Unusual clown behavior

[Jam2395]

Hi everyone, so I have an issue with one of my clowns. I have 2 clowns. 1 I’ve had for about 4 weeks and the newest one has been in my tank for 2 weeks. The newest one in the past 48 hours has first refused to eat and I noticed this morning it is laying sideways under my rock formation. Took a while to find it because it’s such a low spot in the tank. This one also has a weird spot protruding from its underside. Both clowns normally are right up front and upper part of tank. My first one is acting normal and is not showing any strange behavior.

Tank stock.
2 clowns
1 scooter blend
1 emerald crab
2 turbo snails
1 nassarius snail

— everything else in the tank seems to be acting normal

— parameters
Temp 78
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10ppm
Ph 8.1
Salinity 1.025

 

[Peace River]

One possibility is that the hierarchy aggression began and the fish is hiding from being bullied. I can't really see the weird spot that you described, but do you think it is related to a wound? Is it possibly a white "fluffy" growth?

#reefsquad #clownfish

 

[Mr Fishface]

Do you have an acclimation box? If so try to put it in there for a bit and see. It might help it eat better if there is no compition right next to it. My guess is what the post above said - one fish is showing dominance right now. Happened in my tank where one clown bullied the other anytime it showed its face.

 

[Jam2395]

Yes the growth looks like a white fluffy half ball shape located close to the anus. I never thought about any dominance problems. At least between the 2 clowns. From day 1 they stayed together 24/7 but now they’re very distant. Also could be something else maybe my emerald. She got all mad at the blenny once lol. I’ll put this guy in my 10g quarantine tank for a little while see what happens. Thank you for the suggestions

 

[Peace River]

Yes the growth looks like a white fluffy half ball shape located close to the anus. I never thought about any dominance problems. At least between the 2 clowns. From day 1 they stayed together 24/7 but now they’re very distant. Also could be something else maybe my emerald. She got all mad at the blenny once lol. I’ll put this guy in my 10g quarantine tank for a little while see what happens. Thank you for the suggestions

I am less worried about the possible aggression, and more concerned about the potential disease issue. Aggression is part of the hierarchy and pairing/mating process - it is how clowns are wired and how they determine who will become the female, the male, and (if there are any others in the tank) who will remain juveniles.

Does anyone on the #reefsquad have an idea of what the "white fluffy half ball" is on the fish in the picture above and how to treat it?

 

[Jam2395]

He finally came out and sitting on sand now. Here’s a little better picture.

 

[Fudsey]

@HotRocks might know better...

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Not a disease guy but if I had to guess I would say Rectal Prolapse.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-disease-index-pictorial-guide.285708/

 

[Jam2395]

Thank you for the link hdsoftail1065 very informative !

 

[HotRocks]

Not a disease guy but if I had to guess I would say Rectal Prolapse.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-disease-index-pictorial-guide.285708/

I agree, with what I can see.