showing no other signs of disease I would not be concerned.

I wouldn't be worried but I am because of my experience last time. Came in one night, turned the room lights on and both of my black clowns were white. The male was dead the next morning and 2 days later the female died. These guys were not cheap and even ignoring the price I would be very sad to have 2 animals die. I even get upset when one of my little hermits or snails die

 

[NickNiz]

It couldn't be an issue with oxygen in the tank? How good is your surface disturbance from pumps? I can't really think of anything else if it's not disease related... Do they look like they're gulping more than normal? If so, keep a close eye out for diseases such as Ich/Brook/Velvet

 

[tdileo]

It couldn't be an issue with oxygen in the tank? How good is your surface disturbance from pumps? I can't really think of anything else if it's not disease related... Do they look like they're gulping more than normal? If so, keep a close eye out for diseases such as Ich/Brook/Velvet

I have pretty good surface movement from my PH and some from the return. The fall down in my overflow is pretty turbulent and should definitely allow for good gas exchange. They don't seem to act or breathe any different except for being extremely lazy and pale. When I look at them with the light on they look like they died and just start floating around for a good minute and eventually regain their bearings. I am hoping it is just them being weird getting used to their surroundings. I'm going to try pellets again in the morning and if they don't want them I will go for garlic soaked mysis. Even if garlic doesn't definitely improve immune health there could still be a chance, right?

 

[CindyKz]

My clowns get so pale and wierd at night that my daughter woke me up convinced they were dead. . Watch for other signs of disease, but I wouldn't be overly concerned. Clowns are strange little fish.

 

[tdileo]

So morning update, they are back to normal. Color is back and they are swimming fine. Going to hold off on feeding for a bit because I literally woke up 5 minutes ago and this is the first thing I did

 

[CindyKz]

The first thing I do every morning is say hello to my dogs and my fish....I'm sure my husband feels neglected [emoji6]

 

[Tahoe61]

So morning update, they are back to normal. Color is back and they are swimming fine. Going to hold off on feeding for a bit because I literally woke up 5 minutes ago and this is the first thing I did

Excellent.

I have a pair of tiny clowns in a tank of their own. First thing I do when I wake up is turn on their blue lighting and check to see how they are doing, it's the 1st thing!!!!!!!!

 

[tdileo]

Excellent.

I have a pair of tiny clowns in a tank of their own. First thing I do when I wake up is turn on their blue lighting and check to see how they are doing, it's the 1st thing!!!!!!!!

As you can see they look pretty normal now. I fed NLS and some mysis soaked in garlic, carrot and kale juice and they just destroyed it lol. My only guess would be there is some kind of stress from moving to a tank around 50 times the size of their old one. Hopefully they will be settled in soon and this will stop. They ate like pigs today so I would think I'm getting there.

 

[Elegance Coral]

It's probably nothing to worry about. Probably just sleeping.
However............ I'd check the PH just before the lights come on, just to make sure your PH isn't dropping to low at night.

 

[tdileo]

It's probably nothing to worry about. Probably just sleeping.
However............ I'd check the PH just before the lights come on, just to make sure your PH isn't dropping to low at night.

I do run my fuge lights opposite of my tanks so I can keep the PH a bit more stable. Either way I will definitely test them tomorrow morning when I get up, very good idea

 

[John Gemmel]

My clown does the same thing at night in bottom corner of tank. I think they're good.

 

[TheLadyCrash]

My green mandarin turns almost completely white when she's sleeping but must wake up before me to do her makeup. ;Shy

 

[tdileo]

I think overall I got a pair of defective clowns. They do weird things at night and they refuse to eat my NLS pellets but they will eat the nori I put in for my crabs and snails haha

 

[SalinFL]

I have noticed a huge difference in behavior between the two sets of clowns that I have. One tank has a pair with no rbta and the other tank has a pair with four rbta's. The pair without are very skittish and one several months back jumped to their death through a finger-sized hole. Then I had to go through the search of finding a compatible partner and hope for the best. I also noticed that the tank veteran taught the skittish behavior to the new fish! Seeing this, I'm searching for an anemone for them so they can feel less stressed and stop hiding in a corner.

 

[tdileo]

I have noticed a huge difference in behavior between the two sets of clowns that I have. One tank has a pair with no rbta and the other tank has a pair with four rbta's. The pair without are very skittish and one several months back jumped to their death through a finger-sized hole. Then I had to go through the search of finding a compatible partner and hope for the best. I also noticed that the tank veteran taught the skittish behavior to the new fish! Seeing this, I'm searching for an anemone for them so they can feel less stressed and stop hiding in a corner.

That's interesting. I want a bubble tip so badly and I can get a beautiful rainbow for $60 but I'm worried about it climbing all over and stinging my corals. Have you noticed yours move a lot once they're settled in?

 

[SalinFL]

My original did moved around a small amount before it settled, but it was not too much of an issue. They definitely have a mind of their own and will adjust themselves as they feel they need to. I have 4 (they split) and noticed that although three are very close and in good flow, one has decided it wants to be in less direct flow and has tucked its foot to the underside of a rock. It stretches its trunk and crown out into the flow when it wants. Once they are happy though, they don't budge. Honestly, I really have more problems with the clowns protecting them than the rbta's themselves.