anything wrong with this clownfish?

[reef tank 2.0]

I have two percula clowns, I have had them for about two months now.....or thereabouts.

One clown will hang around the front of the tank. Usually stays right of center and doesn't stray to the left side of the tank, nor the center.

Now the other clown, he's different. I have two overflows, and this one hangs out around the top of the overflow, kinda sorta scales the overflow at the top, and hangs out in the corner where the over flow meets the back wall of the tank. Stays there 24/7. When I feed them, they both come out to eat, then go back to their normal positions. They are both eating fine.

When these two were in QT, they were best of buds, always hanging out.......They did the same once in the DT, for a bout 2 weeks. After the two weeks, they broke up and now I can't get the one in the corner out of the corner. I was able to chase him out of there, and he goes down with the other.....all is well then. Then eventually he goes right back up.

Any ideas what this means of why he would be hanging out there? Should I be concerned?

 

[ThRoewer]

It's somewhat normal behavior for percula without anemone.
If you don't feel comfortable adding an anemone you could add a ceramic flowerpot (the cheap red kind you find in the garden centers of places like Home Depot). My clownfish always took them on quickly (see my avatar picture).

 

[reef tank 2.0]

OK, I'd have no problem adding a nem, but my tank is not ready for that yet. I have a new tank.

Hopefully hell come around.............

 

[ThRoewer]

Anemone fish without anemone or sufficient surrogate may feel insecure at first. Another reason could be some hierarchy fighting between the two.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

i thought about the fighting too, cause they were doing that a lot when they were in the QT and first when they were placed in the DT.....not so much anymore (that Iv'e seen)

 

[reef tank 2.0]

you know, I was watching the clown for about 10 minutes and noticed something. Although the behavior is the same and the eating habits are the same...I notice the gills on both sides is slightly opened. When you look at him from the front/back, it looks like it's wearing a helmet . I dont see it opening and closing. Iv'e always noticed this since I stuck them in the DT, but didn't think much of it.

Does this raise any type of red flag, or am I being paranoid?
I never see him/her go to the top for air, so I'm assuming it's breathing fine........

Here is a quick 24 second video. Hopefully it doesn't skip for you and it's easy to see. Please ignore the barking dog in the background...that is NOT the fish communicating
If you look closely you see brief glimpses of the flared gill.

http://vid804.photobucket.com/albums/yy321/crankbait09/fish tank/20160112_190726_zpsqjzodbgm.mp4

 

[ThRoewer]

Sounds like a gill infection.
It could be anything from flukes over velvet to brook.
I would catch him and give him a 10 minute freshwater bath. If you see "flakes" falling off (magnifying glass may be needed) it's likely flukes.
If it isn't that I would see if a formalin dip brings relieve - in that case it could be brook or velvet. Both are equally vicious parasites and will require to treat all fish in the tank. The DT has to go fallow for a minimum for 6 weeks, but I would probably round that up to two months.
The treatment that kills brook and velvet are formalin baths with tank transfers. Velvet could also be treated with Chloroquine Phosphate, but you would need to be sure it is actually velvet.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

10 minute freshwater bath.

please go in to detail on this. Or is there a thread that would explain this in more detail?

I am reading about each disease, so far I see no slime/mucus or anything like that. No discolor, constantly moves around, not becoming exhausted.

 

[ThRoewer]

I would fill a container with freshwater and hang it into the tank to equalize the temperature.
Ideally you use RO water. Tap water needs to be conditioned with Prime and you may also need to adjust the pH (you can neglect that with RO due to it's low buffer capacity).

When the freshwater has the temperature of the tank where the fish is currently in you can transfer him into the freshwater container. Leave him there for 10 minutes if possible.
It is quite normal that the fish is getting aggravated or even panics at the beginning, but it should calm down quickly If after while in the bath you see the fish showing signs of distress or panic you should end the bath rather prematurely.
After the bath check the bottom of the container for fallen off flukes.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

then after the 10, i can put him right back in the dt, no worries?

what do i do if i do or do not see anything on the bottom of the container?

 

[ThRoewer]

then after the 10, i can put him right back in the dt, no worries?

...

No!

If you suspect him to have an infection it would be best to put him into a quarantine/hospital tank.

The freshwater dip is not a treatment, but just a method to diagnose a flukes infection.

If nothing is at the bottom of the FW dip container it isn't flukes.
If you see flukes at the bottom you should transfer all fish into a hospital tank and treat them with PraziPro.

If it isn't flukes I would do a formalin bath next:
- put the fish into a large enough container (1 gal should be fine for one or two small fish) with tank water
- add some aeration (airstone or small pump) - this is very important as formalin binds oxygen!
- add 20 drops of formalin 37% (fishvet Formalin MS) per gallon
- leave the fish in that bath for 45 minutes - if you see that the fish is having problems breathing or he starts panicking take him out sooner.
- transfer the fish to a sterilized quarantine tank
- repeat this every day for 5 days.

Note that the fish needs to go into a sterilized tank after each dip. The dips can be done in the QT the fish is in and then the fish is transferred to the next clean tank.

You will have to treat all fish, ideally together.

The display tank needs to stay without fish for at least 6 weeks

 

[reef tank 2.0]

ok, first step.......I was able to get him into the freshwater for 10 minutes......I saw nothing on the bottom.......

I do not have formalin, so I will have to wait till tomorrow

Before I go through this hospital procedure, are we certain this is in fact a disease?

 

[billdogg]

See my text.

 

[billdogg]

Diagnosing ANYTHING from that video is at least IMO, impossible, if not irresponsible. What I see is a couple smallish clowns (tank raised as I recall?) acting like clownfish.

JM.02

 

[reef tank 2.0]

tank raised, yes..........

As I mentioned, he eats, he does hide above the powerhead next to the overflow (loves that upper corner), just doesn't come down to the sand to mingle. but gills are flared (do not close). no discoloring or mucus discharge or anything of that sort.......

 

[ThRoewer]

...are we certain this is in fact a disease?

No. The open gills can also be a deformity.

I would suggest to wait and see how this develops.

Having formalin and all the equipment for TTM or dips is always recommended, so nothing lost there.

I would also recommend to read up on the most common fish parasites.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

Will do. I'd hate to go through the process if not needed. Thanks again