Bizarre Unknown Percula Illness

[bzotter]

I have a pair of true perculas in a 100 gallon reef tank. The smaller of the two (I believe the female) is behaving normally and doing just fine. The other one has been exhibiting some truly bizarre behavior recently. He has been swimming up against the walls of the tank, often into a corner. He is slow to react to stimulus and has not eaten in over a week. Very recently, he has also been very lathargic, often sitting on the bottom or on a coral, most likely due to lack of nutritional energy. He shows no visible signs of illness at all, water chemistry is good, all other fish are healthy. I've asked numerous experts at local stores what they think it might be and they're all stumped as well. The only thing I can think of is a parasite that entered his brain and is causing him to go crazy. If anyone has any other ideas of possible causes/treatments that i could persue than i would appreciate any help you could give. I have a hospital tank that I could transfer him into if you have a treatment idea that would require it. If any more information is required or if anyone has any questions feel free to ask. Thanks for your time.

 

[SWaquariast]

Strange. You just might be one of the unlucky ones that the clowns are just going to die for no apparent reason.

How long have you had them.

 

[Slakker]

Sounds pretty similar to what mine went through last year. How long have you had them? What are you attempting to feed? Is the breathing seemingly heavy/labored?

I would transfer both clowns to the hospital tank, if for no other reason than to better observe them.

The smaller is almost always the male, and for what it's worth fish rarely die for no good reason. Something is amiss.

 

[bzotter]

Thanks for your fast responses. I've had them for about 6 months and they've both been doing just fine until now. I had a Sebae Anemone for a while but he died about a month ago. They never really spent much time in it while it was there anyways, so I doubt its separation anxiety. But yes, his breathing is very rapid and labored, if that is indicative of anything and I am feeding him formula 2 frozen food and frozen mycis shrimp, which he was eating up until now. I will probably put him in the hospital tank tonight.

 

[Slakker]

Have you added anything to the tank without quarantining it recently?

If so I would suspect his gills are infected with a parasite of some sort carried in by new additions.

 

[bzotter]

No, I haven't added anything to the tank lately. My most recent addition was a Tonga Leather about 2 months ago. If it is a parasite, can you recommend a treatment plan or is there nothing I can do? Thanks for your help.

 

[Slakker]

That is really strange...have you checked your parameters? Perhaps an ammonia spike?

 

[SWaquariast]

Look at the clowns gills if they are extremely red you might have a parasite or amonia/nitrate spike.

 

[bzotter]

If it is a parasite, can I treat it with traditional medication, ie the same anti-parasite medecines used to combat Ick? Also, if it was a nitrate/ammonia/ph spike would the effects still be ongoing even this long afterwords? Current water chemistry is good.