Is this something to worry about?

[Everything Aquatics]

I just fed my clownfish and it ate a big chunk of food and then was trying to eat more but couldn’t swallow. The clownfish is also opening and closing its mouth rapidly, could this mean it is having a hard time breathing. Is this bad or just something normal, what should I do?

 

[Everything Aquatics]

It’s now sitting under a rock breathing heavy please help.

 

[Dom]

I don't think you have to worry. This is just a guess, but...

Fish don't breath like humans do. If you are worried that the food is obstructing its airway, fish don't breath this way. They take oxygen directly from the water as it flows over the gills. So there is no airway to obstruct.

This being said, Perhaps the fish is struggling getting the food down due to its large size. Again, just a guess...

 

[Everything Aquatics]

I don't think you have to worry. This is just a guess, but...

Fish don't breath like humans do. If you are worried that the food is obstructing its airway, fish don't breath this way. They take oxygen directly from the water as it flows over the gills. So there is no airway to obstruct.

This being said, Perhaps the fish is struggling getting the food down due to its large size. Again, just a guess...

Thanks I think it might just be having a hard time getting the food down.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Does seem its trying to " down the piece of food" with a little more effort but do keep an eye on it.

I fit continues long term, React proactively. - Check ammonia and nitrate as well as ph and salinity. If youre using API test kits, you may be getting false readings.
If in doubt , change water.
Make sure the breathing is consistent , not rapid.

 

[Everything Aquatics]

Does seem its trying to " down the piece of food" with a little more effort but do keep an eye on it.

I fit continues long term, React proactively. - Check ammonia and nitrate as well as ph and salinity. If youre using API test kits, you may be getting false readings.
If in doubt , change water.
Make sure the breathing is consistent , not rapid.

Thanks so much it seems to be trying to eat the food but it can’t. I’ll do a water change tomorrow and hopefully that helps.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks so much it seems to be trying to eat the food but it can’t. I’ll do a water change tomorrow and hopefully that helps.

You could try netting it without removing from tank. I’m being afraid of net, it may try to spit the food out.
If not leave blue light on overnight- as I’d hate to hear at lights out, it gagged on the undigested food

 

[A2dahlberg]

Sometimes when my clown fish does this he spits out the chunk, if its a pellet it should soften up and loosen to clear the obstruction in or out.

 

[Everything Aquatics]

Sometimes when my clown fish does this he spits out the chunk, if its a pellet it should soften up and loosen to clear the obstruction in or out.

Yes hopefully it will dissolve a little and the clownfish will have an Easier time.

 

[Everything Aquatics]

Sadly my first clownfish died

 

[Dom]

Sadly my first clownfish died

Sorry to hear this news. Try not to blame yourself; sometimes things happen in the hobby which are beyond your control.

 

[Everything Aquatics]

Sorry to hear this news. Try not to blame yourself; sometimes things happen in the hobby which are beyond your control.

Thanks it definitely stinks

 

[vetteguy53081]

Unfortunately, it is hard to assess a dead fish. At times you get no warning but in the future, if you happen to see spots/dots, heavy breathing, scratching. loss of diet, etc. . . .. Do take clear pics under white lights for best assessment.

Did fish express heavy breathing, loss of appetite, Hazy milky skin appearance or hanging in corner?

 

[Everything Aquatics]

Unfortunately, it is hard to assess a dead fish. At times you get no warning but in the future, if you happen to see spots/dots, heavy breathing, scratching. loss of diet, etc. . . .. Do take clear pics under white lights for best assessment.

Did fish express heavy breathing, loss of appetite, Hazy milky skin appearance or hanging in corner?

Yes it was breathing heavy and was clearly trying to eat but couldn’t. It also logged itself under a rock.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yes it was breathing heavy and was clearly trying to eat but couldn’t. It also logged itself under a rock.

May have been the onset of brooklynella but again hard to detect once deceased.

 

[Dom]

Tell us more about your acclimation and quarantine practices. Also:

What fish do you have in the tank?
How long has each fish been in the tank?

 

[Everything Aquatics]

Tell us more about your acclimation and quarantine practices. Also:

What fish do you have in the tank?
How long has each fish been in the tank?

That was the only fish in the tank and I have had it for over a year but about 4 months in this tank. I had the fish store quarantine it.

 

[Dom]

That was the only fish in the tank and I have had it for over a year but about 4 months in this tank. I had the fish store quarantine it.

The only reliable quarantine is the quarantine you do yourself. Local fish stores have some of the worst water quality I've ever tested. And I ALWAYS test the water quality of the bag when I bring something home.

You've had it a long time, so I am leaning away from disease as the cause. Velvet or Brook would have killed it a long time ago.

By any chance, did you happen to have another fish in the tank temporarily? You know, perhaps a fish that you were looking after for someone for a short time?

 

[Everything Aquatics]

You've had it a long time, so I am leaning away from disease as the cause. Velvet or Brook would have killed it a long time ago.

By any chance, did you happen to have another fish in the tank temporarily? You know, perhaps a fish that you were looking after for someone for a short time?

no I never had any other fish in the tank.

 

[KrisReef]

In the last photo:
Redness in the entire gill area.
The operculum looks deformed (A mutation?)
The gill tissue looks off-colored and stressed.
The gut/stomach area looks hollow.

In the first photo:
The fish looks ok, except again the gut area seems a bit concave (malnourished)

2nd Photo

In that view, the eye looks cloudy.

Any of these visual cues (which may or may not have been) present on a fish make me question the vitality of the specimen if I am considering it for purchase. I have brought home fish with these issues and they have survived, but I would be very cautious when selecting fish to avoid looking at their beauty and concentrate on their condition. Observing at the LFS for a few weeks may help, if you can afford that luxury.

HTH. k