Clownfish Problems

[LornaS]

I have a 75g set up for about 3 months and yesterday I noticed the larger of my two clownfish not eating. Usually the larger fish is a robust (read pig) eater. The smaller of the two has never been as big an eater but now both cannot be enticed to feed. The parameters are great everything is zero. Ph is 8.2 temp 80, sg is 1.025 alk is 3.5 meq/l and ca is 400. They do not show any signs of any parasitic infection and all other fish (yellow tang & diamond gobie) are doing well. The only thing that has happened is the frogspawn that they normally host was pushed out of it's niche by a turbo and I moved it about 6 inches away then it got moved again and I replaced it in it's original spot. All other inhabitants are doing great eating and swimming. They (the clowns) hang around the bottom corner and don't move very far away. I can't seem to get them interested in feeding. I have tried mysis, brine, soaked in garlic and unsoaked. Normally they run to the baster when I bring it out. She seems sluggish but her eyes are clear and not discolouration or spots on her, no body mucous and when I tried to catch her for a freshwater dip she actively swims away. I just can't seem to get her to eat. Could this be an internal parasite?

 

[leebca]

A 3-month old system is very young and still going through some changes. If it were my aquarium, it would not have any fish in it yet.

It isn't clear how long you've had these fish and whether or not you use a quarantine system to verify they were healthy before you put them in your display tank.

Your diagnosis may be close to fact. Quite often an internally infected will stop eating or slow its intake. But usually there are other signs, like loss of weight, and/or strange excrement.

A fish with internal worms may live happily ever after or end up with the fuzzy end of the lollipop. The latter easily comes about by not feeding the best possible diet.

For diet help, check this out:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=785228

Since the fish aren't eating then the only way to get medication inside of them is to put them in a quarantine tank and treat the water with chemicals that will kill the internal worms. The drug Praziquantel (a.k.a. droncit) will do this.

However, I'm not convinced it is an internal condition without more information. To be conservative, do an 80% water change and see if they seem to 'perk up.' Before you do this water change, check your source water for silica, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and phosphates. Some of these are not fish problem ingredients, but it might tell if your source water quality is of low standards. Hopefully, you are not using tap water to make up your saltwater. Not all water problems are things we test for. There are many water constituents that can cause fish problems to certain, more sensitive fish, to those constituents. Some fish in the tank may appear to be okay, others are not happy.

If you really want to be conservative and eliminate the source water as a problem, do your water change using distilled water. It might be expensive because your tank is large, but you will know that the source water is of the highest quality and not contributing to their fast.

The larger of your anemonefish, the female, will be the one to usually gorge herself, so her being off her feed is a real concern. But if they had been eating a proper diet, with vitamin and fat supplements, they can live without eating for several weeks.

The only information you provided which I am unsure about is the unsettling effect of their host invert moving around. Maybe someone in the Anemones and Clownfish Forum will know if that would cause them to stop eating.

Keep us informed. Good luck! :rollface:

 

[LornaS]

Thanks Lee for the info. I did a 30% water change as that is how much water I had made up. I us R/O for my water and my start up water was r/o as well. I usually feed them Hikari mysis alternating with Formula 1 frozen. I had put some broccoli in the tank for the tang to nibble on and this was washed well before putting in the tank. I have been heavily skimming with an aqua remora pro skimmer. Could an injested air bubble do this? Her colour is great and she shows no sign of brooklynella or other illness .

 

[leebca]

I'm unsure about the 'ingested air bubble.' Do you have a lot of bubbles in your aquarium water?

I'd still do an 80% water change daily for a couple/three days. Check that your RO is performing correctly (check TDS at least). From what you report, the water quality is still suspect.

Also, now is a good time to try appetite enhancers (e.g., garlic and vitamins). Prepare fresh garlic juice and try that:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=541977

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=546776

Add vitamins directly to the aquarium water. For this I usually use Vita-Chem. (Follow bottle directions).

Make sure that when they start eating, you are prepared with an improved diet according to the reference I gave you. These fish are omnivores and they need food like Formula 2 too.