Clown fish dying?... strange?

fishmcd83 · 12/03/2008, 04:01 PM

My clown fish is acting funny.... he is only swimming up and down the side of the tank, all the time, light off, light on.... all the thing has done since I've had the tank (5 days) is swim up and down the side of the tank.... normal character for the clownfish?... dying?

Thanks

Tom

feefer2 · 12/03/2008, 04:28 PM

what size tank do you have and what is your water testing at .

snorvich · 12/03/2008, 04:31 PM

answers to those questions will help. How old is the tank?

fishmcd83 · 12/03/2008, 05:00 PM

40 gallon... temp is 80 degrees .3mg/l nitrates 7.7Ph

fishmcd83 · 12/03/2008, 05:03 PM

I inherited this tank and have had it less than a week... it's a oceanix corner style cube tank.

feefer2 · 12/03/2008, 05:17 PM

nitrite/nitrates/ammonia are not good for clowns its could lead to kiney failure in them .what is you salinty level at, Also ph is on the low side you should be around 8.1 -8.3 range and for a 40 gallon it can lead to low oxygen levels and that can make the clown to swim up and down to get more oxygen.

fishmcd83 · 12/03/2008, 05:24 PM

what do I need to do to increase Ph, i'm very new to this, water change?.... just did one saturday (5 gallons) after the tank settle from the move that is.

Thanks in advance

Tom

feefer2 · 12/03/2008, 05:32 PM

You need to test your alk it should be around 8- 10 dkh if not get your alk stable first and that should bring your ph up along as you have the right cirulation in your tank .

bzotter · 12/03/2008, 05:43 PM

not to depress you but my clown did this for about 2 weeks until he gradually started sinking to the bottom of the tank as he was swimming against the wall. it just looked like he had lost his mind. I quarantined him, but he looked totally fine physically. I treated him for parasites, because after no one on here could figure out what was wrong with him I figured it was an internal parasite that was in his brain. he died a few days later, i figured that he either starved (he hadn't eaten in a while) or the parasite i thought he had must have killed him. good luck with yours though, hope he doesn't have what mine did

kevin2000 · 12/03/2008, 05:47 PM

My 02

Test your water quality - focus on ammonia.

Sounds like you have a brand new uncycled tank .. not something thats appropriate for a fish. If so - return the fish and let the tank cycle.

fishmcd83 · 12/03/2008, 06:38 PM

how long before the tank makes a cycle. I haven't had it long at all.... days, and I had to move it. Someone else from the LFS told me that he's probably acting strange because the tank hasn't cycled.

Thanks

Tom

fishmcd83 · 12/03/2008, 06:44 PM

Also, he's eating like a champ.

12/03/2008, 04:01 PM	#1
fishmcd83 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nebraska Posts: 36	Clown fish dying?... strange? My clown fish is acting funny.... he is only swimming up and down the side of the tank, all the time, light off, light on.... all the thing has done since I've had the tank (5 days) is swim up and down the side of the tank.... normal character for the clownfish?... dying? Thanks Tom

12/03/2008, 04:31 PM	#3
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	answers to those questions will help. How old is the tank? __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

12/03/2008, 04:28 PM	#2
feefer2 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Cumberland Posts: 157	what size tank do you have and what is your water testing at .

12/03/2008, 05:00 PM	#4
fishmcd83 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nebraska Posts: 36	40 gallon... temp is 80 degrees .3mg/l nitrates 7.7Ph

12/03/2008, 05:03 PM	#5
fishmcd83 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nebraska Posts: 36	I inherited this tank and have had it less than a week... it's a oceanix corner style cube tank.

12/03/2008, 05:17 PM	#6
feefer2 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Cumberland Posts: 157	nitrite/nitrates/ammonia are not good for clowns its could lead to kiney failure in them .what is you salinty level at, Also ph is on the low side you should be around 8.1 -8.3 range and for a 40 gallon it can lead to low oxygen levels and that can make the clown to swim up and down to get more oxygen.

12/03/2008, 05:24 PM	#7
fishmcd83 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nebraska Posts: 36	what do I need to do to increase Ph, i'm very new to this, water change?.... just did one saturday (5 gallons) after the tank settle from the move that is. Thanks in advance Tom

12/03/2008, 05:32 PM	#8
feefer2 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Cumberland Posts: 157	You need to test your alk it should be around 8- 10 dkh if not get your alk stable first and that should bring your ph up along as you have the right cirulation in your tank .

12/03/2008, 05:43 PM	#9
bzotter Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DC Area Posts: 105	not to depress you but my clown did this for about 2 weeks until he gradually started sinking to the bottom of the tank as he was swimming against the wall. it just looked like he had lost his mind. I quarantined him, but he looked totally fine physically. I treated him for parasites, because after no one on here could figure out what was wrong with him I figured it was an internal parasite that was in his brain. he died a few days later, i figured that he either starved (he hadn't eaten in a while) or the parasite i thought he had must have killed him. good luck with yours though, hope he doesn't have what mine did

12/03/2008, 05:47 PM	#10
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	My 02 Test your water quality - focus on ammonia. Sounds like you have a brand new uncycled tank .. not something thats appropriate for a fish. If so - return the fish and let the tank cycle.

12/03/2008, 06:38 PM	#11
fishmcd83 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nebraska Posts: 36	how long before the tank makes a cycle. I haven't had it long at all.... days, and I had to move it. Someone else from the LFS told me that he's probably acting strange because the tank hasn't cycled. Thanks Tom

12/03/2008, 06:44 PM	#12
fishmcd83 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nebraska Posts: 36	Also, he's eating like a champ.