Clown fish question

[drsmith107]

I have two clown fish in a 30g tank, they have been in there about six months in the last couple of days one of them has taken to lying on its side at the top of the tank just moving its fins it does this for a couple of hours at a time and then goes back to swimming around the tank with the other clown anybody any idea why this is ?

 

[saltydude]

It could be the tank is lacking oxygen. I may be wrong but I had a couple skunks act the same way and then die. I tested the water perimeters and they were excellant and someone made that suggetion and that sounded like a possibility' I wish you the best. try putting a airstone in there, just dont crank it up super high.

 

[IPowderBlueTang]

also try putting a few powerheads more for better water movement!

 

[cschweitzer]

What kind of clownfish? What time of light cycle? What are you feeding? Do you have pictures or a movie of it?

In a 30G tank, a few more powerheads would probably not be an ideal solution, as H2O movement is good, but directed flow is not. Do you have a skimmer? This should produce plenty of O2.

Lying on its side at the top of the tank is not necessarily unusual behaviour for a clown, it more depends on the "way" he sits at the top. Is he near a wall or corner(ie overflow, skimmer, etc) or in the middle of the water? Is he still underwater and keeping himself balanced, or is he floating on the surface of the water? Give more details. What type of floating?

 

[drsmith107]

Many thanks for replies

They are true percs and the time it occurs is random although predominantly happens when only actinic blues are on, I am feeding on mysis shrimp. I am running a skimmer, when "floating" on top of the water he/she normally goes ito the corner of the tank away from every thing on the edge of the tank it stays underwater whilst keeping himself balanced and has no problem in moving if another fish bothers him.


I will try and get a picture but cannot promise anything as he has not done it for two days now.

Again may thanks for your help.

 

[GSMguy]

what do you mean another fish bothers it?
what kind of fish?

 

[drsmith107]

Sorry bother is not the right word, they have a look at what he is doing and it is normally another clown or a blue chromis

Many thanks

 

[luv2reef]

my true perc does this also.....in my non-expert opinion it looks to me like it is tired. for what its worth..

 

[omni2226]

Sounds like that is its spot for "hosting" when it wants to rest a bit.
Clowns are wierd that way. Heaters,powerheads overflows.
Anything but what you want then to host lol.