Really strange and concerning clown behavior

[Joshua2598]

Got this beautiful snowflake clown from live aquaria today at around 11 AM. It went in the tank at 12 PM, (its 11 PM right now) that was my first mistake. I didn't allow it to acclimate to the water correctly and I let him too fast. Here I am rushing even though I keep reminding my self patience is key. Luckily I drip acclimated my coral and flower anemone and porcelain crab for 3 hours. After about 2 hours into the tank he was on his side swimming and I just watched carefully. After that he hid for around 3 hours in the rock and finally I turned on the lights and he came out and swam for bit. After that he acted super strange. He started going vertical and swimming almost into the sand brushing it, then he continually got himself stuck under the rock. I had to go in and move around the rock work 5 times because he somehow made in really deep under the Rock!!! I cant see him right now as a matter of fact he is hiding I think In a hole in the rock that's at such an angle I cant see him. He was in there earlier as I saw him hanging around there and then he was gone. He's probably sleeping right now. I just need help as I'm kind of panicking about him as he's so beautiful and I'd hate to lose him.[emoji22]

 

[Phelipe's Ocean]

Clownfish are really quirky and display all sorts of weird behaviors and sleeping patterns so sometimes its hard to know how they are doing. Yes you should not have rushed the acclimation but that shouldnt be enough to kill one they are super hardy. Keep the lights off to minimize stress. Its possible he came in too far gone already all you can really do is wait for the morning.

 

[Joshua2598]

I'll hope for the best.

 

[Joshua2598]

He didn't look to good when came in the bag. Lots of poop and floaties. That's probably why I rushed

 

[Phelipe's Ocean]

Ok Send an update in the morning

 

[Joshua2598]

Yep, I'll try to remember to update

 

[Joshua2598]

Also. He had white poop and I hadn't fed it and white poop Is never a good sign i learned in my freshwater days

 

[Joshua2598]

Yikes, fantastic see him, time to get take down the rocks... for the 6th time. There really isn't many blind spots for him to go

 

[Joshua2598]

Yeah cant got autocorrected to fantastic

 

[Joshua2598]

Yes!!!! I found him under the rock structure and he's alive! I hope he eats today

 

[Joshua2598]

Hes not doing to well though. Laying on his side and breathing hard. Now he's hiding under the rocks.

 

[kirstyflash]

Just be careful moving the rocks so much, it can stress him more. Maybe try food? Might perk him up.

 

[Crabs McJones]

How old is the tank and what did you use to cycle it? That is very white rock you have in your pictures, can you post your water parameters please?. Clown also looks very skinny in your pictures, have you tried feeding him? White stringy poo is the telltale sign of an internal parasite. Rushing acclimation likely didnt help either.
#reefsquad

 

[TheEngineer]

^--- all of that and also what are you water parameters?

 

[MSB123]

I bet its a oxygen issue! I had the same problem and my clowns were doing the same thing! I would add hydrogen peroxide, about 1ml per 25 gallons. That should help. If not, add more, up to a concentration of 1ml per 10 gallons. Don't rush or panic!
Here is my experience https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/h...t-the-bottom-and-breathing-hard.426506/page-3

 

[Joshua2598]

I've tried feeding him multiple times and hes never accepted it. I tried frozen shrimp even. Rock anemone liked it but the clown ignored it to. I used dr Tim's one and only or whatever it's called and I cycled it for 4 weeks ghost feeding. Yes it is dry rock. These are the first livestock here. Parameters are perfect nitrate around 10 ppm

 

[HotRocks]

Certain disease will cause light to bother the fish's eyes, specifically velvet. Also newly acclimated fish should always have lights out for 24hours IMO. They have been on a 24hr journey on flights and bouncing down the road in that back of semis and box trucks. They need a calm environment.

If your parameters didn't match what he arrived in, this would also stress the fish further.

 

[Joshua2598]

Right now I have him in a breeding net that I used for freshwater many months ago. Hes now swimming vertical and laying belly up breathing very fast. Should I be treating with some kind of medicene?

 

[MSB123]

Thats bad, Ideal nitrates are below .25 ppm and never should be above 5ppm. You might want to take him out and like it cycle for another 2 months or so, I never put anything in a tank where all params are perfect and only after 4 months of cycling

 

[TheEngineer]

I've tried feeding him multiple times and hes never accepted it. I tried frozen shrimp even. Rock anemone liked it but the clown ignored it to. I used dr Tim's one and only or whatever it's called and I cycled it for 4 weeks ghost feeding. Yes it is dry rock. These are the first livestock here. Parameters are perfect nitrate around 10 ppm

Please post the detailed parameters.