Is My Clownfish Hosting or Dying

ccombs · Apr 25, 2019

Hey!

See attached video. One of my clowns loves to hang out in the corners. Right now he is swimming around completely normal, no spots or issues with poop, no signs of disease. I did a quick feeding to be sure he is still eating this morning and he is. Quickly checked ammonia and it is at 0.

This video is from a few minutes ago, I think he is just hosting in the corner, but the behavior is still terrifying.

Right after the video he went on swimming as per usual.

James M · Apr 25, 2019

Video isn’t working. Try sharing the link to the vid

reef lover · Apr 25, 2019

Vids not working.

ccombs · Apr 25, 2019

James M said:
Video isn’t working. Try sharing the link to the vid

reef lover said:
Vids not working.

Try it again, sorry about that. Thank you for taking a look.

AquaLifeStudio · Apr 25, 2019

Clownfish are certainly known for their odd behavior. I've got a few that pick a corner as their "home" but are always wiggling around. I'd be concerned too if I saw one stop moving its fins and begin to lean over like that on the sandbed.

Mhart032 · Apr 25, 2019

I dont believe healthy, ive seen this a couple times. they get disoriented, and end up in the corner, just like that.

James M · Apr 25, 2019

Hmm. I’ve had mine do that at night time but not during the daylight hours
Looks healthy, I would keep a close eye on it.

Crashjack · Apr 25, 2019

Hanging out in a corner isn't out of the ordinary, and they sometimes swim erratic, even appearing like they are having spasms. Yours looks to be lethargic just resting on the bottom, and breathing sort of heavy.

melanotaenia · Apr 25, 2019

I assume based on the patterning that this clown is captive bred. I have seen many CB clowns exhibit similar behavior.

Is the clown new to your tank? Do you have another clownfish in the tank with it?

My clowns in the evening sometimes will lay on the sand, but as soon as I make any movements near the tank they start swimming around.

reef lover · Apr 25, 2019

Very strange ....
Doesnt seem quite right...

ccombs · Apr 25, 2019

What is weird is that he is acting normal otherwise. Just every now and then he goes into the corner and rests on the substrate, breathing does seem fast though.

He is captive bred from sustainable aquatics and has a mate that is acting normal.

They are young and still haven’t established male/female yet.

They have been in the tank about 3 weeks.

ccombs · Apr 26, 2019

Just an update, I had to leave town right as I posted this.

My wife just told me that the clowns are still doing great. He has been doing this for the past few days and seems to move once he sees me walk up. I had to be still and wait for him to get that video.

I hope there is not something wrong that I am missing here. He seems very normal except when he does this lol.

I just went through a complete tank breakdown, and with some other stress happening in my life at the moment, I don't think I have the mental capacity to deal with another disease outbreak if something happened.

James M · Apr 26, 2019

Hopefully just weird/silly behavior and nothing bad

mermaid_life · Apr 26, 2019

I think it's normal. I have a pair of CB clown fish that I've had for 5 years. When I first got them, they started doing word things like swimming vertically, spazing, and even inverting once a while. They have also hosted a corner of the tank and refuse to host anywhere else. They sometimes smash themselves into a corner and stop moving for no reason. They're so weird lol. I wouldn't be too concerned if most of the time they are swimming and eating normally

TRIGGER SHARKFIST · Apr 26, 2019

My 2 Pec clowns do this.

Either bottom corner or top corner. They also both sleep against the overflow weir.

melanotaenia · Apr 26, 2019

I would be willing to wager that at three weeks the clowns are getting used to their new home and exhibiting strange, but normal CB clown behavior. I would not sweat it as long as it is eating and that he swims around when people approach the tank. Do keep us updated on how it is doing!

ccombs · Apr 27, 2019

They still seem fine. I appreciate everyone jumping in here. I had a feeling that they were just being clownfish, I just wanted some extra opinions to be sure I wasn't missing anything.

The most concerning is it does seem like he is breathing hard in the video. Normally he is breathing fine so I am not sure what to think.

aydemir · Apr 28, 2019

Not sure...its just clowning around.

FWIW though, I had a clown do something similar but not in the corner and it died, however it was on the same day. I had accidentally fed it thawed frozen food that I left out for a few days...really stupid mistake - can't be 100% sure that was what did it but the chance is very high. Also when hosting I have noticed my clowns swim in an up/down motion in the same spot. Pretty sure that didn't clear up anything for you, so cheers

Great looking clownfish too lol

reef lover · Apr 28, 2019

@HotRocks @Big G can you guys take a look at that vid ?

ccombs · Apr 30, 2019

For those of you following along at home, the clown is still doing really well and not showing any signs of poor health. I guess he just likes giving me panic attacks.