Smaller clown fish might be having issues

cypike · Feb 10, 2023

Ammonia is 0, Nitrates are .25, salinity is 1.025 and PH is 8

The little guy seems to be pressed against the glass while swimming all the time. He’s still eating but seems to rest on the bottom a lot. Doesn’t breathe heavy or anything. Something just seems off.

Any ideas what it could be? I’ve had them less than a week but the bigger of the two seems perfectly healthy.

Jay Hemdal · Feb 10, 2023

At the end of the first video, the larger clown makes a rush at the smaller one. Clowns are weird when it comes to compatibility - they can fight and tear each other up, but sometimes, the larger ones just intimidate the smaller one, causing extra stress. I think that's what's happening here. Also, the smaller clown is breathing a bit fast and has a pinched belly. If they don't start cohabitating better, you may need to isolate the smaller one.

Also, what are the water quality parameters (especially ammonia)?

Jay

cypike · Feb 10, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
At the end of the first video, the larger clown makes a rush at the smaller one. Clowns are weird when it comes to compatibility - they can fight and tear each other up, but sometimes, the larger ones just intimidate the smaller one, causing extra stress. I think that's what's happening here. Also, the smaller clown is breathing a bit fast and has a pinched belly. If they don't start cohabitating better, you may need to isolate the smaller one.

Also, what are the water quality parameters (especially ammonia)?

Jay

I listed water Params above, but I can isolate the bigger one if it will help. I put an air stone in there to help with oxygenating the water a bit just in case there isn’t enough dissolved o2. How do you treat a pinched belly?

Jay Hemdal · Feb 10, 2023

cypike said:
I listed water Params above, but I can isolate the bigger one if it will help. I put an air stone in there to help with oxygenating the water a bit just in case there isn’t enough dissolved o2. How do you treat a pinched belly?

Sorry - I missed the top line of your post. The water temperature should be kept at around 78 F. The air stone will also help.

The pinched belly issue is just from it not getting enough food. Feed it small amounts 3x a day and ensure it is eating well. Don't over react and dump excess food in the tank, when the fish stop going after the bits of food, stop adding it.

Jay

Geebs19 · Feb 10, 2023

Looks to be normal clownfish behavior to me. Agree with Jay that the larger is assserting her dominance on the smaller male. I would just keep an eye and make sure that the smaller one is eating. I had a pair where the female would force the male into a corner when it was feeding time and he barely got any food.

cypike · Feb 10, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
Sorry - I missed the top line of your post. The water temperature should be kept at around 78 F. The air stone will also help.

The pinched belly issue is just from it not getting enough food. Feed it small amounts 3x a day and ensure it is eating well. Don't over react and dump excess food in the tank, when the fish stop going after the bits of food, stop adding it.

Jay

Ok I’ll start feeding a bit more. Thanks for the help!

vetteguy53081 · Feb 10, 2023

cypike said:
I listed water Params above, but I can isolate the bigger one if it will help. I put an air stone in there to help with oxygenating the water a bit just in case there isn’t enough dissolved o2. How do you treat a pinched belly?

Not sure what test kit youre using but important to know if breathing issue is water quality related or aggression. Pinched belly can be lack of food or internal issue but often the female will deny the male (smaller one) food, a place to hang out and even area fot free swimming.
Isolation would be best bet for aggressor and also observance of smaller one that there is no development from injury and it is eatingand gaining body mass

cypike · Feb 10, 2023

Geebs19 said:
Looks to be normal clownfish behavior to me. Agree with Jay that the larger is assserting her dominance on the smaller male. I would just keep an eye and make sure that the smaller one is eating. I had a pair where the female would force the male into a corner when it was feeding time and he barely got any food.

The little one is eating still luckily but seems to be taking lots of breaks on the bottom. I’ll try feeding 3x a day and see if that helps anything.

cypike · Feb 10, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Not sure what test kit youre using but important to know if breathing issue is water quality related or aggression. Pinched belly can be lack of food or internal issue but often the female will deny the male (smaller one) food, a place to hang out and even area fot free swimming.
Isolation would be best bet for aggressor and also observance of smaller one that there is no development from injury and it is eatingand gaining body mass

I’ve only had these two for about 5 days now, but I do think the larger one is forcing the smaller one into an area.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 10, 2023

cypike said:
I’ve only had these two for about 5 days now, but I do think the larger one is forcing the smaller one into an area.

Its a hierarchy with female dominance and not abnormal but 5 days is pretty quick

cypike · Feb 10, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Its a hierarchy with female dominance and not abnormal but 5 days is pretty quick

Yeah idk what’s going on but it doesn’t look great. I do have limited knowledge of clownfish behavior though. But to me it doesn’t look right. I’m using API test kits for ammonia and nitrite but salifert for nitrate and Hannah for PH. I have a refractometer for salinity.

cypike · Feb 11, 2023

He’s eating still but still seems stressed. I have a breeder box coming in the mail today so I may put the bigger one in there and see if the littler one will calm down a bit.

Jay Hemdal · Feb 11, 2023

Isolating the larger one is a good idea. However, there really isn't any way to know of the smaller one is being picked on and that is causing stress, or if the smaller clown has some other issue, causing it to be picked on. Separating them is one way to determine that though.

I see a lot of food in the water, be sure to not let that build up in the tank, and keep an eye on the ammonia level.

Jay

workhz · Feb 11, 2023

My poor make clown has been bullied by a Tomini for what seems like a year now. The female defends him nowadays. I make sure to get food to the 1/8th of the tanks he seems to feel safe in. Not sure why the Tomini has it in for him, that wasn't always the case.

Just throw in a bigger fish to take the females mind off the male clown

cypike · Feb 11, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
Isolating the larger one is a good idea. However, there really isn't any way to know of the smaller one is being picked on and that is causing stress, or if the smaller clown has some other issue, causing it to be picked on. Separating them is one way to determine that though.

I see a lot of food in the water, be sure to not let that build up in the tank, and keep an eye on the ammonia level.

Jay

I was feeding them at the time, but I’ll make sure to not overdo it

cypike · Feb 11, 2023

Well he’s not doing well, and I don’t think he’s going to make it through the night. He’s doing flips and circles and rolls. Idk what happened but I hope it’s not something I did. I feel horrible currently.

I put him in a hang on breeder box to get him out of the main tank but I don’t think that’s going to help.

Ammonia is still 0

cypike · Feb 12, 2023

He’s still alive but laying on his side and doesn’t seem to be eating. At what point should I consider euthanasia? I don’t want him to suffer but also don’t want to kill him if by some miracle he can make it through.