Does my clownfish look strange to you?

DannoOMG · Dec 23, 2022

He has some faded coloring on his fins and as he swims he kind of tilts to the left or right. He just looks slow. He is eating and I just gave him a snack with vitamins.

I have had him in the tank for a year. Everything else in the tank looks fine.

I have an extra heater and an aerator and some KanaPlex on hand if he needs a med tank situation. He isn't dragging against anything. Just kind of bobbing around aimlessly and the lack of color in his fin tips. Am I imagining things or does he look funny?

Blake509 · Dec 23, 2022

He looks like a clown being a clown

Jay Hemdal · Dec 23, 2022

DannoOMG said:
He has some faded coloring on his fins and as he swims he kind of tilts to the left or right. He just looks slow. He is eating and I just gave him a snack with vitamins.

I have had him in the tank for a year. Everything else in the tank looks fine.

I have an extra heater and an aerator and some KanaPlex on hand if he needs a med tank situation. He isn't dragging against anything. Just kind of bobbing around aimlessly and the lack of color in his fin tips. Am I imagining things or does he look funny?

He isn’t doing the typical puppy dog swim of a happy clown, definately is acting a bit mopey. I can’t tell you what might be wrong, not without some other clues. That it is still eating is a good sign.
Did the behavior change recently?
Jay

DannoOMG · Dec 23, 2022

Jay Hemdal said:
He isn’t doing the typical puppy dog swim of a happy clown, definately is acting a bit mopey. I can’t tell you what might be wrong, not without some other clues. That it is still eating is a good sign.
Did the behavior change recently?
Jay

Ya seemed like I noticed it today only. When I come into the room around 6 AM and he is sleeping on the sand bed recently. I just never see him sleeping in the sand rather see him higher up in the water column.

PS. I do either a 22% water change or 33% water change every week.

*edit* He seems to be touching the sandbed a lot. Like he is struggling to swim.

Jay Hemdal · Dec 23, 2022

DannoOMG said:
Ya seemed like I noticed it today only. When I come into the room around 6 AM and he is sleeping on the sand bed recently. I just never see him sleeping in the sand rather see him higher up in the water column.

PS. I do either a 22% water change or 33% water change every week.

*edit* He seems to be touching the sandbed a lot. Like he is struggling to swim.

Does it seem to be breathing faster?
Jay

DannoOMG · Dec 23, 2022

Jay Hemdal said:
Does it seem to be breathing faster?
Jay

No sir. Seems to be quite normal.

*edit* I would just like to comment how grateful I am that someone with your experience takes so much time to help people who are concerned for their fish. Your help is very much appreciated.

vetteguy53081 · Dec 23, 2022

Clown is missing that happy swim as Jay Indicated- normal is sort of a Hula dance behavior. While fish appears normal, it is also a tad thin for a clown.
What foods are you feeding it ? If flake and pellet, it needs more than that.

DannoOMG · Dec 23, 2022

vetteguy53081 said:
Clown is missing that happy swim as Jay Indicated- normal is sort of a Hula dance behavior. While fish appears normal, it is also a tad thin for a clown.
What foods are you feeding it ? If flake and pellet, it needs more than that.

I change up food every night and it repeats after 3 days

Day 1 : Frozen Mysis
Day 2 : Frozen Brine
Day 3 : Frozen Brine + Frozen Calanus (the blenny and possum wrasse don't like the calanus)

Sometimes I put in some Nyos Wild Goji soft pellets.

I feed a big meal once a day.

Jay Hemdal · Dec 23, 2022

DannoOMG said:
No sir. Seems to be quite normal.

*edit* I would just like to comment how grateful I am that someone with your experience takes so much time to help people who are concerned for their fish. Your help is very much appreciated.

A change in behavior is always a concern, but not always serious. Let us know if it’s better/worse/unchanged tomorrow….
Jay

DannoOMG · Dec 23, 2022

Thank you very much and have a wonderful Christmas as I hope I don't have to talk to you guys again about this. =)

vetteguy53081 · Dec 23, 2022

DannoOMG said:
I change up food every night and it repeats after 3 days

Day 1 : Frozen Mysis
Day 2 : Frozen Brine
Day 3 : Frozen Brine + Frozen Calanus (the blenny and possum wrasse don't like the calanus)

Sometimes I put in some Nyos Wild Goji soft pellets.

I feed a big meal once a day.

Add alone LRS fish frenzy and chopped krill which will give them needed aminos and fats

DannoOMG · Dec 23, 2022

vetteguy53081 said:
Add alone LRS fish frenzy and chopped krill which will give them needed aminos and fats

Okidokes.

