New clown not eating 6 days

EJMaguire · Aug 31, 2020

I got a clown last week, and they haven't eaten anything yet. My levels are perfect according to a petco test, and multiple tests that I've done. 77 degrees. 0 ammonia. 37 gallon with power head, live rock, live sand. He's my first, and only fish in the tank. The first two days he was in the open bobbing up and down. For the past 3 he's been in a cave swimming in place with his head up most of the time. If he sees food he doesn't eat it. He gets close sometimes, but then backs away. Visually he seems fine. First photo is from day 2. Second is from today. Color vibrancy is different because I've shut the tank light off. I also might add that before he committed to the cave, it seemed like he was low energy. Lying on the bottom, and almost rolling over. I don't know what I'm doing wrong and I need help!!

I've tried pellets with garlic, and frozen omnivore cubes. I can't find any Kent's extreme garlic so I'm out of ideas there. The only other thing I saw was that perhaps adding another fish will help. Someone on another forum had a clown that did this until they had a friend... Thank you!

TankMaid · Aug 31, 2020

Are you using RODI water? My clown didn’t eat the first few days so I had to target feed PE mysis with tongs. Now she eats pellets and everything else.

Hincapiej4 · Aug 31, 2020

It sounds like he's def sick. You didn't get him from petco.. did you..please say no. Also sounds like he's hiding from the light..

Hincapiej4 · Aug 31, 2020

" I also might add that before he committed to the cave, it seemed like he was low energy. Lying on the bottom, and almost rolling over. I don't know what I'm doing wrong and I need help!! "

What was the acclimation like? Could be that too.

EJMaguire · Aug 31, 2020

Hincapiej4 said:
" I also might add that before he committed to the cave, it seemed like he was low energy. Lying on the bottom, and almost rolling over. I don't know what I'm doing wrong and I need help!! "

What was the acclimation like? Could be that too.

I drip acclimated for 40 minutes. And yes, he was from petco.

EJMaguire · Aug 31, 2020

TankMaid said:
Are you using RODI water? My clown didn’t eat the first few days so I had to target feed PE mysis with tongs. Now she eats pellets and everything else.

No, but I did buy the pre treated pacific water and the tank was cycled. I may try target feeding and extreme garlic

TankMaid · Aug 31, 2020

EJMaguire said:
No, but I did buy the pre treated pacific water and the tank was cycled. I may try target feeding and extreme garlic

Chances are he is sick from petco, but not a guarantee. My clowns refuse to eat from the sand bed and like things that are moving slightly. Try wiggling some food in front of him. I would do a water change if you can just to be safe.

Uncle99 · Aug 31, 2020

EJMaguire · Aug 31, 2020

Uncle99 said:
Ick?

From my research and observations, no ick

EJMaguire · Aug 31, 2020

TankMaid said:
Chances are he is sick from petco, but not a guarantee. My clowns refuse to eat from the sand bed and like things that are moving slightly. Try wiggling some food in front of him. I would do a water change if you can just to be safe.

Okay. Another good thing to add was that he wasn't in a tank at Petco. He had just arrived and was still in a bag being float acclimated to their tank. I took him home before he was released in the Petco tank. Maybe that was a mistake? He honestly doesn't seem sick. I just tried to feed some of the frozen shrimp cube and he just seems scared and uncomfortable. He moves fine, reacts fine. At this point I may see if introducing another fish will help him feel more comfortable. A few other forums suggested that.
EDIT: I tried wiggling the food and that's what scared him.

TankMaid · Aug 31, 2020

Not a bad idea, I might dim the lights and the amount you watch him over the next day to limit stress

EJMaguire · Aug 31, 2020

TankMaid said:
Not a bad idea, I might dim the lights and the amount you watch him over the next day to limit stress

BUT HE'S SO BEAUTIFUL. Haha, lights are off and I'll leave him be... Though I think I'm going to grab another clown... Found this post, and hoping to have the same result...

"

Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: South
Posts: 1,036

same thing happened to one of mine when I got him from fish store. he went from being tank raised and always being with other clowns, to being alone in my tank. he would zoom all over the place following along the glass or he would park himself up in the corner looking like he was breathing fast. He also wasn't eating. after about 4 or 5 days I went and picked up another clown from same store and added him to the tank and my first clown immediately greeted him and began swimming with him. I dropped some food in and they both ate like nothing was ever wrong. lol

now they are always together and its many months later, and both eat like pigs."

Uncle99 · Aug 31, 2020

Sorry, I think adding another clown or any fish is a bad idea, until your current fish eats.
Lonely, maybe....But......if he’s got a parasite, whether, Ick, brook or velvet, you will have two fish infected.
You can’t always see visible systems. It could also be bacterial.

I’m not saying the fish is sick, just behaving abnormally IMO.

Add activated carbon, check ammonia, PH and salinity, small water change.
Continue to try and feed.