Clownfish Health & Diet

[mallyk]

I just recieved a new pair of true percula clownfish.
I've had them for about a week now, both are active and feeding. The female sometimes worries me, because at times I see her breathing harder and not as active as the male.

I don't know if i'm just being paranoid or what. I've lost 2 other pairs of perculas and If I lose another pair, i'm going to give up. These are the only clownfish that i've ever had a problem with. I don't know if it's just bad luck or me.

I feed brine & mysis daily, soaked in zoe & selcon. Anything else I should be feeding to make sure they have a good diet??


Or anything else I can do to make them feel more at home?

 

[GSMguy]

i dont know why your having so much trouble with percs they seem to be pretty darn hardy.

 

[Slakker]

Try some frozen CyclopEeze, it's great for them, will help their coloration, and my ocellaris love it. Don't be afraid of flake and pellet foods, either. These can also be soaked in Selcon.

Are you QTing? IMO a quarantine period is essential with clowns, even captive bred. My CB clowns were fine for a few days and then started showing signs of illness. I scrambled to assemble a QT and within a week or so after bringing them down to Hyposalinity they have shown marked improvement.

 

[mallyk]

I do have frozen cyclopeeze that I use to feed my goniopora. I'll try that tonight and see if they will like it..

GSMguy, I have no clue... they are the only type i've had trouble with. I have kept ocellaris clowns, b&w clowns, and maroon clowns without any problem. BTW, off topic, but I see you live in Wooster. My hubby works up there for Bogner Construction, any good saltwater stores I could tell him to check out?

Also, they are in QT. Should I be worried about the female?

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9809327#post9809327 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mallyk
I do have frozen cyclopeeze that I use to feed my goniopora. I'll try that tonight and see if they will like it..

GSMguy, I have no clue... they are the only type i've had trouble with. I have kept ocellaris clowns, b&w clowns, and maroon clowns without any problem. BTW, off topic, but I see you live in Wooster. My hubby works up there for Bogner Construction, any good saltwater stores I could tell him to check out?

Also, they are in QT. Should I be worried about the female?

lol nope i have to drive to phishy in colombus, or to cleveland/ salty critter. but they are such great stores and i dont mind the driving.

 

[Slakker]

I wouldn't worry too much yet, just might be settling in yet. If you see any other signs of disease, try to figure out what it is and treat for it appropriately.

Also, I've been told that newly arrived clowns (especially little ones) sometimes do better on three to four smaller feedings per day, so that might be something to try out.

 

[RightWinger210]

I've had this very large female ocellaris (about 3" long) She was QT for a month and has been in her tank now for about 6 months-ish. She has always had a faster breathing rate than her smaller, male mate, but maybe it was because she was more active, setting up her place to spawn might be taking a toll on her. Even though she has somewhat fast breathing, its never an issue, so it may not be too bad of a problem. I feed her SW Flakes, Formula 1, Mysis, Brine, and occasional homegrown adult brine. Every now and then I put garlic in the food, and the brine feed on algae and selco constantly until they are fed to the clowns. I feed the clowns 2-3 times per day, hope any of this can help you.