Healthy clown?

[projectR]

Hi All!

So Ive had my 29G biocube up and running for just about a month now and recently added a ocellaris clown. My clown seems to only stay at the left top corner of the tank next to the powerhead. He comes out every now and then and eats well, but always swims on his side or floats on his side? not sure if this is normal behavior? any suggestions how i can get him away from the corner of the tank?

 

[gemini9]

I'm not very experienced and I only got my two clowns this past weekend, but swimming on his side just doesn't sound like a good sign. Have you checked your water parameters? Hopefully you acclimated him before putting in the tank?

 

[projectR]

He does swim rightside up also but it just seems like early mornings and evenings hes on his side up in the corner...Ive checked all parameters and everything seems to be good. nitrates0 ph8.4 ammonia was low also....And i also acclimated him before putting him in the tank.

 

[gemini9]

If I understand correctly, fish go into a state of "sleep" at night.... well they don't really sleep... but they go into a minimal state of motion as to "rest". I was a little worried about mine at first, too, because in the mornings they would be barely moving and hovering at the very bottom of the tank, but perk up after a few. You say they eat okay, so that's a good sign. But swimming on his side... I could be wrong but it SOUNDS bad. Hopefully someone with more experience can answer. Salinity and temp okay too? Maybe he's staying off to the side because there's another fish giving him a hard time?

 

[Jimbo662]

+1 what gemini said. when i first got my two they would hover / lay on the bottom for several weeks.

 

[projectR]

Maybe he's staying off to the side because there's another fish giving him a hard time?

Thats what i thought too.. I had a yellow belly damsel with him and he was getting bullied so i removed the Damsel... I guess well see what happens and keep an eye on him.

 

[gemini9]

Damsels are usually pretty territorial/aggressive (especially older damsels). Yellow tailed damsels, not as bad, but others are. Any time you put in another fish with a damsel, you should rearrange your rocks so that there is no "territory" to defend against, as it's an entirely new setup and confuses the established, territorial types of fish. If the clown was indeed harrassed by the damsel, it may be a week or so before the clown realizes the threat is gone.

 

[finallysalty]

It sounds like it may be hosting the power head. I have had several clowns and they can host any thing. I have one now that hosts my magnet cleaner. It swims vertically along the side all night.

If he is eating and swimming you probably don't have much to worry about. Try and move the power head (if you can) and see if he follows.

I love clowns. this is a pair of true percula I trained to host a green bubble tip.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

You said ammonia was low. Ammonia needs to be zero.

 

[kenandmoose2]

I think that it maybe hosting the power head also. I have a couple.of clowns that have paired up and they seem to be hosting a power head. Silly little fish have all kinds of coral and a bubble tip they could host but they choose a power head. I moved my cleaner magnet over and parked it under the power head last night and the clowns were looking at me like I was a jerk. I think it maybe time for a rearranging of the tank or a clown nem only tank to get the to host the nem.

Anyhow I agree the clown is probably hosting the power head

 

[finallysalty]

Before you rearrange, have you tried to train them to host the nem you have?

There are various ways and options. I would try before rearranging.

 

[Eienna]

My clowns have always done that funny floating-on-the-side thing when they sleep. Scared the crud out of me the first few nights.
He's probably picked the powerhead as his home, as the others mentioned. As he gets more comfortable he may begin coming out into the rest of the tank. If you add an anemone or certain corals he may eventually opt to sit in those instead of the powerhead.

EDIT: Sounds like you already have a nem? If so, he should eventually take to it. Be patient, as it can take several months.

 

[ReeferRookie]

Is there a chance he has a special fin ? Jk. Mine did this for awhile but it stopped

 

[kenandmoose2]

Before you rearrange, have you tried to train them to host the nem you have?

There are various ways and options. I would try before rearranging.

I am interested in these options you speak of [emoji2] id love to get them to host my bubble tip. When I purchased the bubble tip with the first clown it was hosting it. As soon as I put them in the tank the clown ditch the nem