Clownfish turning black and mottled. Also won't eat. Help?

[potatowned]

Hi,

I bought this clownfish about a month ago and it's been in QT the whole time. Did a methylene blue dip before it went in and the fish seemed to do OK at first. Then, I noticed it gulping, getting lethargic, and loss of appetite. It also constantly had a long trail of white feces, so I assumed parasites. I was almost positive it was a goner, based on how it was swimming, but I treated anyway and the fish seems to have improved a great deal over the last week.

Now, the fish swims around like normal, but it still won't eat and it's developed this strange dark, mottled look on its skin. I assume it eats the food when I'm not looking, since it's been alive for about a month, but I find it surprising it doesn't react when I feed. I've tried spectrum pellets, rod's, mysis, soaked in garlic extreme, and still nothing.

It still gulps a bit, but it swims well and seems petty active. The color change is somewhat alarming though. It went from a bright orange to this strange darkish, spotty orange. Could it be the medication I used?

 

[potatowned]

No responses or advice? Please! This damn fish wont eat AND it's changing color!!!

It has literally been 4 weeks since I have seen it eat.

 

[kenman345]

No responses or advice? Please! This damn fish wont eat AND it's changing color!!!

It has literally been 4 weeks since I have seen it eat.

What treatment did you do to it?

Also, does the QT have an anemone or anything that can sting the clownfish?

 

[rompininphx]

It looks like black ich

 

[potatowned]

What treatment did you do to it?

Also, does the QT have an anemone or anything that can sting the clownfish?

Nothing in the QT tank but the fish... and I have been treating with Metronidazole. I mix it with Garlic Extreme and some mysis. Turn off pumps and filter and feed the fish, but the fish completely ignores the food.

However since I started treating, I noticed that the fish no longer has stringy poop.

But he started changing color.

 

[MythicalReef]

Try Seachem's Kanaplex. Did wonders for my maroon clown's overall health. Grab a small cup, add some tank water and a proper measure of kanaplex, soak some nice marine flake in it. Add some Selcon or Garlic Guard to the cup and let the flakes soak it in.

My maroon won't eat mysis so that's why I recommend a tasty flake food. Pour it into the tank. Even if your clown doesn't eat the flake, he will have broadcast medication and vitamins. Kanaplex is safe to simply add to your tank if you want (it reads so on the label) and in my experience it's true.

 

[potatowned]

So I've tried every food I can think of. Spectrum+, mysis PE, Rod's Fish Food, all soaked in Garlic Extreme and this fish won't eat ANYTHING.

Other than that, he looks ok. He swims around, seems relatively lively. How is this possible? I've had him for a month and I have never seen him eat!

Any other secrets to get a fish to eat??

 

[kenman345]

i dont know about what you said you are using, but if its safe to just stop, i would try letting it be without that stuff for a few days, see if you can find it eating then. Anytime a treatment is done, you might be causing stress to the fish that causes them not to eat.

Also, what lighting is on during feeding time? some fish just do not eat during the night, and will pick at food when it is daytime even if it's been sitting in the tank for a while.

Something you might want to do is set up a camera and get a stick on food thing and set the camera up to view that area. you can skim through the footage to see if the fish eats at any point you might not have been paying attention.

 

[potatowned]

Yes, I was medicating every other day previously. I stopped a few days ago and it seemed like the fish was getting more sluggish and spent more time in his hiding spot.

So, I medicated again yesterday. I generally turn the powerhead and filter off, mix medication with food and garlic, and then turn the pumps and filter back on about 30 minutes later.

I know he doesn't eat the pellets, because I can count them in the tank.

As far as a lighting schedule, I have lights turn on at 4pm and turn off at 2am. I've tried to feed anywhere from 6pm until 2am. Although I do think the fish is most active around midnight to 2am.

 

[kenman345]

Yes, I was medicating every other day previously. I stopped a few days ago and it seemed like the fish was getting more sluggish and spent more time in his hiding spot.

So, I medicated again yesterday. I generally turn the powerhead and filter off, mix medication with food and garlic, and then turn the pumps and filter back on about 30 minutes later.

I know he doesn't eat the pellets, because I can count them in the tank.

As far as a lighting schedule, I have lights turn on at 4pm and turn off at 2am. I've tried to feed anywhere from 6pm until 2am. Although I do think the fish is most active around midnight to 2am.

I was more concerned with the colors of the lighting you are using. The color can have an effect on the temperment.Why such a short lighting schedule?

 

[potatowned]

I was more concerned with the colors of the lighting you are using. The color can have an effect on the temperment.Why such a short lighting schedule?

Is 10 hours short? It was my understanding that QTs didn't really even need light cycles.

The light is a simple 3W LED spotlight, I think at 6500k.

I can put a daylight T5 there instead...