Weak/lethargic clownfish

[Erin Kathryn]

One of my juvenile clownfish is acting a little strange. He has been trying to stay in a low-flow area of the tank, and seems to be having some trouble floating completely upright and difficulty swimming. He's still eating and can make it to the higher-flow areas of the tank, but seems almost weak/lethargic (?) and heads back to the low-flow area/hiding near the rocks. The other clownfish is completely fine (the only two fish in the tank), and my shrimp/CUC are as well. Coral-wise, acans are happy, but torch/duncans aren't, and I'm pretty sure I've lost my experiment acro.

Tank is a RedSea 350
Water parameters:
pH 7.8
Alk 8.1
Calcium 420
Magnesium 1300
Nitrate 2ppm
Phos .05
Salinity 1.025

Diatoms on sandbed during the day, bits of green hair algae in the sump and on the back wall.

Any ideas?

 

[Big G]

How long have you had the clownfish? Have you noticed any aggression in the tank that may want it to take cover?

 

[EmdeReef]

Any aggression between the clowns?

Ammonia? How long have you had it and when did this start?

Any wounds or skin peeling on the lethargic clown? Could you post pics.

I would put it in an acclimation box or a different tank.

 

[Erin Kathryn]

No aggression between the clowns, however the cleaner shrimp has been harassing them a bit.

Ammonia is 0. No visible sounds/peeling/anything wrong with the clown. They've been in the tank about two months now, started acting lethargic last night.

 

[davocean]

Hard to say w/out seeing.
Often clowns will explore a new tank actively, and once they are past that often they find a nesting area if a host is not available, and may stay in that area.
It's possible that is all that is going on, especially if eating and no visible signs of injury or anything, breathing heavy.

 

[Erin Kathryn]

Hard to say w/out seeing.
Often clowns will explore a new tank actively, and once they are past that often they find a nesting area if a host is not available, and may stay in that area.
It's possible that is all that is going on, especially if eating and no visible signs of injury or anything, breathing heavy.

Since my initial post, the clown didn't eat anything during feeding time. Not breathing heavy but he definitely looks like he's being carried away by the current at times, losing balance and/or control.
Not the best video, but I think you can see what I mean? Maybe I'm way overreacting, but I'd rather do that than ignore a potential problem.

 

[davocean]

Can't see anything obvious wrong w/ it in video.

 

[Erin Kathryn]

I may be overreacting. Haha

I'll keep everyone posted if anything changes.

 

[davocean]

It's always good to check if you have questions or concerns.

 

[vetteguy53081]

hAD SIMILAR AND ADED A LITTLE PRAZIPRO FOR 3 DAYS AND PROBLEM SOLVED. SEEMS TO ME , ITS AN ADJUSTMENT FROM STORE TANK TO NEW TANK AS IT IS THE THIRD TANK THIS HAPPENED TO ME WITH. May be pure coincidence but nothing to lose.

Assure also your parameters are what you are seeing on your tests by taking a water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test to compare with your readings.

 

[ctheobald]

I know this was awhile ago, just curious if anything became of it? I have a clownfish doing the same exact thing