Really worried about my little clown

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

so just keep monitoring things?

Sorry, I was just commenting on the nitrite issue so that you don’t go down a rabbit hole there - there still may be an issue that needs resolving here…..
Jay

 

[hardcoralsash]

Sorry, I was just commenting on the nitrite issue so that you don’t go down a rabbit hole there - there still may be an issue that needs resolving here…..
Jay

well what would you do next if you were me?

 

[mjszos]

well what would you do next if you were me?

I would recommend a water change to try and drop your ammonia (it’s less toxic as Jay mentioned due to your pH), make sure you’re getting surface agitation to provide oxygen, then monitor. If you can I’d get accurate tests results daily for the next week or 2 to make sure your parameters remain stable as the fish continues to recover.

As with all things in this hobby, patience and observation are key.

Edit: I will also add that the main things that I would look out for are the breathing and eating. I wouldn’t dig too deep into how they’re acting otherwise. Clowns are weird and can be totally normal but acting like a fish on its last leg. As long as it’s breathing, eating, swimming, and you don’t see anything physically wrong with it I would be much less concerned (personally)

 

[MnFish1]

well what would you do next if you were me?

I think he meant the ammonia is high - but its not as much a worry at pH 7.9.. You could do a water change - and I would do another dose of bacteria (which I think you were using Fritz?)

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

well what would you do next if you were me?

If the fish is breathing better and is eating, I would just monitor for now. If it is breathing fast and/or not eating, then it could be a gill disease.
Jay

 

[FreeEnergyReefer]

Super worried about the lil guy. He’s not eating, breathing rapidly and has stayed in the same spot for the last 36 hrs. Gonna try to attach a vid so you can get a better idea of what’s going on. Any help is so greatly appreciated. I love this fish.

Hope you got him figured out. Add a skimmer and check for gill flukes. Freshwater dip him for 2min and see if any falls off his gills

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hope you got him figured out. Add a skimmer and check for gill flukes. Freshwater dip him for 2min and see if any falls off his gills

Just to clarify - FW dips need to be done for 5 minutes, and gill flukes are too small to be seen in the dip water without a microscope.

Jay

 

[Kasrift]

Before you freshwater dip though, read through some through some threads on these forums. You need to use RODI water, need to make sure it matches temperature, and make sure the pH is similar. It can be stressful for a fish.

 

[hardcoralsash]

Before you freshwater dip though, read through some through some threads on these forums. You need to use RODI water, need to make sure it matches temperature, and make sure the pH is similar. It can be stressful for a fish.

right now i’m still monitoring him. he seems to be doing much better after having better flow, surface agitation, and another does of beneficial bacteria. not going to dip him unless he gets worse again. For now i’m just going to continue monitoring him and daily water tests. He’s swimming with my other clown and breathing ok and started eating very little but at least it’s something. they love the new power head, they’ve been surfing it all morning.

 

[hardcoralsash]

@jay

Just to clarify - FW dips need to be done for 5 minutes, and gill flukes are too small to be seen in the dip water without a microscope.

Jay

everything was doing much better and now i see he has this little white bump on his nose. please advise what to do from here

 

[hardcoralsash]

Just to clarify - FW dips need to be done for 5 minutes, and gill flukes are too small to be seen in the dip water without a microscope.

Jay

will post my water parameters here in a minute, running the tests now

 

[hardcoralsash]

Just to clarify - FW dips need to be done for 5 minutes, and gill flukes are too small to be seen in the dip water without a microscope.

Jay

ph - 7.8
Ammonia - .50 ppm
Nitrite - 2.0 ppm
Nitrate - 10 ppm

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

ph - 7.8
Ammonia - .50 ppm
Nitrite - 2.0 ppm
Nitrate - 10 ppm

So - similar to before, right? Just bears watching, the ammonia would be better at about half that level.
Jay

 

[hardcoralsash]

So - similar to before, right? Just beats watching, the ammonia would be better at about half that level.
Jay

so maybe a water change? also did you take a look at that little bump?

 

[hardcoralsash]

Before you freshwater dip though, read through some through some threads on these forums. You need to use RODI water, need to make sure it matches temperature, and make sure the pH is similar. It can be stressful for a fish.

any insight on what this little bump could be??? looks like a tiny pimple

 

[hardcoralsash]

any insight on what this little bump could be??? looks like a tiny pimple

holy **** are those spots on his side something too? or is that just his pigmentation, i thought they were part of him but now i’m wondering..

 

[hardcoralsash]

So - similar to before, right? Just beats watching, the ammonia would be better at about half that level.
Jay

see above.. i’m starting to think they sold me a sick fish, cause he came with the spots on his side. i dunno im really confused.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

see above.. i’m starting to think they sold me a sick fish, cause he came with the spots on his side. i dunno im really confused.

Looks like four missing scales on the fish’s side, that isn’t something that needs treating. Is it the white spot on the nose by its right eye you are worried about? Tat doesn’t look serious either.
Jay

 

[FreeEnergyReefer]

Just to clarify - FW dips need to be done for 5 minutes, and gill flukes are too small to be seen in the dip water without a microscope.

Jay

5min is best i just make sure i watch him.
Tbh I thought I've seen them one time after a dip but prob not. You can just tell by the fishes behavior. If it worked.

 

[RaymondL]

ph - 7.8
Ammonia - .50 ppm
Nitrite - 2.0 ppm
Nitrate - 10 ppm

Dosing some Seachem Prime would help bring down those values if not zero them out.