Jigsaw Clownfish Dead

[EMBRYOGUY]

yes, my jigsaw clownfish is dead.

why??????? i need clown experts to please add your thoughts.

cirucumstances:
a. actively feeding night before @ 10pm.
b. hosting on hairy mushrooms laying on sandbed.
c. morning, found alot of nessarious snails all over clownfish dead right beside hairy mushrooms where it sleeps
d. water parameters very good.
e. upon examination, dead clown appeared healthy except for sunken stomach from the snails.
f. no fins torn, coloration good, etc
g. wc small clownfish.
i. all other clowns in system fine.
j. never had disease or any other issues in system.
k. system attached to protein skimmer, fuge.
l. water changes once a week.

possibility? overfeeding?

? is it possible bec the clown sleeps almost on the sandbed that the nessarius snails attached to the clown, while it ws in its sleeping trance? the nessarius snail is about a third the size of the clownfish.

i know this is very unlikely. but i cannot figure out other possibilities.

definetly a big loss for me. by far my favorite clownfish. makes me rethink collecting odd percs. the only clownfish i valued more is oras snowflake/picasso male. replacing this clownfish is almost impossible.

 

[coraldude]

dont know . but that sucks

 

[Avian]

Sorry for your loss, She was a beauty.

 

[FiberLux]

Huey, I'm really sorry you lost her!

I have no idea what would have caused it, but don't think the snails are the reason!

Boyd

 

[EMBRYOGUY]

yeah i agree with you boyd.

i just got off the phone with a PhD in fish ecology and he said fish/clowns can go into shock if suddenly surprised. bec i do not have a true sandbed (<0.5 "), my nessarius snails do not burry themselves in the sandbed but move along the surface. he said they could easily scare the clownfish at night while it was sleeping. the clown than goes into a quick shock at which point the nessarius than goes after it.

bec it was found at the exact spot where the clown usually sleeps thats the biggest clue he said.

if the clown would of died on its own, bec of the high flow i have in my system, it would of been most likely blown to another location in the tank and than the nessarius snails would of gotten it than. but since it died at the same area where it normally sleeps, on the sandbed where the harry mushrooms are. he thought this was a good probability that the culprit was the nesarius snails. he also said that even though animals like, emeralds, scarlets etc that are considered reef safe, all it takes is one bad seed to go after your fish.

the cirucumstances all had to align perfectly for this to happen. most clown host on anemones, etc that are off the sand bed. if they do not host, they are usually not sleeping on the sandbed also. and i happen to have a situation with a thin sandbed with snails that hunt for food at the surface.

honestly, do i really think this happened? no, but its the only explanation at this point.

the reality is that i will never know for sure.

hopefully oama will read this.

 

[ClownReef®]

WHHAAAT?!?!!?..I just found this thread and im really really really sorry bro..That was an amazing fish..Man, that sucks Huey..

 

[COreefer]

That sucks man..I'm sorry to hear that. Was it TR or WC??

 

[EMBRYOGUY]

WC.

thanks ireef.

tough day. i just wish i knew how it really died so i can learn from it. the only way i will get over this one is if i find another one better than it. like the ora clown.

but the chances of that? 0.001% lol

 

[Ciarán]

Condolences man. Really sorry to hear that. "Spontaneous" losses are the hardest because you feel you have done nothing wrong. Best of luck in the future with those awesome clowns!

 

[EMBRYOGUY]

thanks i appreciate the thoughts. i would much rather have lost it to a disease etc. atleast than i know it would have been in my control/fault.

 

[ClownReef®]

Well Huey..all we can do as keepers is give them the best conditions possible..just know he didnt die because of lack of care. Just imagine how many people there are out there that have really s**ty systems and kill fish left and right. You are a very dedicated fish keeper, at least be proud that you gave that fish a very good life. Sometimes fish just die..Trying to duplicate the ocean isnt an easy task..

 

[EMBRYOGUY]

ireef

THANK YOU very much for your thoughts. that definetly made my day. now i consider your pair the best pair, behind oras.

the funny thing is the widow of the pair is a rodonyx, i immediately paired it up with another onyx. his clowns are so easy to pair up. rod is the only one that can save me from my depression

part of the reason why i collected so many pairs is for situations like this. if i lose a pair i have others to back them up but i didnt think this particular clown would have this much of an affect. i ve even contemplated leaving the hobby bec of this jigsaw clown.

hey ireef. send me an email. i have pics i want to send you.

 

[EMBRYOGUY]

hmm actually, if you give me your pair. i might feel better jk of course.

i swear i think if i ever get a hold of another crazy clownfish, im going to lock it up , 30 gallon, water and clay pot only lol

 

[clord]

Thats sucks embryoguy I know you love your clownfish.

 

[EMBRYOGUY]

thanks clord for your thoughts.

i contemplate maybe collecting only normal patterned clowns that are easily replaceable, than it wont seem so bad if this happens again .........

part of me feels bad for not being able to keep this jigsaw clownfish alive. i enjoyed sharing it with others and was hoping to share its dev. over years. and breed with it.

 

[Atticus]

How big are your shrooms? I lost a clown I waited years for to a stupid clown eating shroom. Clown hosted it and it got dinner...

 

[EMBRYOGUY]

the biggest ones prob span 5 inches. there huge. as big as ive ever seen hairy mushrooms.

did you have elephant mushrooms? they have been know to eat clowns.

 

[tanglovers]

Hey,

Extremely sorry to hear about your clown. Your clown was one of the ones that got me interested in the unique pattern clowns...only wish I was successful find them. Reading your threads on RC has provided alot of information to me and motivation.

Sorry once again.

 

[EMBRYOGUY]

wow tanlovrs

thats very nice to you to say. that comment alone makes the life of my jigsaw clownfish worth it.

dont give up your search. there out there.

 

[oama]

embryoguy
Sorry for the lost. As to why? I have no clue.
More in the pipeline, so hang in there.
Oama