New clownfish showing odd behavior

KaidenGilbert20g · Jul 25, 2020

I just got a new clownfish at my lfs and I drop acclimated him for about an hour and then I introduced him into the aquarium with my previous clown and goby and he seemed to be fine all day and I just checked on him and he seems weak and he can’t swim. He try’s to swim but he just sinks. The other two fish are perfect fine.

KaidenGilbert20g · Jul 25, 2020

Here’s a picture of him

KaidenGilbert20g · Jul 25, 2020

What can I do?!?!

Thaxxx · Jul 25, 2020

Does he swin up vertically then just sink to the bottom, and do it over and over again?
If so, I've seen it many times with healthy clowns.

KaidenGilbert20g · Jul 25, 2020

Thaxxx said:
Does he swin up vertically then just sink to the bottom, and do it over and over again?
If so, I've seen it many times with healthy clowns.

Yes he does but it seems like he’s swimming really hard

Salt Addiction · Jul 25, 2020

Hey may be getting used to your flow if the store was low flow. Kind of like a someone who is ~~fat~~ out of shape being told they now have to run a marathon with no prep. He doesnt look stressed in the image so I'd give him a few days and see if he adapts, they are not the best swimmers.

Edit: Forgot to add, I run a high flow LPS/SPS tank and mine have all done this almost every time when from the store I like given they use low flow UG filtration. Biggest question is after a day is he eating and how rapid is gill movement compared to the other?

KaidenGilbert20g · Jul 25, 2020

I just fed this morning and he ate perfectly fine. And thank you for the info

LeftyReefer · Jul 25, 2020

Same issue with my new clowns. They are the first additions to my new tank. Whenever I turn the wavemaker on, they just swim at the far end of the tank and never leave that end of the tank... Turn off the wavemakers and they swim all over the tank.

Worried I've sent the tank up with too much flow for them.

Reef. · Jul 25, 2020

If his month is not open wide, and he is eating or starts eating soon, I would say it’s just him getting used to the tank, seems that’s the case as he is in the corner, which is a place they like to go, if he was struggling swimming I would expect him to be on his side or upside down, I’m not a fish but I would think it’s harder to swim upright how he is than just letting the flow carry him away.

Reef. · Jul 25, 2020

LeftyReefer said:
Same issue with my new clowns. They are the first additions to my new tank. Whenever I turn the wavemaker on, they just swim at the far end of the tank and never leave that end of the tank... Turn off the wavemakers and they swim all over the tank.

Worried I've sent the tank up with too much flow for them.

clowns do tend to swim in one place, think about it this way, flow could help them swim against it, it pushes them along etc, calm water would need probably just as much effort to swim against...ever been in the sea? Your powerhead wouldn’t even register compared to the flow out there.

KaidenGilbert20g · Jul 25, 2020

Reef. said:
clowns do tend to swim in one place, think about it this way, flow could help them swim against it, it pushes them along etc, calm water would need probably just as much effort to swim against...ever been in the sea? Your powerhead wouldn’t even register compared to the flow out there.

He seems to be doing ok now