Lethargic Clown

[Mirage2521]

Hi All, newbie here wwith a recently purchased and moved tank. The move went well moved it last saturday. I had lfs test my water yesterday and she siad "it looks great" (nitrate, trite, amonia, and phosphates) My concern is my clown...he is a big healthy looking fella but he seems to be acting sluggish and lazy, does not look stressed and has eaten a little in tha t last few days, but he just sits there behind a rock and sort of hovers. I have no lights on this tank so there is no real light cycle yet. he fish has no spots, or visual afflictions. Any ideas anyone...hate to lose him. There is no rock in the tank, it has sump with bio balls and a heater keeping the water at about 77-80f. The salt content is 1.022 on 2 different hydrometers and 1.018 on another hydrometer. The high ones are 2 Instant Ocean brand and the other is an old something or other that came in the bottom of a bucket of stuff from the previous owner of the tank. Thanks for any help

 

[Mirage2521]

PS....it's a Maroon Clown

 

[Reeses]

He sounds like he might be really stressed.
Did he come with the tank? How did you transport him? Did he used to have an anemone or any sort of host that he doesn't have anymore? Did this tank ever have lights? If he had lights before, the poor thing just might be really confused about the lack of lights now...meaning he might still think it's night time. Marine fish need a light cycle, just like they need food.

You really need to buy a refractomer. Those plastic swing arm ones won't do you (or your fish) any good. They are wildly inaccurate, and often do more harm than good.

 

[Mirage2521]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9761736#post9761736 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reeses
He sounds like he might be really stressed.
Did he come with the tank? How did you transport him? Did he used to have an anemone or any sort of host that he doesn't have anymore? Did this tank ever have lights? If he had lights before, the poor thing just might be really confused about the lack of lights now...meaning he might still think it's night time. Marine fish need a light cycle, just like they need food.

You really need to buy a refractomer. Those plastic swing arm ones won't do you (or your fish) any good. They are wildly inaccurate, and often do more harm than good.

Thanks for the reply, I transported him in a 18g rubbermaid with a piece of decorative rock that was in the tank. The tank has not had lights for sometime as far as I know...the previous owner said "the light quit working and I just never bought another one" I have no idea how long ago that was. He never had an anemone and I have not wanted to inroduce anything new to the tank. I know I need a refractometer...I am just going to have to buy one online..no one locally has one. I hoped that using all 4 swing arms would get me an idea.

 

[Reeses]

I bought my refractomer online also from marine depot. Every LFS around here had them marked up so high that it was more cost effective to actually have it shipped. I think that's unfortunate, because I'd rather get it locally than purchase it online, but that's the way it is in this hobby oftentimes.

Fish are often really shy and out of whack for a while after being transported. It's really good you recognized that you shouldn't add anything new to the tank for a while. That will only benefit you. Slow is a really good thing. Things to watch out for are rapid breathing, loss of color, and damage to fins/body. I'd keep a close eye on him and keep testing your water. Until you get your refractometer and are able to measure and adjust it properly, having a slightly lower salinity won't hurt short term as long as you only have the fish. Inverts can't tolerate lower than normal values, and will kill them. Fish on the other hand, can sometimes benefit from having hypo salinity, particularly when being treated for certain illnesses, but should never be kept in hypo long term.

As far as nutrition, I'd recommend (if you haven't already) picking up some good quality frozen food from your local LFS. The clown would really benefit from a good omnivore diet. Frozen Mysis is a particular nutritious. I personally am very fond of the brands Ocean Nutrition and Hikari, because they use less land-based foods than others. Ocean Nutrition's Formula one would be really good for him. Another great supplement food for all fish is cyclop-eeze. That is available in frozen, freeze dried, and flake. I actually like the flake because cyclop-eeze is are very small, and everything else just seems to make a mess.

You might want to take a few minutes to fill out your current tank information, it will really help others help you.

 

[Mirage2521]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9763994#post9763994 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reeses
I bought my refractomer online also from marine depot. Every LFS around here had them marked up so high that it was more cost effective to actually have it shipped. I think that's unfortunate, because I'd rather get it locally than purchase it online, but that's the way it is in this hobby oftentimes.

