Is my clown fish dying? Please help, thanks.

[Zhel]

Hi, this new clown fish was introduced last Friday. We got 2 fish in first, the orange clown fish and anthias. Last Friday we introduced another 2, last 2 for our 20 gal, the first 2 chased the 2 new for the first 2 days, I think the black and white clown fish was hurt, but on the 3rd day, they were all peaceful in the tank, with occasional chasing (anthias chasing the angel fish). But since yesterday this saddleback clownfish is not swimming and just lying on the sand. Newbie with tank, not sure what to do? I really don’t know if “he” is eating as he is not really opening his mouth for food. I am testing water everyday, traces of ammonia and nitrate. Thanks.

 

[ScottieB]

Yeah, sorry that fish is unfortunately not gonna make it. There may be a host of issues happening here, hard to say exactly. First, some clown bullying and there shouldn't be traces of ammonia, also that seems like a lot of fish for a 20g?
Hope everything else turns out ok.

 

[Tahoe61]

If I had to guess, I would say new tank syndrome. Too many fish introduce too quickly in a new tank.

The Anthias will not fair well in a 20 and the Angel is questionable.

You will receive a lot of information and assistance on R2R. Patience will be important.

I would add some prime and refrain from any new livestock.

Welcome to R2R.

 

[Zhel]

Yeah, sorry that fish is unfortunately not gonna make it. There may be a host of issues happening here, hard to say exactly. First, some clown bullying and there shouldn't be traces of ammonia, also that seems like a lot of fish for a 20g?
Hope everything else turns out ok.

Thanks for your reply. Just got 4 there in total. I am still observing my saddleback (black and white) clownfish, moving from one spot to another but not swimming. I am hoping he can make it. I am stressed I don’t want him to die.

 

[Big G]

Thanks for your reply. Just got 4 there in total. I am still observing my saddleback (black and white) clownfish, moving from one spot to another but not swimming. I am hoping he can make it. I am stressed I don’t want him to die.

For ammonia burn to the gills, treat in a small tank or container with methylene blue in a temperature matched and heavily aerated "bath" for 60-90 minutes using the dose recommended on the container.

 

[Zhel]

If I had to guess, I would say new tank syndrome. Too many fish introduce too quickly in a new tank.

The Anthias will not fair well in a 20 and the Angel is questionable.

You will receive a lot of information and assistance on R2R. Patience will be important.

I would add some prime and refrain from any new livestock.

Welcome to R2R.

Thank you so much. We just planned with only 4 fish and that’s it. Will drop some Prime now. Hope he survives... Again, thank you.

 

[Tahoe61]

Please review cycling an aquarium.
Adding cycling products, aka bacteria in a bottle.
Preform small water changes.

Research, research.....

 

[Zhel]

Please review cycling an aquarium.
Adding cycling products, aka bacteria in a bottle.
Preform small water changes.

Research, research.....

Thank you. I am and still. Thank you for your reply.

 

[Zhel]

For ammonia burn to the gills, treat in a small tank or container with methylene blue in a temperature matched and heavily aerated "bath" for 60-90 minutes using the dose recommended on the container.

Thank you. I’ll let my husband know so can be done if my clown fish is still moving... just hard to get the stuff from a fish store in this -45C weather with two little ones. Hopefully he survives. Thanks.

 

[Big G]

Best of luck. Methylene Blue is a very good med to keep on hand. It can treat simple injury from shipping and handling, small wounds and scrapes, and works well for ammonia burn. It helps the tissues within the fish's gills to be able to transpire O2. It's an Old School med that is still great to have on hand.

 

[Dragon52]

Do you have a quarantine tank to put the fish in & treat. If not you might want to set one up rather then add Meds to DT.

 

[Zhel]

Thank you everyone. My black & white clown fish is still alive and put in a QT. We discussed it in our LFS where we bought it, apparently he is playing dead as the older clown fish is trying to attack him, so not a good combination as he said. When we bought it in same LFS the lady that assisted us said that they can go well but it was the other way... Hopefully he recovers and we’ll give it back to the LFS where we got him. Heart breaking but want him to survive... Again, thank you all