Lazy/Tired Percula?

[Nolbi-Wan]

About a week ago I purchased 2 true perculas. One slightly smaller than the other. Before purchasing them i had my water tested at my LFS and everything was good. When i first acclimated them they both were real healthy and ate well. I noticed that they started the pairing up process bvy the bigger of the 2 charging and the smaller one turning sideways and having his seizure like movements. Now heres the problem. For the past 2 days the smaller one is sticking to one part of my tank and will hardly move away from there. He wont even eat. The bigger of the 2 seems to be in perfect health..Active swimmer and great eater. Anyone have any insight on whats wrong with my smaller percula? thanks in advance

 

[SEAFLOWERS]

I don't know that there is anything "wrong" so to spreak I witnessed the same thing about four years ago with a pair of GSM'S that I had at the time. The little one is probably scared and stressed. Eventually The smaller one tried again to pair up and it worked. Is the smaller one hurt at all?if so I would move it a quarantine tank if possible and re-introduce it to the tank after it heals.If not I would leave it alone, continue feeding and watching. The process of paring up can sometimes be brutal to the smaller fish, not trying to be a fish psychologist or anything but after 5 years of keeping different kinds of clowns, I believe that the larger one which will be the female will keep up the aggressive behavior until she is satisfied with the little one's acquiessence(sp) until she is happy with the behavior she is getting she will keep beating him into submission. Kind of like what are wives do to us!

 

[Nolbi-Wan]

i dont think the smaller one is hurt. Hes moved positions in my tank but still seems really tired like. Ill try feeding em a lil later when i get home. Hopefully he will eat. Hopefully he pulls through.

 

[Nolbi-Wan]

UPDATE..it still wont eat..wont even go after the food. It looks as if his mouth is always open now too...anybody with any insight? Thanks

 

[stykthyn]

how is his breathing compared to the other fish. Would you say it is heavy? Normal? Maybe you might want to think about moving him to a small QT tank for a while. Sounds like he might be sick.

 

[Nolbi-Wan]

yea seems like he is breathing a lil more heavier. Im definatly gonna move him to another tank when i get home from work. This morning he was so weak i actually saw him get sucked up against the grid of my powerhead. I turned off all my powerheads cause i was worried it was going to happen again and no one would be home to check up on him. No signs of ICK or abrassions. Only thing is his mouth is constantly opening and closing. I dont want to treat him with anything until i can get a definate answer as to whats wrong with him. Hopefully he can pull through

 

[stykthyn]

moving it's mouth like that is a sign that he is trying to force water over it's gills, kind of like panting. I hate to say it, but it sounds like brooklynella. Remove him immediately.

 

[Nolbi-Wan]

i will definately take him out asap. I hope when i get to him it wont be too late. How should i go about treating him. Hopefully i can get off of work early so i can go home and take care of him.

 

[stykthyn]

formalin dip

 

[mr pink floyd]

what do those seizrue movements mean mine do that sometimes too

 

[r00onmac]

thats the submissive response from one clown to another... my large ocellaris (1.5" or more) does that to my small onyx (< .75") when the onyx isnt paying enough attention to him... usually its the smaller that does it to the larger..