Disgruntled Clownfish?

[One Eyed Bunny]

He isn't breathing heavily.
He doesn't appear sick or malformed in any way.
He eats frozen mysis shrimp, but not flake food.
He's a maroon gold-stripe clownfish

My biggest concern is that he is not taking to the tank at all. There's a few pieces of coral, live rock and such in the tank, but no other fish. He was the first to be added. All day he just swims against the current against the glass of the tank. Occasionally he'll tilt to one side, but never for long before correcting himself and just swimming.

He ALWAYS swims in one small area at the top of the tank. He's been doing this for about 2 days now and I don't want to keep him in the tank if he won't be happy with it, I'd rather find him a home where he will be happy if that's the case.

Any suggestions?

 

[dchao]

Something in not right with your water.

IME, they should never tilt to one side. A few hours after they are introduced, they will find somewhere safe for hidding rather than trying to escape.

You should report back with all the water parameters.

pH, salinity, temp, ammonia, nitrate, alkalinity.....

 

[atkinsg]

How long has the fish been in the tank? If you read some posts about clownfish behavior, you'll find that they do some seemingly odd things. If your water parameters are good, I'll bet this fish is just fine.

 

[Kawaii]

Our gold striped maroon clown paced the top of the water in our tank for months until we added another fish in the tank and now he's fine. If your water levels are good then he's probably fine, maybe he's just lonely like ours was.

 

[BlackOnyx]

how big is the tank?

 

[PatMayo]

I would like to think also that the fish is still acclimating. My 2 clowns also acted very strange. They swam sideways and did all sorts of weird maneuvers. But after 3 or 4 days the were fine. Even today 6 months later they when feeding or messing with the tank they weird out and then when I'm done they are fine.

If water parameters are good and the tank aged to a degree, I would just wait and see.

Regards,

Pat

 

[Dennis7]

I would give him a week or two. When I transfered my one clown to my large tank, he hid for 2 weeks in the rocks. I thought I had lost him. Then to my surprise he appeared. Goes all over the tank now.

 

[DaveAngie79]

try putting an anenome in the tank with him
mine was a little crazy untill i added one

 

[TippyToeX]

Sounds like normal behavior for a new addition clownfish. As was said above, give her time to adjust and become aquatinted with the tank. She is eating so that's a great sign.

 

[One Eyed Bunny]

Thank you ver much! I appreciate all the feedback!! I guess I'll just wait for him to get use to the fish tank.

 

[Fmellish]

All of my fish took about a week before they started swimming in normal patterns. My clowns still swim to the top left corner at night and stay up at the water line.

my tang swam in fast circles for 2 days before he settled down and started swimming among the rock.

Sometimes new fish just act weird for awhile.

Josh

 

[One Eyed Bunny]

He took a piece of flake food this morning. Only half a bite but at least he tried it. Things are hopefully improving fro mthere.