Distressed clown fish

Chitownpw

Chitownpw

New member
I am a newbie. I have a nano tank that recently cycled. We've added two clowns last Monday. They were both fine the first two days. The larger of the two clowns is now distressed - swimming vertically all day, not eating, losing color and breathing rapidly. I have been to 2 LFS and they have differing views but both are unsure about issue. Tank parameters have been consistent. Help/suggestions would be appreciated
 
One thing I've learned is move slowly, cycling might still be going on. A closer check might reveal ammonia. Only my guess.

Some water changes might be in order, my favored is two smaller amount in three days.

Lots more or something else could be going on, system is new.

Hope things improve...
 
I had this happen on my start-up tank a couple of years ago. The cycling was not done on mine. I ended up losing mine a day after it started doing this to me. I hope yours does not end up the same.

Since it is a small system, tank things slow, but get a small water change in when you can.
 
Pure speculation, but two fish might be the error, I've always added only one fish at a time.
Full cycles can take months, infact a fully seasoned aquarium takes several months even near a year!

Early cycles some are only weeks, others can take longer, patience will eventually be rewarded.

Hang in there!
 
what size is your tank? it's possible you had an ammonia spike when you added both fish if the tank is small. did you test for ammonia when the fish started acting stressed?

wnppmy said:
Pure speculation, but two fish might be the error, I've always added only one fish at a time.
Click to expand...

i have 2 tanks, a 14g and a 29g. my first fish in both tanks was a pair of snowflake clowns added at the same time. never had a problem so i doubt this is the issue with the OP.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I did two water changes this week, with the last being early evening yesterday. I have a 24g nano (jbj). Ammonia has remained at 0 to .5 - I am use a test strip for that and nitrates have been 0 to 5 ppm - I am using API test kit for that. One LFS said I need to add an air pump to oxygenate the water Does that sound like a possibility? The other said it was behavioral. The other clown, which is smaller, seems fine. I tried to post a vid to show what the fish is doing but can't get it to upload.
 
by air pump, do you mean power head? do you have any power heads now? if not, a small one pointed up will agitate the surface and provide more oxygen.

your ammonia should be 0 if your tank is fully cycled.
 
The LPs was referring to an air stone. I bought the fish from this place and they actually use air stones in their salt tanks. My ammonia is probably 0; it is just with the test strips I hedge a little b/c you are trying to match the colors on the strip to the chart and that is imprecise. There is good movement with the stock pump. I don't have a separate powerhead b/c the tank is small. Can we post video? If so, I will try and get something up.
 
Not saying you are, but try not to over feed. I know its hard to resist trying to get the sick one to eat. What are you using for filtration?
 
I have been mindful re feeding or at least I think I am. I've been varying the diet a little trying to get this guy to eat - started with flake, then mysis, and now some pellets. last night he seemed to go after the pallets a little. The Nanocube has its own filtration system that includes bio balls and carbon, etc. I also have live rock and a deep sand bed. I have turbo snails, blue hermits, a cleaner shrimp and one of the live rocks had dying zoas (and a hitch hiker - some sort of crab) when I bought it. The zoas have bounced back over the past few weeks and seem to be doing fine. Everything else seems to be doing fine. The distressed clown has long stringy white poo, also. However, it does seem to be doing a little better.
 
Last edited:
Your lfs should be able to test your ammonia for you. If you have fed everything listed above within the last few days, then that might be causing ammonia spikes. Get a better ammonia kit at the least.
 
i don't like airstones in saltwater, they make for too much salt creep.

i don't have any personal experience but it's my understanding that stringy poo can indicate parasites. maybe somebody with more knowledge will chime in.

another power head wouldn't hurt a thing. you don't need anything that blasts but a small one might be a good idea.
 
Nina51 said:
i don't like airstones in saltwater, they make for too much salt creep.

i don't have any personal experience but it's my understanding that stringy poo can indicate parasites. maybe somebody with more knowledge will chime in.

another power head wouldn't hurt a thing. you don't need anything that blasts but a small one might be a good idea.
Click to expand...

I ended up putting a small airstone in the tank and the fish seems to have reacted positively to it - it is moving around the tank now and not swimming vertically; however, I don't know if that is just b/c it is freaked out by the airstone.

I am hoping that creep won't be took big of an issue, but I'll have to wait to see.
 
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