HELP! Clownfish acting really odd!

mia_reefer · 11/30/2014, 02:28 AM

Hi,

I just put a clownfish in my tank about 4 days ago and tonight when I got home I looked at the tank expecting to find the clownfish in his corner "sleeping". To my surprise he looked stressed/tired and seemed to be disoriented as he was crashing in to everything and going up and down. His fins were moving slowly and he looked very tired.

Tested my levels today and had

pH @ 8.2
Ammonia @ .25ppm
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0

Be advised I am new to this so there is a margin of error to be assumed with this.

Today I also noticed him going through my dry rock for the first time but I am worries that he may pass because of this!

Thank you!

mia_reefer · 11/30/2014, 02:29 AM

Tank is 20gal and it has a return of about 210gal / not sure if this is too strong for my perc

azdiver · 11/30/2014, 02:40 AM

Did you cycle the aquarium? Do a partial water change ammonia should be at zero

xdestry · 11/30/2014, 03:17 AM

It sounds like your tank isn't cycled, did you just set it up? If you don't want the fish to die take him out immediately and give him back to the fish store you got him from, the ammonia will permanently damage him if not kill him.

edit: i looked through your post history and it looks like you asked whether you could put a fish in and were told not to just over a week ago.... he wasn't kidding you need to wait a lot longer. if you dont want to take the fish out try adding seachem prime to the tank to neutralize the ammonia to a nontoxic form.

ReeferKimberly · 11/30/2014, 03:41 AM

I have only ever once put fish in a tank that was not fully cycled (my tank cracked and I had to replace it quickly). The only way it worked was I did daily water changes. Cycling is no joke, it's necessary. He is being poisoned by that ammonia.

gone fishin · 11/30/2014, 06:14 AM

I doubt the current is to strong. My clowns sometimes exhibit some odd swimming patterns. I seem to recall your other posts and you have cycled your tank. I would guess you are using an API test. They can be tough to read sometimes. I would just observe the clown for a few days. Is he going to the surface a lot?

Knots · 11/30/2014, 07:33 AM

I doubt the current is too strong; from the video it doesn't look like it.

Check and see if there is anything unusual growing on the skin of your fish. Clowns are typically very hardy and not prone to "Ick", but there might be something else that visually clues you in reason for its behavior.

I would always check the ph/salinity/ammonia levels in your tank, especially if something doesn't look right. This is what makes a marine aquarium different than a fresh water aquarium... constant checks. You basically need to become an amateur chemist and biologist.

mia_reefer · 11/30/2014, 08:50 AM

Everyone thank you for your responses.

@xdestry Before putting the fish in I had used one and only and my ammonia levels had gone to zero within that 24 hour period after testing over a few days... As you will find in a post I said that and the shop also mentioned that it would be okay, I value what I read here more though..

UPDATE: after waking up this morning levels are back to normal and my fish looks completely normal and is in his normal spot that he usually is in and looks completely normal. My new thought is that he may become disoriented at night when the moonlight turns off (it's a preprogrammed setting on my light system). 12 hours with a 4 hour moonlight and it turns off at midnight completely. The area where the tank is gets completely dark.

Thoughts...

ShannyG · 11/30/2014, 12:35 PM

Mia, my clownfish floats on his side at the surface at night. Very alarming the first few times, until I realized that's how he sleeps.
At least I didn't poke him the way I did my dragonet the first time he buried himself in the sand.

Edited to add: I think your little ammonia spike was just the tank adjusting to a new inhabitant.

11/30/2014, 02:28 AM	#1
mia_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 27	HELP! Clownfish acting really odd! Hi, I just put a clownfish in my tank about 4 days ago and tonight when I got home I looked at the tank expecting to find the clownfish in his corner "sleeping". To my surprise he looked stressed/tired and seemed to be disoriented as he was crashing in to everything and going up and down. His fins were moving slowly and he looked very tired. Tested my levels today and had pH @ 8.2 Ammonia @ .25ppm Nitrate 0 Nitrite 0 Be advised I am new to this so there is a margin of error to be assumed with this. Today I also noticed him going through my dry rock for the first time but I am worries that he may pass because of this! Thank you!

11/30/2014, 03:17 AM	#4
xdestry SPS Addict Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 662	It sounds like your tank isn't cycled, did you just set it up? If you don't want the fish to die take him out immediately and give him back to the fish store you got him from, the ammonia will permanently damage him if not kill him. edit: i looked through your post history and it looks like you asked whether you could put a fish in and were told not to just over a week ago.... he wasn't kidding you need to wait a lot longer. if you dont want to take the fish out try adding seachem prime to the tank to neutralize the ammonia to a nontoxic form. __________________ 100 gallon MIXED / SPS frag dominant Current Tank Info: 100 Gallon + 40G Sump, ATI Sunpower Dimmable 8x39 (B+,C+,B+.Act.B+.P+.Gieseman Super Act, B+), 2x MP40QD, Aquamaxx Q2 + ConeS CO1 Skimmers

11/30/2014, 06:14 AM	#6
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I doubt the current is to strong. My clowns sometimes exhibit some odd swimming patterns. I seem to recall your other posts and you have cycled your tank. I would guess you are using an API test. They can be tough to read sometimes. I would just observe the clown for a few days. Is he going to the surface a lot? __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

11/30/2014, 02:29 AM	#2
mia_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 27	Tank is 20gal and it has a return of about 210gal / not sure if this is too strong for my perc

11/30/2014, 02:40 AM	#3
azdiver Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 149	Did you cycle the aquarium? Do a partial water change ammonia should be at zero

11/30/2014, 03:41 AM	#5
ReeferKimberly Marley & Me Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Roseville, California Posts: 1,452	I have only ever once put fish in a tank that was not fully cycled (my tank cracked and I had to replace it quickly). The only way it worked was I did daily water changes. Cycling is no joke, it's necessary. He is being poisoned by that ammonia.

11/30/2014, 07:33 AM	#7
Knots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 50	I doubt the current is too strong; from the video it doesn't look like it. Check and see if there is anything unusual growing on the skin of your fish. Clowns are typically very hardy and not prone to "Ick", but there might be something else that visually clues you in reason for its behavior. I would always check the ph/salinity/ammonia levels in your tank, especially if something doesn't look right. This is what makes a marine aquarium different than a fresh water aquarium... constant checks. You basically need to become an amateur chemist and biologist.

11/30/2014, 08:50 AM	#8
mia_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 27	Everyone thank you for your responses. @xdestry Before putting the fish in I had used one and only and my ammonia levels had gone to zero within that 24 hour period after testing over a few days... As you will find in a post I said that and the shop also mentioned that it would be okay, I value what I read here more though.. UPDATE: after waking up this morning levels are back to normal and my fish looks completely normal and is in his normal spot that he usually is in and looks completely normal. My new thought is that he may become disoriented at night when the moonlight turns off (it's a preprogrammed setting on my light system). 12 hours with a 4 hour moonlight and it turns off at midnight completely. The area where the tank is gets completely dark. Thoughts...

11/30/2014, 12:35 PM	#9
ShannyG Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 212	Mia, my clownfish floats on his side at the surface at night. Very alarming the first few times, until I realized that's how he sleeps. At least I didn't poke him the way I did my dragonet the first time he buried himself in the sand. Edited to add: I think your little ammonia spike was just the tank adjusting to a new inhabitant.