EMERGENCY! CLOWNFISH PROBLEM!

clownfish07 · Oct 28, 2021

Hello everybody, I have a pair of clownfish that we’re doing great for a couple of months, however now one of them is laying on its side and breathing rather erraticly, is also has no appetite. Everything else in the tank is fine, including the other clowns and anemones, so I know it’s not a random nutrient spike, could anybody help me!

clownfish07 · Oct 28, 2021

SlugSnorter · Oct 28, 2021

BUMP

Are those white spots or sand? maybe ich

also add emergency tag to your post

fish disease section can help too

clownfish07 · Oct 28, 2021

SlugSnorter said:
BUMP

Are those white spots or sand? maybe ich

also add emergency tag to your post

fish disease section can help too

Not sure how to add emergency tag, the spots are not sand.

Vested · Oct 28, 2021

White spots on the tail fin look very much like ich, was anything added to the tank recently?

clownfish07 · Oct 28, 2021

Should I post in the disease section too?

clownfish07 · Oct 28, 2021

Vested said:
White spots on the tail fin look very much like ich, was anything added to the tank recently?

Yes, a damsel was recently added, but I don’t think that’s the case as this fish was like this prior to the damsel being added

SlugSnorter · Oct 28, 2021

clownfish07 said:
Not sure how to add emergency tag, the spots are not sand.

double post this in fish disease and have EMERGENCY! in the title so it sticks out

Also check everything else in tanks for those white spots

SlugSnorter · Oct 28, 2021

clownfish07 said:
Should I post in the disease section too?

yes!

clownfish07 · Oct 28, 2021

SlugSnorter said:
double post this in fish disease and have EMERGENCY! in the title so it sticks out

Also check everything else in tanks for those white spots

Ok gotcha, thanks

Vested · Oct 28, 2021

Yeah post in disease with some closer up pictures if you can get them, especially anything that looks like disease (like the tail fin if it has white spots).

SlugSnorter · Oct 28, 2021

Vested said:
White spots on the tail fin look very much like ich, was anything added to the tank recently?

I think they could be, but to cause near death this quickly with so few I find odd so their could be another factor too

clownfish07 · Oct 28, 2021

Vested said:
Yeah post in disease with some closer up pictures if you can get them, especially anything that looks like disease (like the tail fin if it has white spots).

Ok i will do that ASAP!

Taipan88 · Oct 28, 2021

How many Clowns do you have in a single tank?

Clowns are surprisingly Shy and aggressive.
From what I have experienced is that Clowns are best kept in a single pair of 2. Anything more and you run the risk of bullying where the Dominant female becomes the aggressor.
I have seen success if kept in a large group 25+ or more, the aggression is split between the fish. Similar to how you balance Cichlid aggression buy overstocking the tank.

I dare say, your clown may have been bullied away from food and is now exhausted. I have witnessed this in a multi clown tank. I resolved this by isolating the weaker fish and feeding them separately.

SlugSnorter · Oct 28, 2021

clownfish07 said:
Ok i will do that ASAP!

If you find more move everything to QT. If you dont have QT use Ruby reef rally (infections), Kick ich (kills the free swimming ich, doesnt cure fish), and metroplex with focus in the food (kills ich inside fish)

clownfish07 · Oct 28, 2021

Taipan88 said:
How many Clowns do you have in a single tank?

Clowns are surprisingly Shy and aggressive.
From what I have experienced is that Clowns are best kept in a single pair of 2. Anything more and you run the risk of bullying where the Dominant female becomes the aggressor.
I have seen success if kept in a large group 25+ or more, the aggression is split between the fish. Similar to how you balance Cichlid aggression buy overstocking the tank.

I dare say, your clown may have been bullied away from food and is now exhausted. I have witnessed this in a multi clown tank. I resolved this by isolating the weaker fish and feeding them separately.

I have a single pair, I have seen the other clown bullying this one quite a bit, could this be the problem? I witnesses the other clown ramming it when it was on its side.

SlugSnorter · Oct 28, 2021

Taipan88 said:
How many Clowns do you have in a single tank?

Clowns are surprisingly Shy and aggressive.
From what I have experienced is that Clowns are best kept in a single pair of 2. Anything more and you run the risk of bullying where the Dominant female becomes the aggressor.
I have seen success if kept in a large group 25+ or more, the aggression is split between the fish. Similar to how you balance Cichlid aggression buy overstocking the tank.

I dare say, your clown may have been bullied away from food and is now exhausted. I have witnessed this in a multi clown tank. I resolved this by isolating the weaker fish and feeding them separately.

potential ich tail spots, pair of clownfish a few months with good eating at feeding time and no injury? this doesn't seem like bullying

edit: looks like there is bullying, nice call man!!

SlugSnorter · Oct 28, 2021

clownfish07 said:
I have a single pair, I have seen the other clown bullying this one quite a bit, could this be the problem? I witnesses the other clown ramming it when it was on its side.

oh, yes that could this, move this guy to QT and see if he will eat