I keep losing Ocellaris :(

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Hi All,

I bought 2 Ocellaris clowns about 6 weeks ago, about 1-1.5 inches each 1 orange and 1 black (slightly smaller). The black one lasted 2 weeks and I woke up to find it dead in the sand... very sad and disheartened, I quickly went out and bought another 1 which took around 3 or 4 days. This one was slightly bigger than the previous one (same size as the orange).

The 2nd black Ocellaris lasted 4 weeks. I woke up on Fri 13th to find it stuck to the wavemaker. I did notice in the last week of its life the orange Ocellaris was sort of picking and chasing it a round a few times a day, but I thought they were just pairing up (which is the intent).

The only other livestock is a bicolour blenny (added 6th Nov) and some snails.

I'm really at a loss as to what is going on, but I'm hesitant to add another one before I can understand what went wrong so it doesn't happen again. But I dont want to leave it too long so it's not too late for pairing.

I would really appreciate it if someone can advise. TIA

 

[tnewell]

Hi All,

I bought 2 Ocellaris clowns about 6 weeks ago, about 1-1.5 inches each 1 orange and 1 black (slightly smaller). The black one lasted 2 weeks and I woke up to find it dead in the sand... very sad and disheartened, I quickly went out and bought another 1 which took around 3 or 4 days. This one was slightly bigger than the previous one (same size as the orange).

The 2nd black Ocellaris lasted 4 weeks. I woke up on Fri 13th to find it stuck to the wavemaker. I did notice in the last week of its life the orange Ocellaris was sort of picking and chasing it a round a few times a day, but I thought they were just pairing up (which is the intent).

The only other livestock is a bicolour blenny (added 6th Nov) and some snails.

I'm really at a loss as to what is going on, but I'm hesitant to add another one before I can understand what went wrong so it doesn't happen again. But I dont want to leave it too long so it's not too late for pairing.

I would really appreciate it if someone can advise. TIA

Parameters?

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Salinity 1.025
Phosphate 0.25
Nitrate 25
Temp 78F
Fishless Cycle completed Aug 2020
Tank size 14g breeder
Wave maker 530gph
*Added fuge and skimmer this weekend

All fish healthy, energetic, eating, swimming actively.

LFS said the orange Ocellaris could potentially be bullying, hence the 1st black Ocellaris got killed in 2 weeks as it was smaller, then this last one took longer as it was same size as orange.

LFS suggested adding a slightly larger black Ocellaris so it wont be bullied. But the ultimate goal is for them to pair.

 

[tnewell]

Salinity 1.025
Phosphate 0.25
Nitrate 25
Temp 78F
Fishless Cycle completed Aug 2020
Tank size 14g breeder
Wave maker 530gph
*Added fuge and skimmer this weekend

All fish healthy, energetic, eating, swimming actively.

LFS said the orange Ocellaris could potentially be bullying, hence the 1st black Ocellaris got killed in 2 weeks as it was smaller, then this last one took longer as it was same size as orange.

LFS suggested adding a slightly larger black Ocellaris so it wont be bullied. But the ultimate goal is for them to pair.

I have heard of this problem before but haven’t actually had this happen to me, but ocellaris clowns can be a$$holes. They killed 2 flame angels in my tank by ganging up on them. I honestly think if you add a large peaceful clown it might end with the same outcome. I would trade in the aggressive clown and invest in a already paired set of clowns

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

I have heard of this problem before but haven’t actually had this happen to me, but ocellaris clowns can be a$$holes. They killed 2 flame angels in my tank by hanging up on them. I think ultimately if you add a large peaceful clown it might end in the same result. I would trade in the aggressive clown and invest in a already paired set of clowns

Even as juveniles and being 1-1.5 inches big?

 

[tnewell]

Even as juveniles and being 1-1.5 inches big?

Mine are barely an inch and killed 3 other fish. Some of them are just pure evil. Before you consider anything, was he ever nipping at the other clown? Was the other clown eating regularly or hiding while the evil clown ate?

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Mine are barely an inch and killed 3 other fish. Some of them are just pure evil. Before you consider anything, was he ever nipping at the other clown? Was the other clown eating regularly or hiding while the evil clown ate?

Other clown was more fearce when it came to feeding and would eat out of my fingertips. Compared to the orange one who was a bit cautious at first.

I did notice bitten tail fin on the black one towards the end, but assumed it was them working through dominance stage.

Like mentioned previously, orange one would chase the black one around a few times a day, but never saw it happen the other way around.

 

[tnewell]

Other clown was more fearce when it came to feeding and would eat out of my fingertips. Compared to the orange one who was a bit cautious at first.

I did notice bitten tail fin on the black one towards the end, but assumed it was them working through dominance stage.

Like mentioned previously, orange one would chase the black one around a few times a day, but never saw it happen the other way around.

Like i said, I’m no clown expert, but it definitely sounds like a bullying problem.

 

[Rickybobby]

Is it possible you have a parasite in that tank. No qt right?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Any pics of the clowns before they died?
Did they have a slimy, milky looking film on their skin?

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Any pics of the clowns before they died?
Did they have a slimy, milky looking film on their skin?

No nothing... my LFS does TTM and I preorder so the fish never go into their tanks

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Is it possible you have a parasite in that tank. No qt right?

No QT, but TTM at LFS

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

I'm also feeding clams with fish nutrition for immunity and general health.

First black Ocellaris had the orange face

 

[vetteguy53081]

No QT, but TTM at LFS

Hmmm. here pics are helpful. Could be Brook, flukes, parasites or aggression which imposes stress..

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

My initial suspicion is wave maker, especially that I found the second one stuck to it.

 

[tnewell]

did you ever catch him gasping for air?

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

did you ever catch him gasping for air?

Nope, they openly swim all day, then take cover by the rocks at night to avoid flow

 

[tnewell]

Nope, they openly swim all day, then take cover by the rocks at night to avoid flow

Hmmmm, I’m not sure, definitely still sounds like a bullying problem. Here are my little devils

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Hmmmm, I’m not sure, definitely still sounds like a bullying problem. Here are my little devils

They look very cool, how big are they? Did they pair?

 

[tnewell]

They look very cool, how big are they? Did they pair?

Yeah, they occasionally nip at each other but they pair as they host the same shell (and not my expensive butt anemone) they never shy away from food nor attack each other while feeding. The male ocellaris is an inch and the female da vinci is bout half inch bigger than him.