Clowns acting weird

[ZachsZoo]

Last night I received 2 small clownfish from sustainable aquatics. They were acting fine and they were both very aware of everything around them. This morning when I turned the tank lights on one of the clowns was laying on his stomach on the sand and the other clown is trying to push him upwards. Tank parameters are fine. Is my clown dying?

Here is a picture of them right after acclimation:

 

[DancingShark]

Clown fish are very weird in there behavior.
They are full of personality and you sometimes can't explain why they do what they do.
I have one that while in QT he was either belly up most of time or swimming up and down against the glass.
Just give them time.

 

[Jberge]

Last night I received 2 small clownfish from sustainable aquatics. They were acting fine and they were both very aware of everything around them. This morning when I turned the tank lights on one of the clowns was laying on his stomach on the sand and the other clown is trying to push him upwards. Tank parameters are fine. Is my clown dying?

Here is a picture of them right after acclimation:

Clowns do act very strange sometimes. How does it's breathing look?

 

[DracoKat]

it's possible they were sleeping. Clowns sleep in a weird position sometimes. See how they are an hour or so after the lights are on

 

[ZachsZoo]

No heavy breathing, he seems to be doing OK now, although I almost thought he was dead

 

[DancingShark]

+ 1 one the sleeping. I remember i turn the lights on my tank i would walk away to give them time for there motor skills to sync back in.

 

[Jberge]

No heavy breathing, he seems to be doing OK now, although I almost thought he was dead

That's good! With my clowns, unless there is something visibly wrong (heavy breathing or something on the body) I won't concern myself with their behaviors.

 

[Bigtex817]

If a clown is breathing heavily what should I do? I have 2 clowns and when I turn blue lights on one tries to mind its own but the other just bullies so much that the weaker one starts to panick and breathes heavy.

 

[Jberge]

If a clown is breathing heavily what should I do? I have 2 clowns and when I turn blue lights on one tries to mind its own but the other just bullies so much that the weaker one starts to panick and breathes heavy.

In that situation there's nothing you can do about the heavy breathing since it's just from stress alone. It's not life threatening unless he's being bit, wounds can lead to infection. Have they been together long?

 

[DancingShark]

He said they got then last night. They are probably jyst working things out. It looks bad but that's how the establish their dominance. My tangs fought to the point off death till every one knew their place.

 

[Bigtex817]

I have had them for almost 2 weeks and every night it happens when I turn on the blue lights. When I turn on the lights in the morning it stops.

 

[Jberge]

He said they got then last night. They are probably jyst working things out. It looks bad but that's how the establish their dominance. My tangs fought to the point off death till every one knew their place.

I was responding to bigtex, not the op.

 

[Jberge]

I have had them for almost 2 weeks and every night it happens when I turn on the blue lights. When I turn on the lights in the morning it stops.

That's strange that it only happens then. Dancingshark might be right and they will work it out. If you leave the moonlights on all night maybe try shutting them off

 

[Bigtex817]

When I shut them off the aggressive one starts to panick and starts swimming crazy while the one it was bothering all night calms down. I don't want to shut it off completely bc I also have a BTA in the tank also.

 

[DancingShark]

My bad didn't realise they were two different posters.

But to bigtex. Mine did the exact thing. The aggressive on swam side to side in my 72 in long tank when lights went out.
Make sure he has a lid or screen on. I one day found mine dried up on the floor.

 

[Bigtex817]

Yeah I keep my lid on all day

 

[Brandonsegula]

I had a pair of clowns that did this and in a few days they stopped. They have very weird behavior

 

[VP616]

it's possible they were sleeping. Clowns sleep in a weird position sometimes. See how they are an hour or so after the lights are on

+ 1 one the sleeping. I remember i turn the lights on my tank i would walk away to give them time for there motor skills to sync back in.

Agreed to all the above. I have a clown that sleeps on its stomach directly on the sand, even leaning on the glass sometimes. Happens every night after lights out and I will find it that way in the morning. Once the lights are on, after a couple of minutes, its behavior is back to "normal."