Hello. So we just noticed that our clownfish has started to breathe heavily and can no longer swim to the surface. It seems to be struggling to stay upright as well and is kind of leaning on a rock. From time to time it will rapidly swim in circles. We tried to give it food but it didn't seem to have an appetite. It looks really scared and I don't know if it's just my imagination but it's eyes seem to be bulging more than normal. We haven't done any drastic changes, we added a new fish about a month ago but it was good and we have had this clownfish for a very long time and have added other fishes without there being a problem. I'm thinking maybe it's just it's time to go? We had another clownfish that came with it and they would hang out but then it did the same thing and we gave it some treatment it worked for a while but it happened again and then it died. This was recent so maybe the struggling clownfish was affected by the death of his buddy? Please if anyone has a smiliar problem or can help please reply!
Clownfish is struggling :(
- Thread starter arlene
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Peace River
Thrive Master
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Reef Squad Leader
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Article Contributor
Hospitality Award
Article Administrator
Reef Pumpkin Carver
Arlene, thanks for your first post. Let’s see if we can get some answers to your question.
#reefsquad #clownfish
#reefsquad #clownfish
reef lover
It's a reef thing....
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Hudson Valley Reef Keepers
Hospitality Award
518 Reefers
My Tank Thread
Welcome to r2r ! Can we get a pic or video of the clown? Is there any stray voltage in the water?
QUOTE="reef lover, post: 6269071, member: 26086"]Welcome to r2r ! Can we get a pic or video of the clown? Is there any stray voltage in the water?[/QUOTE]
Thank you. Here are some pictures and for stray voltage would I have to buy an appliance to check it? The other two fish seem to be good though.
Thank you. Here are some pictures and for stray voltage would I have to buy an appliance to check it? The other two fish seem to be good though.
We usually do the mixing of tank water for the new fish every so minutes and then add it in but we have had many new fishes without there being a problem and the last one we added was a little over a month. And no we don't test or add medicine for those. But I have looked up symptoms of those diseases and they do not match with the clownfish.
Big G
captain dunsel
Hiding from the light, loss of apatite, heavy breathing, lethargy are all symptoms of velvet. Lately we've seen velvet attacking the fish's gills inside and unseen. Many of the fish die without ever showing the usual external "dusting" of powder fine white spots.
Big G
captain dunsel
For a fish in distress with potentially Velvet, time is of the essence.
A freshwater dip will remove some of the parasites.
Follow with a bath in an acriflavine product like Ruby Reef Rally. It has both antiseptic and antibiotic qualities. This immediately help with bacterial infections that can set in because of the numerous insertion points from the parasite. THIS STEP HAS SHOWN TO GREATLY INCREASE SURVIVAL RATES.
Then the fish needs to be in a QT with either CP or Copper. CP is a bit hard to get a hold of for some. You need a prescription from a Vet to buy it.
Copper recommended is Copper Power. Following the RRR bath, the fish should be in a QT with the copper level being brought up to therapeutic level within 24-48 hours. Small doses spread out over the 24-48 hours is much easier on fish rather than a couple of large doses. Therapeutic level for Copper Power is 1.75 - 2.0 ppm.
Once the copper has reached therapeutic level it must be maintained for 15 days and then the fish goes into a fresh clean QT to observe; or leave the fish in the original QT for 30 days. The main tank will need to be fallow to starve out the parasites.
Here's the complete Velvet treatment advisory by Humblefish: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/v...t-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/#post-2499437
A freshwater dip will remove some of the parasites.
Follow with a bath in an acriflavine product like Ruby Reef Rally. It has both antiseptic and antibiotic qualities. This immediately help with bacterial infections that can set in because of the numerous insertion points from the parasite. THIS STEP HAS SHOWN TO GREATLY INCREASE SURVIVAL RATES.
Then the fish needs to be in a QT with either CP or Copper. CP is a bit hard to get a hold of for some. You need a prescription from a Vet to buy it.
Copper recommended is Copper Power. Following the RRR bath, the fish should be in a QT with the copper level being brought up to therapeutic level within 24-48 hours. Small doses spread out over the 24-48 hours is much easier on fish rather than a couple of large doses. Therapeutic level for Copper Power is 1.75 - 2.0 ppm.
Once the copper has reached therapeutic level it must be maintained for 15 days and then the fish goes into a fresh clean QT to observe; or leave the fish in the original QT for 30 days. The main tank will need to be fallow to starve out the parasites.
Here's the complete Velvet treatment advisory by Humblefish: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/v...t-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/#post-2499437
tgrick
Well-Known Member
I think flukes...
Freshwater dip for 5 Mins. Heavily aerate water for 10 Mins or so. Match temp. Check bottom of container when done. If flukes you will see small translucent worm like things on bottom of container.
It will also help if it's velvet. In fact, it's essential for survival to perform a freshwater dip. Secret to a freshwater dip is temp and heavy aeration. I DO NOT stop aeration during treatment. Have yet to lose a fish.
Freshwater dip for 5 Mins. Heavily aerate water for 10 Mins or so. Match temp. Check bottom of container when done. If flukes you will see small translucent worm like things on bottom of container.
It will also help if it's velvet. In fact, it's essential for survival to perform a freshwater dip. Secret to a freshwater dip is temp and heavy aeration. I DO NOT stop aeration during treatment. Have yet to lose a fish.
Last edited:
tgrick
Well-Known Member
I think it's flukes.
Usually with velvet the entire tank goes South very quickly.
What you need to do is a freshwater dip. Use RODI water if possible. If not, RO is fine.
Secret to success is heavy aeration. I use an airstone for about 10 Mins prior and during! Some people stop air, I do not. Duration is 5 mins. Match temperature exactly. When you are done, look for translucent worm like critters on the bottom.
Report back.
Sorry for repeat post. On the road.
Usually with velvet the entire tank goes South very quickly.
What you need to do is a freshwater dip. Use RODI water if possible. If not, RO is fine.
Secret to success is heavy aeration. I use an airstone for about 10 Mins prior and during! Some people stop air, I do not. Duration is 5 mins. Match temperature exactly. When you are done, look for translucent worm like critters on the bottom.
Report back.
Sorry for repeat post. On the road.
reef lover
It's a reef thing....
Excellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Hudson Valley Reef Keepers
Hospitality Award
518 Reefers
My Tank Thread
Sorry i missed this...to check for voltage any type of voltage meter will work they sell them pretty cheap.
@arlene When you have two clownfish - did they spawn on a regulare mode? Is this the female? (often the larger one of a pair). Can you see any thicker or unsual form of the belly - like more round or square formed?
Sincerely Lasse
Sincerely Lasse
Last edited:
