Help. Clownfish resting on rock

kronex · Sep 28, 2023

Hi everyone

I got two clownfish about a month ago. The smaller one started resting on a rock like this during the day.

He will occasionally change position to a new area of the rock. He will also move when it's time to eat. Is this normal clown behavior or is he possibly sick?

The other larger clown seems fine.

O ammonia 0 nitrite 10 nitrates Salinity 1.025 less

I have attached a movie. Not sure if his breathing is okay

MnFish1 · Sep 28, 2023

Unfortunately cannot see the mp4 - can you post to YouTube.

MnFish1 · Sep 28, 2023

Could you possibly post a YouTube video. and post it here?

robotrash · Sep 28, 2023

Video worked for me, unfortunately I am not an expert. He does appear to be breathing pretty heavy/rapidly though (if it helps others)

MnFish1 · Sep 28, 2023

Its ask the usual questions - was the fish QT'd - if not - what happened between receipt and display tank introduction?

kronex · Sep 28, 2023

robotrash said:
Video worked for me, unfortunately I am not an expert. He does appear to be breathing pretty heavy/rapidly though (if it hel others)

MnFish1 said:
Unfortunately cannot see the mp4 - can you post to YouTube.

Sure see video

vetteguy53081 · Sep 28, 2023

kronex said:
Hi everyone

I got two clownfish about a month ago. The smaller one started resting on a rock like this during the day.

He will occasionally change position to a new area of the rock. He will also move when it's time to eat. Is this normal clown behavior or is he possibly sick?

The other larger clown seems fine.

O ammonia 0 nitrite 10 nitrates Salinity 1.025 less

I have attached a movie. Not sure if his breathing is okay

Clown is breathing heavily and I cant tell much other from video as the video focuses on its face and not body. Please post another.
When did this listlessness begin?
Has it stopped eating?

kronex · Sep 28, 2023

MnFish1 said:
Its ask the usual questions - was the fish QT'd - if not - what happened between receipt and display tank introduction?

Fish was not qt’d. Him and the larger clownfish were added at the same time. He is still eating but the larger clown is aggressive at feeding time.’

kronex · Sep 28, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Clown is breathing heavily and I cant tell much other from video as the video focuses on its face and not body. Please post another.
When did this listlessness begin?
Has it stopped eatin

Here is a pic of his body. I’m not seeing anything stuck out He is eating but seems like he lives to wedge himself into areas of the rock to avoid flow and moving

Jay Hemdal · Sep 28, 2023

kronex said:
Fish was not qt’d. Him and the larger clownfish were added at the same time. He is still eating but the larger clown is aggressive at feeding time.’

Yes, the clown is breathing deep/fast.

Does the smaller clown have any missing scales or damaged fins?

Jay

kronex · Sep 28, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
Yes, the clown is breathing deep/fast.

Does the smaller clown have any missing scales or damaged fins?

Jay

Hi jay

Nothing I can notice. The larger one is aggressive towards him. Here is a better side view video.

Jay Hemdal · Sep 28, 2023

kronex said:
Hi jay

Nothing I can notice. The larger one is aggressive towards him. Here is a better side view video.

I don't see any damage, the fish is acting like it is hosting there. If it wasn't for the rapid breathing, I wouldn't be worried about it.

Do the two fish spend any time close together?

Jay

kronex · Sep 28, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
I don't see any damage, the fish is acting like it is hosting there. If it wasn't for the rapid breathing, I wouldn't be worried about it.

Do the two fish spend any time close together?

Jay

They did at first but now the little one hides in the rock. They will come together when I feed. I started feeding the small one directly with a pipette as the larger one wouldn’t let him eat much. Is it possible he is hosting the rock? He seems to be moving to a few spots with no flow and just resting Against the rock. I agree as I wasn’t too worried until I noticed the breathing

Jay Hemdal · Sep 28, 2023

kronex said:
They did at first but now the little one hides in the rock. They will come together when I feed. I started feeding the small one directly with a pipette as the larger one wouldn’t let him eat much. Is it possible he is hosting the rock? He seems to be moving to a few spots with no flow and just resting Against the rock. I agree as I wasn’t too worried until I noticed the breathing

Yes, the breathing is an issue, but it is a symptom, not something specifically treatable. If both fish were breathing fast, then it would point to either a water quality or contagious disease issue. With just the one breathing fast, it is either a non-contagious disease or being picked on (which I think we’ve ruled out).

Jay

kronex · Sep 28, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
Yes, the breathing is an issue, but it is a symptom, not something specifically treatable. If both fish were breathing fast, then it would point to either a water quality or contagious disease issue. With just the one breathing fast, it is either a non-contagious disease or being picked on (which I think we’ve ruled out).

Jay

Thanks, so just monitor him to see if any other symptoms appear? Nothing else I can really do at this point?

Jay Hemdal · Sep 29, 2023

kronex said:
Thanks, so just monitor him to see if any other symptoms appear? Nothing else I can really do at this point?

Well, you could go all in and try to treat the rapid breathing, but that is a shot in the dark since we don't have a good idea as to what is causing that. For sure if it goes off feed, let us know ASAP as then you will need to treat it with something - even if it is just a guess.

Jay

kronex · Sep 29, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
Well, you could go all in and try to treat the rapid breathing, but that is a shot in the dark since we don't have a good idea as to what is causing that. For sure if it goes off feed, let us know ASAP as then you will need to treat it with something - even if it is just a guess.

Jay

Thanks Jay,

Will do. He is still eating this morning. He’s moved around to a few different spots in the rock. Do you think a freshwater dip would help or might be premature? Don’t want to stress him out more if not needed.

Jay Hemdal · Sep 29, 2023

kronex said:
Thanks Jay,

Will do. He is still eating this morning. He’s moved around to a few different spots in the rock. Do you think a freshwater dip would help or might be premature? Don’t want to stress him out more if not needed.

FW dips are stressful and won't cure the fish if it has flukes. The dip will provide some temporary relief, so if you see it get better a few days after the dip, you can pretty much figure it has flukes and you could then do a full treatment.

Jay

kronex · Sep 29, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
FW dips are stressful and won't cure the fish if it has flukes. The dip will provide some temporary relief, so if you see it get better a few days after the dip, you can pretty much figure it has flukes and you could then do a full treatment.

Jay

He’s now tucking himself into this area of the rock. Not sure if he is doing this to avoid the larger clown. Noticed some white stringy poop in the video below. Not sure if I should let him be or take action at this point.

MnFish1 · Sep 29, 2023

Not much to add - to me it looks like he is stressed out/hiding. Can you set up a camera so you can watch what's happening when you're not standing there?