Fish are often really shy and out of whack for a while after being transported. It's really good you recognized that you shouldn't add anything new to the tank for a while. That will only benefit you. Slow is a really good thing. Things to watch out for are rapid breathing, loss of color, and damage to fins/body. I'd keep a close eye on him and keep testing your water. Until you get your refractometer and are able to measure and adjust it properly, having a slightly lower salinity won't hurt short term as long as you only have the fish. Inverts can't tolerate lower than normal values, and will kill them. Fish on the other hand, can sometimes benefit from having hypo salinity, particularly when being treated for certain illnesses, but should never be kept in hypo long term.

As far as nutrition, I'd recommend (if you haven't already) picking up some good quality frozen food from your local LFS. The clown would really benefit from a good omnivore diet. Frozen Mysis is a particular nutritious. I personally am very fond of the brands Ocean Nutrition and Hikari, because they use less land-based foods than others. Ocean Nutrition's Formula one would be really good for him. Another great supplement food for all fish is cyclop-eeze. That is available in frozen, freeze dried, and flake. I actually like the flake because cyclop-eeze is are very small, and everything else just seems to make a mess.

You might want to take a few minutes to fill out your current tank information, it will really help others help you.

Thanks:rollface:

 

[Reeses]

Sure. Glad I could help.

BTW, now that you have filled out your specs, I see that you have a sailfin tang, too. I just thought that I would mention that they grow to a bit over a foot, and need a tank of 125+ gal. One would be my #1 first pick if I ever upgrade to a tank big enough to hold one.

 

[Mirage2521]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9768633#post9768633 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reeses
Sure. Glad I could help.

BTW, now that you have filled out your specs, I see that you have a sailfin tang, too. I just thought that I would mention that they grow to a bit over a foot, and need a tank of 125+ gal. One would be my #1 first pick if I ever upgrade to a tank big enough to hold one.

Well when the time comes I bet he would love to live at your house...I am sure he will out grow this tank. BTW, I now don't think there is a problem with the clown...I think I woke him up. He starts acting weird and lethargic every evening about 9...guess its his bedtime....duriing the days he is active and eats good.

 

[mikeandjenn99]

I think you really need to get some lights on the tank and get them on a cycle. Clowns are VERY schedule/time oriented fish. They like to have a set schedule for everything from feeding to lights. I guarantee if you give a good light schedule, it'll perk up. And it's probably a she rather than a he if it's mature and has been alone for a while.

 

[Reeses]

I have a habit of giving gender to fishes with absolutely no thought behind it. Your right, it's probably a girl. I'm so glad to hear the clown is perking up. Something I forgot to also mention to you is that the tang is an herbivore, and most likely a voracious one at that. Please make sure that it gets plenty of nori, they fade out when they don't get their veggies. Are the chromis color coming back yet? Faded fish generally signify either stress or a very poor diet.

Thanks for the compliment about the tang living at my house, you tend to pick up a lot of little tidbits after you've been in the hobby for a couple of years. That and you also tend to collect a decent amount of books. :lol: Well, enjoy the tang while you've got it, I have observed that they tend to be very personable, and if your lucky he might even "dance" for his dinner. I'm not kidding.

 

[Mirage2521]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9774902#post9774902 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reeses
I have a habit of giving gender to fishes with absolutely no thought behind it. Your right, it's probably a girl. I'm so glad to hear the clown is perking up. Something I forgot to also mention to you is that the tang is an herbivore, and most likely a voracious one at that. Please make sure that it gets plenty of nori, they fade out when they don't get their veggies. Are the chromis color coming back yet? Faded fish generally signify either stress or a very poor diet.

Thanks for the compliment about the tang living at my house, you tend to pick up a lot of little tidbits after you've been in the hobby for a couple of years. That and you also tend to collect a decent amount of books. :lol: Well, enjoy the tang while you've got it, I have observed that they tend to be very personable, and if your lucky he might even "dance" for his dinner. I'm not kidding.

Funny you should ask....everyone..male and female are getting some color back....it's kinda cool. The clown...I named him "Moron Clown" (no idea why) is doing better and better. I put some PVC pipe peices (well cleaned) in the tank to give HER a little privacy...it took 12-14 hours for her to come near it but now she is inside and seems to love it in there. If Mr. Sailfin gets too big he will be looking for a home