DannoOMG · Mar 27, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Add alone LRS fish frenzy and chopped krill which will give them needed aminos and fats

I hope me bumping this thread is ok. I have been using LRS Fish Frenzy for a while now and my clownfish was doing great. Just this past week I have noticed there are faded spots on his body. I might have misread what you said. Should I ONLY be using Fish Frenzy to feed? And krill? I was using it every other day in my feedings.

Now I did have a Firefish in the tank that was being aggressive towards everybody so I brought him back and exchanged for another clownfish to give him a buddy. (why the firefish was being a tool I have no idea)

I keep trying to get a good picture of his body but it is impossible to get those faded spots to stick out. It's like he lost some coloring around his fin and torso where the orange should be and is a little white. It was more pronounced a couple days ago and seems less noticeable today. He is also sporting this really long stringy poop.

(video with white lights on)

Current parameters :

Salinity 1.025
pH : 8.0 (API)
Ammonia : 0 (API, attempted 3 times to use a Hannah Ammonia checker and kept getting low light errors and gave up)
Nitrite : 0 (API)
Nitrate : 2.1 (Hannah)
Phosphate : .04 (Hannah)
Calcium : 513 (Hannah)
Alkalinity : 9.6 (Salifert)

The new clownfish seems to be warming up to him easily. Comes by and says hi and then goes off and does his thing. I see no blatant aggression.

Since I made this thread his swimming isn't "puppy dog" consistently. He loves to come out and eat. His breathing seems normal

(and yes for those who notice it I have a horrid aiptasia problem. That's why I called in the navy seals for help a.k.a berghia nudibranches)

Idech · Mar 27, 2023

I’m not an expert but he is swimming weird. And what’s that’s string hanging from its abdomen ? It doesn’t look like poop.

C4ctus99 · Mar 27, 2023

Nice fish! When I got a girlfriend for my clownfish (bigger one becomes female), there was some aggression from her after about a week while she made sure he understood he was hers, they’ve been fine though since

She gets that long stringy poop too, but only after I feed mysis, pellets I don’t see it that much

vetteguy53081 · Mar 27, 2023

DannoOMG said:
I hope me bumping this thread is ok. I have been using LRS Fish Frenzy for a while now and my clownfish was doing great. Just this past week I have noticed there are faded spots on his body. I might have misread what you said. Should I ONLY be using Fish Frenzy to feed? And krill? I was using it every other day in my feedings.

Now I did have a Firefish in the tank that was being aggressive towards everybody so I brought him back and exchanged for another clownfish to give him a buddy. (why the firefish was being a tool I have no idea)

I keep trying to get a good picture of his body but it is impossible to get those faded spots to stick out. It's like he lost some coloring around his fin and torso where the orange should be and is a little white. It was more pronounced a couple days ago and seems less noticeable today. He is also sporting this really long stringy poop.

(video with white lights on)

Current parameters :

Salinity 1.025
pH : 8.0 (API)
Ammonia : 0 (API, attempted 3 times to use a Hannah Ammonia checker and kept getting low light errors and gave up)
Nitrite : 0 (API)
Nitrate : 2.1 (Hannah)
Phosphate : .04 (Hannah)
Calcium : 513 (Hannah)
Alkalinity : 9.6 (Salifert)

The new clownfish seems to be warming up to him easily. Comes by and says hi and then goes off and does his thing. I see no blatant aggression.

Since I made this thread his swimming isn't "puppy dog" consistently. He loves to come out and eat. His breathing seems normal

(and yes for those who notice it I have a horrid aiptasia problem. That's why I called in the navy seals for help a.k.a berghia nudibranches)

The fish appears quite thin and seems to be normal with exception of poop which seems to have excess mucus. Do vary the diet as it should get variety. Dont see a coloration issue other than a slight fading. Fish looks much better

C4ctus99 · Mar 27, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
The fish appears quite thin and seems to be normal with exception of poop which seems to have excess mucus. Do vary the diet as it should get variety. Dont see a coloration issue other than a slight fading. Fish looks much better

Is there a normal cause of excessive mucus in the poop?

vetteguy53081 · Mar 27, 2023

C4ctus99 said:
Is there a normal cause of excessive mucus in the poop?

Generally certain foods, constipation or internal issues

DannoOMG · Mar 28, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Generally certain foods, constipation or internal issues

I read that people feed a fish peas sometimes to relieve fish constipation but I think it was geared towards freshwater. Can freshwater enjoy a pea sometimes?

vetteguy53081 · Mar 28, 2023

DannoOMG said:
I read that people feed a fish peas sometimes to relieve fish constipation but I think it was geared towards freshwater. Can freshwater enjoy a pea sometimes?

This is an old remedy for goldfish and will not work in saltwater. Brine shrimp and even liquid vitamins will work