Fish swimming vertically into filter output

Seasickboss · Mar 22, 2023

Hi there,

First time poster and I just had a quick question about my new clownfish. The tank is around 2 months old and I let it cycle for about a month with live rock also Marine Colony, the parameters are normal, just checked today and they seem to be fine. I have had the fish for about a week now. This fish has been swimming kind of vertically for a few days now. It was doing it on the other side of the aquarium as well but eventually moved the other side with the filter. The other clownfish in the tank seems to be doing really good and is not exhibiting the same behavior. This is my first tank and I might be over reacting but I was curious what others thought.

Thanks

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nIvQWfj8gU4

vetteguy53081 · Mar 22, 2023

Seasickboss said:
Hi there,

First time poster and I just had a quick question about my new clownfish. The tank is around 2 months old and I let it cycle for about a month with live rock also Marine Colony, the parameters are normal, just checked today and they seem to be fine. I have had the fish for about a week now. This fish has been swimming kind of vertically for a few days now. It was doing it on the other side of the aquarium as well but eventually moved the other side with the filter. The other clownfish in the tank seems to be doing really good and is not exhibiting the same behavior. This is my first tank and I might be over reacting but I was curious what others thought.

Thanks

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nIvQWfj8gU4

It looks like its resisting the amount of water current and also may be getting intimidated by the other clown which happens often. The fish is distant in the video and could use a closer view under white lighting .

MnFish1 · Mar 22, 2023

One worrisome symptom is a fish swimming into a flow - which can signify lack of oxygen - I concur with @vetteguy53081 that more pictures would help - and close observation. I'm assuming you did not QT the fish? (EDIT - Suggesting some kind of Gill Injury/flukes/velvet/etc)

Jay Hemdal · Mar 22, 2023

Welcome to Feef2Reef!

+1 on the clown may have issues with the other one, but it also may be breathing too fast (tough to see clearly).

Jay

Seasickboss · Mar 22, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
It looks like its resisting the amount of water current and also may be getting intimidated by the other clown which happens often. The fish is distant in the video and could use a closer view under white lighting .

I took a closer video around the same time as the other one. The fish has since moved from that position but it seems to have some sort of white thing on the side of the its face. You can kind of see it in the video. I will take some more pictures and see if anything changes. It is currently hanging out with the other clownfish and no longer sitting at the bottom of the filter output.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Yn7puF0iPns

vetteguy53081 · Mar 22, 2023

Seasickboss said:
I took a closer video around the same time as the other one. The fish has since moved from that position but it seems to have some sort of white thing on the side of the its face. You can kind of see it in the video. I will take some more pictures and see if anything changes. It is currently hanging out with the other clownfish and no longer sitting at the bottom of the filter output.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Yn7puF0iPns

Based on video , this clown is thin and showing signs of weakness and not sure if its swimming to the powerhead or getting drawn in.
As for loose skin, cant see it

Seasickboss · Mar 22, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Based on video , this clown is thin and showing signs of weakness and not sure if its swimming to the powerhead or getting drawn in.
As for loose skin, cant see it

I unplugged the powerhead head before I took these videos just incase the fish was getting disturbed by it. These are pictures from the video and they show some sort of white sport near the fishes mouth. Not sure if you are able to make it out or not.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 22, 2023

Seasickboss said:
I unplugged the powerhead head before I took these videos just incase the fish was getting disturbed by it. These are pictures from the video and they show some sort of white sport near the fishes mouth. Not sure if you are able to make it out or not.

yes this helps and looks like a result of an injury and can be the squabble result from another clown, scratch or nick.
At this point. . . IF eating and breathing normal, assure its healing and becoming infected and see if you have not already, if these two argue occasionally with use of mouths

Seasickboss · Mar 22, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
yes this helps and looks like a result of an injury and can be the squabble result from another clown, scratch or nick.
At this point. . . IF eating and breathing normal, assure its healing and becoming infected and see if you have not already, if these two argue occasionally with use of mouths

I will continue to monitor the fish. It does not swim the same as the other fish which is a bit odd but I will keep an eye on it. Thank you for your help.