New snowflake struggles to keep from sinking

[Morrisons]

The larger of our two clownfish died so we replaced it with a large snowflake clown that we picked up at PetCo. We've had it about two days, but it always seems to be struggling to stay afloat. When it stops swimming upwards it starts to sink right away. The attached picture is what the clown looks like all the time, it has to swim around at that upward angle.

Late last night we took a peek at it and saw that it was sleeping on the bottom of the tank.

Is all of this normal? Our current clown (and the one that we had before) never had any trouble staying afloat.

-Mike

 

[hotelbravo]

The larger of our two clownfish died so we replaced it with a large snowflake clown that we picked up at PetCo. We've had it about two days, but it always seems to be struggling to stay afloat. When it stops swimming upwards it starts to sink right away. The attached picture is what the clown looks like all the time, it has to swim around at that upward angle.

Late last night we took a peek at it and saw that it was sleeping on the bottom of the tank.

Is all of this normal? Our current clown (and the one that we had before) never had any trouble staying afloat.

-Mike

This may sound ridiculous but I had an idea while reading this question. I work with aircraft a great deal and I know how the wind speed can aid in lift. I have no real knowledge on buoyancy and other properties related to this but if I had to guess I would say your problem could be related to the flow of the tank. If my uneducated theory is right then to little flow may make it harder for him to swim and more flow may help him....

This is all just a thought perhaps someone smarter than me can help shed some light on this problem

 

[Morrisons]

No, we have a lot of flow in the tank but it doesn't make a difference in his buoyancy. He sinks like a rock in still or moving water...

 

[hotelbravo]

No, we have a lot of flow in the tank but it doesn't make a difference in his buoyancy. He sinks like a rock in still or moving water...

Whats the temperature at? I have been reading around and read that fish can have constipation and if that is the issue then temperature can help with the metabolism which will help him

 

[Morrisons]

I keep the temp in tank at 78. It usually always stays with in the range of 77 to 79

 

[hotelbravo]

Well, all I can find is a digestive problem may be the culprit.

 

[addictedreefer]

This is a swim bladder issue, often due to genetic deformities in captive bred clowns. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do. Was he swimming ok in the store?

 

[Morrisons]

She was swimming the exact same way in store, dint think much of it. Overall I think its ok. She seems to be doing great, very active when I feed them. As long as it wont interfere with their breeding I am ok with it.

 

[OrionN]

Fish have air bladder to adjust their buoyancy, like ballast in a submarine. Compress this bladder and they increase their density thus sink and relax on this bladder they decrease their density thus float. I seem like you fish have air bladder problem.

 

[addictedreefer]

This is really a shame. That fish should have been culled and never offered for sale. Another example of irresponsible breeding practices IMO. Do not breed that fish as it may pass the defect to future generations.

 

[Morrisons]

Ok thanks for the advice. The snowflake seems to be doing much better today then when we first got it. Its swimming more normal now. I think I will give it a week or two to see if it completely goes away, maybe its just still adjusting to the tank.

 

[Morrisons]

Ok thanks for the advice. The snowflake seems to be swimming much better now then when we got it. Im going to give it a week or two to see if it completely goes away. It might still be adjusting to the tank

 

[Morrisons]

Just to close this out. The snowflake did eventually die.