Do my clownfish look healthy?

Philipgonzales3 · Jan 6, 2019

I've never had saltwater fish before. The smaller one is a little fidgity but hopefully that is normal?

Picked up a Kupang Damsel as well. But he is shy right now. They all ate shortly after being released in the tank.

Fudsey · Jan 6, 2019

Look ok to me

KrisReef · Jan 6, 2019

The fish look ok, and I agree the one looks fidgety but I don't think that is a problem.
Since your tank is so young, I would encourage you to wait another month before you add any more fish. Easy does it!

Fudsey · Jan 6, 2019

I agree with ^^^

They look like they are trying to decide who's going to change to a female....

davocean · Jan 6, 2019

Look fine to me from what I can see, and I too would probably stop where you are for a little while.
They are both close to same size, don't be surprised if you see them hashing it out some as to who will become dominant female, and there will be a submissive twitch that comes from what will remain male(and I'd guess fidgity to male)

I'll be curious if they take to the fake nem as host

Philipgonzales3 · Jan 6, 2019

davocean said:
Look fine to me from what I can see, and I too would probably stop where you are for a little while.
They are both close to same size, don't be surprised if you see them hashing it out some as to who will become dominant female, and there will be a submissive twitch that comes from what will remain male(and I'd guess fidgity to male)

I'll be curious if they take to the fake nem as host

I'm not exactly sure what hosting is yet. I mean I have heard the terminology but I'm assuming they would need to spend a lot of time in the nem over and over to consider them hosting it?

It seems it may be beginning already. They seem to like the fake anemonea.

Just a few pics but it seems to be their favorite spot so far.

Philipgonzales3 · Jan 6, 2019

Also let the one month timer start.......NOW! Lol. I won't a yellow prawn goby, melanurus wrasse, and a small puffer (maybe Toby or the other small one, can't remember the name). Oh and a flame angel.

davocean · Jan 6, 2019

^^ Well, take it slow and research those choices would be my suggestion.

Hosting is exactly as it sounds, an anemone or coral providing a nesting area, "hosting" your clowns, which appears to be happening in the fake nem, which is actually kinda cool.
Great pics!

Philipgonzales3 · Jan 6, 2019

davocean said:
^^ Well, take it slow and research those choices would be my suggestion.

Hosting is exactly as it sounds, an anemone or coral providing a nesting area, "hosting" your clowns, which appears to be happening in the fake nem, which is actually kinda cool.
Great pics!

Thanks will do. Now one is in the anemone and the other is two feet away in the top corner hanging out with my mag float. Oh man, hopefully they don't host the mag float haha. I'll give it some time though.

JasonK84 · Jan 6, 2019

They look good but I do see one spot on the darker clown. Is this still there? Was it just a spec of sand or ich maybe?

At first I thought maybe just a spec on the glass like in another part of the picture but it is on the fish in the same spot in different pics

Philipgonzales3 · Jan 6, 2019

JasonK84 said:
They look good but I do see one spot on the darker clown. Is this still there? Was it just a spec of sand or ich maybe?

At first I thought maybe just a spec on the glass like in another part of the picture but it is on the fish in the same spot in different pics

Hmm I don't see it now. Do you?

JasonK84 · Jan 7, 2019

If they were QT'd it could have just been a grain of sand. If it was ich it could be that it has fallen off and is a cyst in the sand bed waiting to blow?

I don't know what it was for sure. You asked how they looked so I pointed out something I noticed. How long have you had them and did you QT them?

Philipgonzales3 · Jan 7, 2019

JasonK84 said:
If they were QT'd it could have just been a grain of sand. If it was ich it could be that it has fallen off and is a cyst in the sand bed waiting to blow?

I don't know what it was for sure. You asked how they looked so I pointed out something I noticed. How long have you had them and did you QT them?

I got them yesterday. *cough* umm I didn't QT them *cough*. I have all the meds and an extra tank on standby but couldn't get myself to go through with QT. I know this may come back to bite me later but it is what it is.

JumboShrimp · Jan 7, 2019

Your tank looks nice— you are off to a good start (though I agree the lack of quarantining may be Russian Roulette). But what size tank is that? I would hate to see you overload it, or put inappropriate fish in a small tank. Hope all goes well for you... Best Wishes!

Philipgonzales3 · Jan 7, 2019

JumboShrimp said:
Your tank looks nice— you are off to a good start (though I agree the lack of quarantining may be Russian Roulette). But what size tank is that? I would hate to see you overload it, or put inappropriate fish in a small tank. Hope all goes well for you... Best Wishes!

50 gallon. 24x24x20h. I got my potential stocking list "cleared" in the stock list thread.

2 Clowns
1 Azure Damsel
1 yellow watchman goby (after I get a lid)
1 leopard Toby puffer
1 melanurus wrasse
1 flame angel

Hmm the flame angel looks like it may be a little too big?

Captain Quint · Jan 7, 2019

Your pics and video are awesome! As far as the clowns they appear healthy and happy. Hopefully, the parameters are in order by now. But yes, clowns are weird and are doing the usual 'clown things' lol. IMO it appeared as though the smaller was starting the submission shimmy and the other seemed to notice but it could be subject to change since they were put in your tank yesterday.

Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed seeing this.

Philipgonzales3 · Jan 7, 2019

Captain Quint said:
Your pics and video are awesome! As far as the clowns they appear healthy and happy. Hopefully, the parameters are in order by now. But yes, clowns are weird and are doing the usual 'clown things' lol. IMO it appeared as though the smaller was starting the submission shimmy and the other seemed to notice but it could be subject to change since they were put in your tank yesterday.

Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed seeing this.

My parameters appear to be all good now.

0 ammonia
0 nitrite (dropped in a dag after doing water changes to get below 2ppm)
10 nitrate
9 DKH
8 PH
78.6 temp

The only thing concerning me right now is the temp. I want it at 77F. Set the heater to 76F yesterday morning. Not sure if the heater is kicking on or if that is just the temp with return and skimmer pump running. House temp is 76F. I've been watching the heater and haven't seen it kick on yet. I'm almost positive in summer I will need to get several fans at the very least, since I am in texas. Halfway expecting to need to get a chiller eventually. You think the temp will drop Any?

My wife has dibs on the smaller one ending up as the dominant female. It looks like the little one has been the aggressor so far. The smaller one is pretty mean. I'll be sure to try to get more pics and vids. Thanks everyone for your support/advice.

Philipgonzales3 · Jan 7, 2019

Actually using my infrared thermometer the tank appears to be right at 77. Not sure if these type of thermometers work in/through water. I'll pick up another thermometer from the pet store today to verify.

JumboShrimp · Jan 7, 2019

Ahhh. Didn’t look as big as a 50-gallon from the original photos. Thanks.

Philipgonzales3 · Jan 7, 2019

JumboShrimp said:
Ahhh. Didn’t look as big as a 50-gallon from the original photos. Thanks.

No worries. I know you are just trying to help ;-). I almost walked out of my LFS with a diamond watchman goby when I got the clown fish. The guy goes to net it and says hey do you have a lid. I was like oh no lid yet. He said oh well he will jump out. He basically didn't let me get the fish since I didn't have a lid. Which is great because he could have just sold it to me and not said anything. He offered a red sea screen lid kit but I'm going to wait on it until next time I go back.