Clownfish stopped eating

[memorylapse]

Hello! I've had my 2 clownfish for 2 weeks, and after a water change, one seems to have stopped eating and has been breathing heavily for the past few days. The other seems fine and eats fine also. Previous behavior was both usually are swimming around the tank and when it is food time, both finish their food within a few min.
Salinity - 1.021
Temp- 78
Nitrite- 0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate- 10

He stays in 1 spot near the powerhead. The only weird thing i see seems to be lil blue markings on the white area on his gills but only on right side? I tried my best to take a photo of it. I honestly thought maybe the water change may have stressed them out but it has been a few days. The new water is rodi water mixed with instant ocean salt mixed for 4 hours and heated to 78 before putting it in. Plus matched salinity.
Edit: Tank is 60 gall

Not sure if the video will play but just in case, also included a video. Thanks in advance!

 

[j.falk]

It's best to mix and heat your water change water for 24 hours prior to using.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Why is the salinity so low? Did you match it properly before adding it?

Is there a protein skimmer on the tank? If not, is the surface properly agitated to help with gas exchange?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello! I've had my 2 clownfish for 2 weeks, and after a water change, one seems to have stopped eating and has been breathing heavily for the past few days. The other seems fine and eats fine also. Previous behavior was both usually are swimming around the tank and when it is food time, both finish their food within a few min.
Salinity - 1.021
Temp- 78
Nitrite- 0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate- 10

He stays in 1 spot near the powerhead. The only weird thing i see seems to be lil blue markings on the white area on his gills but only on right side? I tried my best to take a photo of it. I honestly thought maybe the water change may have stressed them out but it has been a few days. The new water is rodi water mixed with instant ocean salt mixed for 4 hours and heated to 78 before putting it in. Plus matched salinity.

Not sure if the video will play but just in case, also included a video. Thanks in advance!

increase salinity SLOWLY to 1.024 and how are you testing water(kit) ?

 

[memorylapse]

Why is the salinity so low? Did you match it properly before adding it?

Is there a protein skimmer on the tank? If not, is the surface properly agitated to help with gas exchange?

Thanks for your reply. I have a fowlr and thought i would match salinity close to the fish store's salinity. Yes, i matched salinity before adding the water. Oh, and im using the refractometer to check salinity levels.

No protein skimmer and i have 2 powerheads pointing up to the surface with one very near the surface.

 

[memorylapse]

It's best to mix and heat your water change water for 24 hours prior to using.

Thanks for your reply! Ill be sure to mix longer next time

 

[blecki]

Is his spot near the powerhead directly in the flow from the powerhead?

 

[memorylapse]

increase salinity SLOWLY to 1.024 and how are you testing water(kit) ?

I have salifert tests for ammonia, nitrate,nitrite. Would increasing salinity mean decreasing top off water ?

 

[memorylapse]

Is his spot near the powerhead directly in the flow from the powerhead?

This powerhead is actually off (a 3rd powerhead that i havent turned on yet) hes usually under it or hovering on the suction cup area usually

 

[blecki]

Would increasing salinity mean decreasing top off water ?

Easiest way is to top off with salt water. Doesn't need to be mixed up to full salinity; any salt in the top off water will raise the salinity of the tank over time.

 

[memorylapse]

Easiest way is to top off with salt water. Doesn't need to be mixed up to full salinity; any salt in the top off water will raise the salinity of the tank over time.

Thank you!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Thanks for your reply. I have a fowlr and thought i would match salinity close to the fish store's salinity. Yes, i matched salinity before adding the water. Oh, and im using the refractometer to check salinity levels.

No protein skimmer and i have 2 powerheads pointing up to the surface with one very near the surface.

They run it at low salinity to help ward off pests and parasites. But its meant as a short term thing while at the LFS. Doing it long term can lead to health issue's.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have salifert tests for ammonia, nitrate,nitrite. Would increasing salinity mean decreasing top off water ?

You can remove a quart of water, and replace with a quart of 1.023 water and wait a few hours and add the same until you reach 1.024

 

[memorylapse]

They run it at low salinity to help ward off pests and parasites. But its meant as a short term thing while at the LFS. Doing it long term can lead to health issue's.

Ohhh ok. Thanks so much for the info! Didn't know that was just for short term. Ill work on increasing salinity slowly then. Thanks for the reply

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I really think the low salinity is a red herring here. I’ve spawned and raised clowns at 1.021.
The confounding issue here is one clown having symptoms, yet the other one is fine. Water quality issues would affect both fish more or less equally. So would highly communicable diseases like Amyloodinium/velvet (unless the other clown gets sick soon).

I couldn’t see a video, can you post one?

Jay

 

[memorylapse]

I really think the low salinity is a red herring here. I’ve spawned and raised clowns at 1.021.
The confounding issue here is one clown having symptoms, yet the other one is fine. Water quality issues would affect both fish more or less equally. So would highly communicable diseases like Amyloodinium/velvet (unless the other clown gets sick soon).

I couldn’t see a video, can you post one?

Jay

Thank you for the reply. I tried uploading a video but it didnt work.

I hope this link works though! Uploaded to youtube. https://youtube.com/shorts/oQmUA2Mnw3o?feature=share

Just a little note, that powerhead theyre around is not on.

 

[memorylapse]

Oops. Trying to upload the video manually here but not working...hope that other video works!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you for the reply. I tried uploading a video but it didnt work.

I hope this link works though! Uploaded to youtube. https://youtube.com/shorts/oQmUA2Mnw3o?feature=share

Just a little note, that powerhead theyre around is not on.

According to video, fish looks like a normal clown in swimming , breathing and other habits

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you for the reply. I tried uploading a video but it didnt work.

I hope this link works though! Uploaded to youtube. https://youtube.com/shorts/oQmUA2Mnw3o?feature=share

Just a little note, that powerhead theyre around is not on.

The video worked. Both clowns have good color, swimming behavior and body condition, the one is just breathing too fast.

Do both clowns have the same history? Did they come from the same tank at the same dealer?

Jay

 

[memorylapse]

The video worked. Both clowns have good color, swimming behavior and body condition, the one is just breathing too fast.

Do both clowns have the same history? Did they come from the same tank at the same dealer?

Jay

Thanks again for the help. I appreciate it.

They came from the same tank at the lfs. Got them at the same time. Yes.