Clownfish Help!

[colioj]

Hey there, I need some help!

So one of my two clownfish started breathing super heavy and wouldn't move from one spot, even to get food. He is now laying on the sandbed still breathing super hard but in a complete different spot of the tank than he normally hangs out in. I think it may be ammonia poisoning but what's weird is that my other clownfish is doing just fine (honestly no signs of distress, he has never done this well). Can someone help me 1) diagnose what is happening, and 2) provide any solutions to make sure that whatever is happening to my first clown doesn't happen to my second? I put these fish in about a week ago after I let my tank completely cycle for three weeks. During those three weeks, ammonia spiked, then went to nearly zero, nitrites and nitrates did the same. Could this fish be sick from my LFS, or is it something to do with my tank? I feel horrible, any help is much appreciated!

Parameters (13.5g tank):

Ph: 7.8
Ammonia: ~0.3
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 40
Temp: 76
Salinity: 1.023

 

[fishguy242]

@Jay Hemdal #reefsquad

 

[fishguy242]

best wishes with your lil buddy stick around dr's coming

 

[reef lover]

Ammonia of any level is never good and can burn the gills. Any signs of disease?? Spots etc...if no I would suggest a water change and ammonia neutralizer.

 

[colioj]

Ammonia of any level is never good and can burn the gills. Any signs of disease?? Spots etc...if no I would suggest a water change and ammonia neutralizer.

Currently no spots. But hasn't eaten in a couple days or at least I haven't seen him eat. Breathing very heavy. Thanks for the help! I will do that.

 

[reef lover]

Yw. Best of luck..if you see spots or skin sloughing off you'll need to medicate asap...

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hey there, I need some help!

So one of my two clownfish started breathing super heavy and wouldn't move from one spot, even to get food. He is now laying on the sandbed still breathing super hard but in a complete different spot of the tank than he normally hangs out in. I think it may be ammonia poisoning but what's weird is that my other clownfish is doing just fine (honestly no signs of distress, he has never done this well). Can someone help me 1) diagnose what is happening, and 2) provide any solutions to make sure that whatever is happening to my first clown doesn't happen to my second? I put these fish in about a week ago after I let my tank completely cycle for three weeks. During those three weeks, ammonia spiked, then went to nearly zero, nitrites and nitrates did the same. Could this fish be sick from my LFS, or is it something to do with my tank? I feel horrible, any help is much appreciated!

Parameters (13.5g tank):

Ph: 7.8
Ammonia: ~0.3
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 40
Temp: 76
Salinity: 1.023

While it is best for ammonia to be at zero, its toxicity is also pH related. At a pH of 7.8, your 0.3 ppm reading wouldn't be highly toxic. However, that begs the question, why is you pH that low in a new tank? It should be around 8.1.

There are a few gill diseases that fish can get that cause them to breath rapidly and lay on the bottom. I have to tell you though, once they reach that point, and are also not eating, it is very difficult to turn them around. I can't explain why the other clown looks good, perhaps it hasn't caught it yet?

With just a general symptom of rapid breathing, if I were to try and give you a treatment, it would be a complete guess on my part, and I don't like to do that...

Not sure it will help, but some people post videos of their fish, that sometimes gives us extra clues. The best way to do that is to upload one to youtube and post a link.

Jay