What do I do!? Fish emergency

underwaterdan · Oct 12, 2015

So I got two new clowns last night. Somehow one got into my sump and I found him in the filter sock this am. He's alive but doesn't have great color and swimming a little on his side. Do I just toss him or can he come back to health?
Just tested. 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite.
Help.

steve&mari · Oct 12, 2015

Try to put it back if there's nothing that's going to pick on it while stressed. It very well pull through. Otherwise I'd keep in sump so it can recover.

underwaterdan · Oct 12, 2015

Ok. I just noticed he has lost some of his color, I guess that's the stress.

steve&mari · Oct 12, 2015

Yes stressed out fish will lose color temporarily.

underwaterdan · Oct 12, 2015

Thank you! I have the tank on very low flow right now to kinda let him relax. Has anyone ever heard of a fish going down the overflow?

underwaterdan · Oct 12, 2015

Good news. Already his color is coming back a little, he's still swimming a little sideways, is that too going to get better?

saltyphish · Oct 12, 2015

It could get better. How long has he been swimming like that? Ime if they are swimming like that more than a day then something is not right. Might have a issue with swim bladder. @Humblefish

underwaterdan · Oct 12, 2015

He's only been swimming like that for about an hour or so since I found him in my filter sock. If he's still like that tomorrow II guess I'll have to replace him. Not the way I wanted to start my 150gallon reef tank. Ugg.

steve&mari · Oct 12, 2015

Yes it's not unheard of for a fish to get startled n end up in the overflow. Keep a eye on it n should be fine.

saltyphish · Oct 12, 2015

Only a hour I would not worry right now. Give it time. You mentioned the color is coming back so that is a good sign.

KorL · Oct 12, 2015

Some clownfish sleep up top at the water surface so it's not uncommon to find them in the overflow box or down in the sump

Humblefish · Oct 12, 2015

KorL said:
Some clownfish sleep up top at the water surface so it's not uncommon to find them in the overflow box or down in the sump

^^This. Personally, I would put the clownfish in an acclimation box until he looks fully recovered.

underwaterdan · Oct 12, 2015

KorL said:
Some clownfish sleep up top at the water surface so it's not uncommon to find them in the overflow box or down in the sump

Well hopefully he learned a lesson I don't want that to happen again tonight.

underwaterdan · Oct 12, 2015

Update. After about 6 hours the clown is now swimming straight, he has about 90% of his color back, hopefully that wasn't too stressful for him.
Thanks to everyone for their help. I'll continue to update you on this thread incase someone had the same problem.

miyags · Oct 12, 2015

I lost a clown I had for years that way. If your just starting to add fish to your 150, I highly recomend a QT. Its the best money spent in this hobbie.

underwaterdan · Oct 12, 2015

miyags said:
I lost a clown I had for years that way.

you think he's gonna keep doing it or it was just a freak thing?

Humblefish · Oct 12, 2015

It's a PITA cause you will have to clean it periodically, but you can put a screen mesh in front of or behind the skimmer overflow to prevent this from happening again. Like they use for tops for keep wrasses from jumping out. BRS sells the material.

This stuff: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/clear-netting.html

Eggcrate (from Home Depot) may work as well if all your fish are large enough.

Robert Kelley · Oct 12, 2015

Glad he made it!!

KorL · Oct 12, 2015

What size clownfish? Must be like baby size. If so, there's a good chance it'll happen again. Put some sort of netting on overflow for time being until fish gets bigger or starts sleeping anywhere else but water surface