I have no clue, please help my clown!

cbusreefer · 04/24/2008, 04:30 PM

My two black clowns have been acting funny lately and I'm wondering if they're sexing? About a three weeks ago, the smaller of the two was hiding all the time. breathing heavily, and not eating for about a week. Then he finally started to eat again and now seems to be perfectly fine.
Now for the last two weeks the black one has been doing the same thing, but he looks alot worse. He hasn't eaten at all and instead of hiding in the rocks, spends most of his day, floating vertically in the top corner of the tank where he's out of the flow. Today, I couldn't take it anymore, and moved him from the display to my QT. I'm hoping the stress from the transfer isn't his last straw. I plan on starting to lower the salinity to help relieve him of some stress later on tonight.
I forgot to mention that I've had both for at least two months now and seemed fine until recently.

All params are great and other fish seem fine. Please help!

eisaiasjr · 04/24/2008, 05:03 PM

Do you see any sort of mucus like (or large white fuzzy) spots on its skin? any discoloration? can you post a recent pic?

Regards,

Estefano

brians4671 · 04/24/2008, 05:04 PM

have you tried garlic to stimulate his appetite?

cbusreefer · 04/24/2008, 06:49 PM

eisaiasjr - no signs of mucus at all. at one time he did have a tiny white patch (not ich) on the very bottom of his tail. other than that, nothing. right now his appearance seems fine, but is breathing excessively heavy and is not really swimming (more like swawing in the current)

brians4671 - have not tried garlic or even thought about it. he was eating fine before all of this, but right now he's breathing so heavily, he doesn't even attempt to eat.

He has since made tank transfers and seems to be doing the same. Lowering the salinity, but then don't have a clue what to do.

The only thing I can think of is possibly an internal parasite?

Any other suggestions?

BeesGoneWild · 04/24/2008, 08:09 PM

When one clownfish is starting to dominate the other, they act very strange, including swimming weirdly, Voilently shaking, and circling. This doesnt really sound like ther sexing and if you havent noticed any spots or scratching along the rocks then you can probably rule out ick. Perhaps some sot of brain damage or brain parasite?

demonsp · 04/24/2008, 08:10 PM

Sounds like he needs some air.Whats used for water movement in there?

cbusreefer · 04/24/2008, 08:56 PM

lol, needs some air? If only it was that simple...
I have a 125L with 20H sump that gravity feeds into a 20L fuge. I have a Tunze 9010 skimmer, a Panworld 100 PX-X return, 2 Koralina 4 powerheads, a maxi 1200, and approx 250lbs LR in there. I know my setup's not the best, but I'd like to think I am somewhat knowledgeable in this hobby.

[IMG]http://i32.*******.com/3164yes.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i28.*******.com/vyy2wz.jpg[/IMG]

Anyone else have a clue? Defin leaning towards a parasite...

demonsp · 04/24/2008, 09:03 PM

Your lacking flow. A HOB filter would help break the waters surface.They want some air. skimmer does nothing and return is no good.You need good total tank water moevment and good surface aggitation for proper oxeygen exchange. I think some areas have more O2 then others and this is keeping hime alive.Then the more fish you add the more O2 will be needed.

Bruno3047 · 04/24/2008, 09:04 PM

Could be "Marine Velvet" or Amyloodinium.

A much more common diease in Clowns than "Ich"

You can start reading up here:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

04/24/2008, 04:30 PM	#1
cbusreefer Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dublin, OH Posts: 497	I have no clue, please help my clown! My two black clowns have been acting funny lately and I'm wondering if they're sexing? About a three weeks ago, the smaller of the two was hiding all the time. breathing heavily, and not eating for about a week. Then he finally started to eat again and now seems to be perfectly fine. Now for the last two weeks the black one has been doing the same thing, but he looks alot worse. He hasn't eaten at all and instead of hiding in the rocks, spends most of his day, floating vertically in the top corner of the tank where he's out of the flow. Today, I couldn't take it anymore, and moved him from the display to my QT. I'm hoping the stress from the transfer isn't his last straw. I plan on starting to lower the salinity to help relieve him of some stress later on tonight. I forgot to mention that I've had both for at least two months now and seemed fine until recently. All params are great and other fish seem fine. Please help!

04/24/2008, 05:03 PM	#2
eisaiasjr Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami Beach, FL Posts: 421	Do you see any sort of mucus like (or large white fuzzy) spots on its skin? any discoloration? can you post a recent pic? Regards, Estefano

04/24/2008, 05:04 PM	#3
brians4671 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: miami fl Posts: 2,088	have you tried garlic to stimulate his appetite?

04/24/2008, 06:49 PM	#4
cbusreefer Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dublin, OH Posts: 497	eisaiasjr - no signs of mucus at all. at one time he did have a tiny white patch (not ich) on the very bottom of his tail. other than that, nothing. right now his appearance seems fine, but is breathing excessively heavy and is not really swimming (more like swawing in the current) brians4671 - have not tried garlic or even thought about it. he was eating fine before all of this, but right now he's breathing so heavily, he doesn't even attempt to eat. He has since made tank transfers and seems to be doing the same. Lowering the salinity, but then don't have a clue what to do. The only thing I can think of is possibly an internal parasite? Any other suggestions?

04/24/2008, 08:09 PM	#5
BeesGoneWild Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: North Eastern Pennsylvannia Posts: 1,064	When one clownfish is starting to dominate the other, they act very strange, including swimming weirdly, Voilently shaking, and circling. This doesnt really sound like ther sexing and if you havent noticed any spots or scratching along the rocks then you can probably rule out ick. Perhaps some sot of brain damage or brain parasite?

04/24/2008, 08:10 PM	#6
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Sounds like he needs some air.Whats used for water movement in there?

04/24/2008, 08:56 PM	#7
cbusreefer Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dublin, OH Posts: 497	lol, needs some air? If only it was that simple... I have a 125L with 20H sump that gravity feeds into a 20L fuge. I have a Tunze 9010 skimmer, a Panworld 100 PX-X return, 2 Koralina 4 powerheads, a maxi 1200, and approx 250lbs LR in there. I know my setup's not the best, but I'd like to think I am somewhat knowledgeable in this hobby. [IMG]http://i32.*****.com/3164yes.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i28.*****.com/vyy2wz.jpg[/IMG] Anyone else have a clue? Defin leaning towards a parasite...

04/24/2008, 09:03 PM	#8
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Your lacking flow. A HOB filter would help break the waters surface.They want some air. skimmer does nothing and return is no good.You need good total tank water moevment and good surface aggitation for proper oxeygen exchange. I think some areas have more O2 then others and this is keeping hime alive.Then the more fish you add the more O2 will be needed.

04/24/2008, 09:04 PM	#9
Bruno3047 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,018	Could be "Marine Velvet" or Amyloodinium. A much more common diease in Clowns than "Ich" You can start reading up here: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php