Is this normal behavior for 2 new clowns?

Westside Guy · Apr 12, 2019

I just picked up 2 ORA Gladiators that were delivered today to my LFS that were labeled as paired and acclimated them using the drip method before placing them in the tank. Also they are the only fish in the tank.

I plan to keep the lights off until tomorrow and also feed them then. The smaller one is hanging out at the upper left side of the tank and the larger one is staying on the bottom. Is this normal behavior for new clowns?

Flippers4pups · Apr 12, 2019

Westside Guy said:
I just picked up 2 ORA Gladiators that were delivered today to my LFS that were labeled as paired and acclimated them using the drip method before placing them in the tank. Also they are the only fish in the tank.

I plan to keep the lights off until tomorrow and also feed them then. The smaller one is hanging out at the upper left side of the tank and the larger one is staying on the bottom. Is this normal behavior for new clowns?

Yes, till they feel safe. Should be fine soon.

Juniorh2r · Apr 12, 2019

I agree as long as you don't see any rapid breathing

Westside Guy · Apr 12, 2019

Two hours later and they are still staying in their same locations and moving rapidly.

Polyp Punk · Apr 13, 2019

Westside Guy said:
Two hours later and they are still staying in their same locations and moving rapidly.

Give them a little more time to acclimate ... I would keep the lights off for a couple days to relax them a little bit.. I believe they will pair up nicely [emoji1305]

Westside Guy · Apr 13, 2019

Salt_Life said:
Give them a little more time to acclimate ... I would keep the lights off for a couple days to relax them a little bit.. I believe they will pair up nicely [emoji1305]

Last night when I turned the room light off they settled in at the bottom rear corner of the tank on the left side. I just woke up and they are together in the front on the lower left side of the tank. It seems that they don’t have any desire to explore the other side.

I will keep the tank lights off but will feed them later today. I am not sure whether to give them the frozen mysis shrimp or dry food, Cobalt Marine’s ultra pellet sword prawns.

BadFish619 · Apr 13, 2019

Clowns are funky swimmers. Sometimes it looks like they're struggling but its just how they swim. Mine basically live in the top left corner of my tank. They come out to check things out and eat, then straight back. They will also lay on the sand at night to rest. Totally normal clown behavior.

Westside Guy · Apr 13, 2019

BadFish619 · Apr 13, 2019

BadFish619 said:
Clowns are funky swimmers. Sometimes it looks like they're struggling but its just how they swim. Mine basically live in the top left corner of my tank. They come out to check things out and eat, then straight back. They will also lay on the sand at night to rest. Totally normal clown behavior.

Westside Guy said:

They are looking ok to me. In the future I'd let a little more time pass before you take them home from your lfs. If they are something you want just put a deposit down but leave them there a few weeks to make sure they are healthy specimens. Always ask to see them fed while you're there to make sure they're eating

Westside Guy · Apr 13, 2019

BadFish619 said:
They are looking ok to me. In the future I'd let a little more time pass before you take them home from your lfs. If they are something you want just put a deposit down but leave them there a few weeks to make sure they are healthy specimens. Always ask to see them fed while you're there to make sure they're eating

Both the lady I spoke to at ORA and the manager at the LFS said I should take them directly home and not put them in one of the tanks at the LFS where they would be exposed to other fish. They are now the only fish in my 2 month old tank.

What about their first feeding which should I use, frozen mysis shrimp and/or the micro pellet swordfish prawns I have from Cobalt Marine and how soon and how frequently?

BadFish619 · Apr 13, 2019

Well to me that would be one of the reasons for leaving them at the store to see if in fact they are eating, and what they are eating. I feed mine the mysis u have with a mix of pellets soaked in garlic which is an appetite inducer. Everybody has different opinions and reasons for feeding schedule. I feed once daily in the evening and no more than they can eat in about a minute. If they finish up quickly I'll drop a few more pellets in.

Westside Guy · Apr 13, 2019

Taking them straight home in their plastic bags from ORA vs leaving them in the LFS is almost like a "which came first, the chicken or the egg" scenario as there are definitely two schools of thought.

Salty Lemon · Apr 13, 2019

Westside Guy said:
Taking them straight home in their plastic bags from ORA vs leaving them in the LFS is almost like a "which came first, the chicken or the egg" scenario as there are defiantly two schools of thought.

You are correct, sir.

Westside Guy · Apr 13, 2019

BadFish619 said:
Well to me that would be one of the reasons for leaving them at the store to see if in fact they are eating, and what they are eating. I feed mine the mysis u have with a mix of pellets soaked in garlic which is an appetite inducer. Everybody has different opinions and reasons for feeding schedule. I feed once daily in the evening and no more than they can eat in about a minute. If they finish up quickly I'll drop a few more pellets in.

They were shipped from ORA on Friday morning to my LFS so my guess is that the last time they were fed was Thursday. Unless someone tells me otherwise I plan to feed them later today.

Billldg · Apr 13, 2019

Westside Guy said:
They were shipped from ORA on Friday morning to my LFS so my guess is that the last time they were fed was Thursday. Unless someone tells me otherwise I plan to feed them later today.

I put my fish in QT, so no meds get into my DT, but I start to feed within a couple of hours after putting them into the QT. I just don't feed a lot in case they don't initially eat right away, don't want the food creating an ammonia spike. I feed them mysis shrimp soaked in GC and Focus.

I watch them though, to make sure I see normal type behavior caused by shipping stress. If they just don't look right in some way, then I may not feed them till the next morning, judgement call.

BadFish619 · Apr 13, 2019

Westside Guy said:
They were shipped from ORA on Friday morning to my LFS so my guess is that the last time they were fed was Thursday. Unless someone tells me otherwise I plan to feed them later today.

They're great looking fish! Let us know if they chow down!