Aging ocellaris clown??

hhlhhl92 · 05/25/2007, 07:58 AM

I have two ocellaris clowns for two years, they were active and happy in the tank.
Couple of weeks ago, the smaller one, I guess it is the male, started to eat selectively and slowly and stays all the time in a corner. I am sure that I am seeing its spinal cord under its skin.
I don't know what is wrong with it. At first I thought it would died within days, but it is still alive. Can I do something about it?

amike5 · 05/25/2007, 08:03 AM

When I got one of my clowns, it was kinda like that. After weeks, I found out it was something bacterial. Put antibiotics in his food for 10 days, and he has been fine ever since. Really plumped up nicely within days.

hhlhhl92 · 05/25/2007, 08:12 AM

If it is bacteria, why don't the other fishes get sick?
How do I put antibiotics in the food?

amike5 · 05/25/2007, 08:19 AM

None of my other 5 fish got what my one clown had. Just because one fish comes down with something doesn't mean the others will or will at the same time one does.

I usually cut up a tablet of antibiotics into about 6 pieces. Put it in a test syringe with some mysis, brine, or whatever you feed. Suck some tank water into the syringe and let the tablet disolve so the food can soak it up. About 2x daily.

hhlhhl92 · 05/25/2007, 08:36 AM

Are antibiotics reef safe please? I have more corals than fish so I want to be careful. Are there different kinds of antibiotics?

amike5 · 05/25/2007, 09:49 AM

There are 2 types of bacteria + and -, some antibiotics will treat some of both types. As long as you soak the food and don't dose it by adding to water like the directions may say, it's reefsafe. I've never QT for things that can be treated in this manner and nothing seems affected negatively in the reef.

hhlhhl92 · 05/25/2007, 10:25 AM

Thans alot.

DSMpunk · 05/25/2007, 10:46 AM

It is definitely not due to old age. Clownfish have been known to live in captivity for 30+ years. Good luck!

05/25/2007, 07:58 AM	#1
hhlhhl92 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 102	Aging ocellaris clown?? I have two ocellaris clowns for two years, they were active and happy in the tank. Couple of weeks ago, the smaller one, I guess it is the male, started to eat selectively and slowly and stays all the time in a corner. I am sure that I am seeing its spinal cord under its skin. I don't know what is wrong with it. At first I thought it would died within days, but it is still alive. Can I do something about it? __________________ Corallife 220 skimmer, 2 x 900 Litres JBJ Powerhead, 20 gall sump with refugium, Corrallife PC 2x96, 65 gallon tank, 55 lb LR, 20 lb. LS

05/25/2007, 08:12 AM	#3
hhlhhl92 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 102	If it is bacteria, why don't the other fishes get sick? How do I put antibiotics in the food? __________________ Corallife 220 skimmer, 2 x 900 Litres JBJ Powerhead, 20 gall sump with refugium, Corrallife PC 2x96, 65 gallon tank, 55 lb LR, 20 lb. LS

05/25/2007, 08:36 AM	#5
hhlhhl92 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 102	Are antibiotics reef safe please? I have more corals than fish so I want to be careful. Are there different kinds of antibiotics? __________________ Corallife 220 skimmer, 2 x 900 Litres JBJ Powerhead, 20 gall sump with refugium, Corrallife PC 2x96, 65 gallon tank, 55 lb LR, 20 lb. LS

05/25/2007, 10:25 AM	#7
hhlhhl92 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 102	Thans alot. __________________ Corallife 220 skimmer, 2 x 900 Litres JBJ Powerhead, 20 gall sump with refugium, Corrallife PC 2x96, 65 gallon tank, 55 lb LR, 20 lb. LS

05/25/2007, 10:46 AM	#8
DSMpunk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,064	It is definitely not due to old age. Clownfish have been known to live in captivity for 30+ years. Good luck! __________________ -Sean Current Tank Info: SPS Dominated 150

05/25/2007, 08:03 AM	#2
amike5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 724	When I got one of my clowns, it was kinda like that. After weeks, I found out it was something bacterial. Put antibiotics in his food for 10 days, and he has been fine ever since. Really plumped up nicely within days.

05/25/2007, 08:19 AM	#4
amike5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 724	None of my other 5 fish got what my one clown had. Just because one fish comes down with something doesn't mean the others will or will at the same time one does. I usually cut up a tablet of antibiotics into about 6 pieces. Put it in a test syringe with some mysis, brine, or whatever you feed. Suck some tank water into the syringe and let the tablet disolve so the food can soak it up. About 2x daily.

05/25/2007, 09:49 AM	#6
amike5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 724	There are 2 types of bacteria + and -, some antibiotics will treat some of both types. As long as you soak the food and don't dose it by adding to water like the directions may say, it's reefsafe. I've never QT for things that can be treated in this manner and nothing seems affected negatively in the reef.