Clownfishs head is pale!!

[amaxt]

I woke up early this morning and my light turned on revealing my single clownfish it’s head is pale and it’s swimming along the top of the tank sometimes on it’s side. this is my first fish and im not sure what to do. everything else seems fine. i did a water change yesterday. the only thing that happened that wa about do the ordinary was me putting a bag of activated carbon that hadn’t been washed in the filter, it fizzled up for a second then i took it out, i did t put it back in. help

 

[Sebastiancrab]

The medics need a video/pictures in white light and your water parameters including salinity. How old is the tank and what kind of test kits are you using?
@Jay Hemdal

 

[Jekyl]

I woke up early this morning and my light turned on revealing my single clownfish it’s head is pale and it’s swimming along the top of the tank sometimes on it’s side. this is my first fish and im not sure what to do. everything else seems fine. i did a water change yesterday. the only thing that happened that wa about do the ordinary was me putting a bag of activated carbon that hadn’t been washed in the filter, it fizzled up for a second then i took it out, i did t put it back in. help

You need to include white light photos and a short video to help this process along.

 

[amaxt]

You need to include white light photos and a short video to help this process along.

my apologies, the pale wont show as much in white light

you can barely see it on camera

 

[Jekyl]

@vetteguy53081

 

[Jekyl]

my apologies, the pale wont show as much in white light

Couple experts on the matter have been tagged in. White light is necessary for any identification on here. Blue lighting has a way of washing out symptoms when posting.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Please provides pics under white lighting and when did this begin?
Is fish eating?
Is breathing rate normal or labored?

 

[amaxt]

Please provides pics under white lighting and when did this begin?
Is fish eating?
Is breathing rate normal or labored?

it happened this morning, it doesn’t seem to be eating and the breathing seems labored
the photos in white light have been posted

 

[Sebastiancrab]

See if you can turn the white light down a bit for a good diagnosis. Hard to tell the light is so bright but it may be brooklynella which is a parasite that starts on the head.

To set up a hospital/QT tank (which is good to have anyway) you will need a 10 gal tank, air stone & pump, heater and filter which you can pick up at Petco or Petsmart.

 

[amaxt]

See if you can turn the white light down a bit for a good diagnosis. Hard to tell the light is so bright but it may be brooklynella which is a parasite that starts on the head.

To set up a hospital/QT tank (which is good to have anyway) you will need a 10 gal tank, air stone & pump, heater and filter which you can pick up at Petco or Petsmart.

i’m not sure if this helps but i turned the light down, and could the activated carbon have anything to do with it? everything was fine and i have no other fish in the tank nor have i added anything new

 

[Jekyl]

Carbon likely isn't the culprit. Was the fish quarantined or medicated prior to adding it? How long have you had this fish? How old is the tank?

 

[amaxt]

Carbon likely isn't the culprit. Was the fish quarantined or medicated prior to adding it? How long have you had this fish? How old is the tank?

It wasn’t medicated or quarantined and i got the fish right after my tank cycled. the tank is about 3 months old

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Is your LFS close by with good personnel? It's so hard to tell with the white body. Chances are you are going to need to purchase medication. One thought is to take the fish in and let them have a look and get your medication. That is what I would do.

 

[Argentum]

Is there anything else in the tank that has been aggressive towards it? Invert or coral? (edit, just saw you said this was your first and only fish, coffee hasn't kicked in for me yet!)

 

[amaxt]

Is there anything else in the tank that has been aggressive towards it? Invert or coral? (edit, just saw you said this was your first and only fish, coffee hasn't kicked in for me yet!)

I have a kenya tree and a leather coral, that’s all that may do harm to it. but the pale color has started to go away and everything’s going back to normal, im not sure what it was but it’s gone now. and no worries

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I woke up early this morning and my light turned on revealing my single clownfish it’s head is pale and it’s swimming along the top of the tank sometimes on it’s side. this is my first fish and im not sure what to do. everything else seems fine. i did a water change yesterday. the only thing that happened that wa about do the ordinary was me putting a bag of activated carbon that hadn’t been washed in the filter, it fizzled up for a second then i took it out, i did t put it back in. help

Hi, as the others mentioned, more information is needed. Here is a link to some helpful hints about posting a fish problem:

Some Helpful Hints When Posting or Responding to Threads in the Fish Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Section

Aquarium Fish Disease Problem Solving Determining the best course of action for a problem with your aquarium can be a difficult task. Even advanced aquarists will often need to seek the help of others for complicated or unique issues. Our intent here on Reef 2 Reef is to offer expert advice...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

 

[Argentum]

Good deal! Clownfish can be strange like that, some like to sleep on their sides and quite a few species of fish become paler while they sleep (probably helps deter predation).

 

[amaxt]

Good deal! Clownfish can be strange like that, some like to sleep on their sides and quite a few species of fish become paler while they sleep (probably helps deter predation).

Appreciate everything! i agree

 

[vetteguy53081]

As for sleep, they are found inverted upright or laying sideways
The mark on head may be second’s bacterial but image so white it’s hard to confirm.
mid bacterial, quarantine tank will need to be set up (a starter kit from Walmart makes a nice wt.
Treatment would be seachem neoplex but area is unconfirmed bacterial