True perc lifespan?

STP wellsophyllia · May 12, 2013

Recently my true percula clownfish has been looking strange. Ive had him for close to two years now and i bought him full size. Over the last few weeks i have noticed that he looks very pale at night and his fins have started to look raggedy. I have observed him very closely during this period of time day and night and nothing is bothering/harassing him and he has no visible parasites or illnesses which brings up the question... How long do these fish live?? I have no idea how old he was when i bought him as he was not tank raised but i think he may be "getting old"

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Trex · May 12, 2013

A clown should live at least 20 years -- longer in our tanks with proper care.

I would think that something else is going on;

What size tank?
Current parameters -- with numbers please.
What all is in the tank livestock wise?
How long has it been set up?

STP wellsophyllia · May 13, 2013

Okay. I have a 90 gal tank with the true perc, a false perc, and a maroon clown. I also have a harlequin shrimp and a cleaner shrimp. Various corals and such. My parameters are: PH:8
Alkalinity:7.8
ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrate/trite both 0
phosphate .01 ppm
(all tested with red sea pro test kits once a week)

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STP wellsophyllia · May 13, 2013

The tank has been set up for two years and almost two monthsnow

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Trex · May 13, 2013

Have a feeling that when you aren't watching the tank, the maroon is attacking it. They are very aggressive, and personally I am not a fan of more than a pair of clowns per tank.

I would remove the maroon (( even to the sump if you want to see if I am wrong )) to see if the condition of the perc improves.

What food are you using?

STP wellsophyllia · May 13, 2013

Im farmiliar with maroon clown agression, however his previous owner had him in a 29 gallon nano with another pair of clowns and had a happy family. When i first added him i kept a watchful eye on him but never had any problems. Even when feeding there is no agression and there is no territorial behavior shown by any of the clowns. I truly believed this was the problem too. But since ive been watching ive ruled that out.

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STP wellsophyllia · May 13, 2013

The only reason why i havent tried putting him in the sump is because he is impossible to catch

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STP wellsophyllia · May 14, 2013

A little update.. Last night i was watching him and it seems like hes not sleeping. He usually treads water but ive noticed that hes been swimming around the tank at night, just not as actively as daytime.

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MelissaKathryn · May 14, 2013

I'm so sorry.. is he still eating as he normally did? I know you said the Maroon Clown was fine with the other clowns before.. but I think they have been known to change temperaments as well. I would try catching the Maroon with food. When we removed our clowns to give our nem some breathing room, I found it was easier to use a clean plastic cup against the glass to catch them than a net that just gets caught on the rocks. GL!

STP wellsophyllia · May 15, 2013

Yes, he still eats like a pig. Thanks for the advice ill give it a try

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STP wellsophyllia · May 16, 2013

Okay, so i found out what is happening. My other perc is pestering him! It seems like he has a "territory" around my doughnut coral on the sand bed and every time my other perc gets close to it he chases him and nips him! I was going to take him out and put him in the 'fuge but them i thought... What happens when i put this guy back in the display?! i feel like i'll have to take the maroon out and put him in the fuge because he'll harass the "new fish" do you have any suggestions? Id use the mirror trick but it seems counterproductive because they have been in the tank together for so long

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Trex · May 16, 2013

Could take out the maroon, and see if that makes the other perc less aggressive -- when did you add the maroon, if it has been in the last couple of months, it could have changed the existing dynamic. I am leaning that way, since you stated that the percs have been together for 2 years -- if I read that correctly.

STP wellsophyllia · May 16, 2013

Yes the percs have been together for about 2 yrs and the maroon has been in for about 2 months

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STP wellsophyllia · May 17, 2013

Quick question.. Why do clownfish twitch every once in a while

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Trex · May 17, 2013

At each other, yes. In general, no.

STP wellsophyllia · May 18, 2013

okay people.. heres the scoop. i kept watching them and monitoring and whenever the two clowns would nip at eachother i would use a mirror and the clown wouldnt "attack" his reflection but they kinda separate. the true perc is looking much better and although he is still pale at night he is sleeping normally and his fins are healed up a bit (the actual fins are going to take a while to come back but they arent frayed anymore). just another quick comment.. through all of these shenanigans the maroon clown kept entirely to himself. i was very happy about that. ill keep you guys posted should any other problems arise.