Perc clown acting strange

[richardinphx]

So... had a slight algae bloom this am... cleaned the refugium and changed the floss and the polyfilter (which I keep in the receiving side constantly)
water clear in just an hour or two -- this is all out of the ordinary that has happened

Very stable tank 9 years old - NO CHEM issues

The male clown of the pair, left his nest of eggs which he has been tending, went to the other side of the tank acting reclusive.. not wanting to come and socialize with his mate... any suggestions.. has been perfectly healthy

The pair has been laying eggs about every 4 weeks - they hatch, but of course all disappear into coral land....

any clues... he is not eating... and looks disinterested lethargic and ill

Thanks,
Richard

120gal system bowfront 48X24X18

 

[JMCAquarium]

how old are the pair ?

 

[richardinphx]

the female is 6 or 7 and he was a juvenile when I put him in (as a replacement for her last mate that died) about a year ago...

He is losing color now and looks grayish he wont make it through morning I dont believe.... VERy sudden

Perplexed

 

[SHARKBAITNC]

Have you added anything new coral / fish ?

 

[richardinphx]

absolutely nothing in years..

 

[JMCAquarium]

might just the luck of the draw for the little **** sounds like he's dieing from somthing. can you see in his mouth ? he doesnt have anything stuck in there or cotton mouth does he ?

 

[lostmyz]

poor little guy!!!

 

[richardinphx]

well he is getting better.. his color is back but it almost seems as if the pair have gotten into a fight or something and thats whaty stressed him out...
they wont even get close to each other now and he acts afraid of her.. he is eating again his right eye sometimes looks clear.. with pupil showing, and then sometimes it looks glassy like he is high or something .. ??

omg does a mated pair ever come "unmated "?? do they get a divorce ??

 

[evolved]

I know it can happen in the wild, if the females feels the male isn't properly protecting her eggs. Lone males are always waiting for an opportunity to move in.

 

[JMCAquarium]

i know it can happen in the wild, if the females feels the male isn't properly protecting her eggs. Lone males are always waiting for an opportunity to move in.

x2

 

[richardinphx]

well ... went home last night after work .. male has full color again, and they are back together .. playing and snooping around their regular nesting site as if nothing happened.. oh by the way he is an egg nut.. always takes care of those eggs and protects them like it was the last batch on earth..

NEXT question... IF they lay so many eggs - and I mean like every 4/5 weeks and so many hatch -- why dont a few survive.. ??

 

[SHARKBAITNC]

NEXT question... IF they lay so many eggs - and I mean like every 4/5 weeks and so many hatch -- why dont a few survive.. ??

the food they need to survive is no present enough in your tank.. Plus when they hatch everything in your tank considers them food

Hth
Nick

 

[SHARKBAITNC]

And then there are pumps, power heads and skimmers that are not baby clownfish friendly ...

 

[richardinphx]

i i wonder if I could put one of those egg discs or whatever they are down in that nest hole they make in and among the corals if they would use it - If they did, then when I see those little frye eyes pop up .. which usually means 12-24 hours to hatching, I could put it into a hatchery inside the tank... just thinking I hate to see all those eggs go to waste must be more than a thousand this year - easily !

 

[jflores]

The person to ask about that would be Reefstew.

 

[richardinphx]

oh yeah

 

[SHARKBAITNC]

The amount of live food you would need to add to keep them alive would completely foul up your reef..

 

[richardinphx]

wow.. no wonder its a dedicated operation sound horibly complicating

anyway.. the little male is back in the sick shop again.. hes gone off alone again.. disappeared before the lights went out last night didnt see him but found him this morning hiding out in a folded up coral.. he is colorless again... mystery.... I think I will take him out this weekend I'm afraid he will infect the tank... never seen anything like this ever in 20 years of "tanking"... no external signs of illness he acts like he has been stung or something like a toxin

 

[richardinphx]

... just not sure I can take a chance on his dead body coming apart and releaasing no telling what... so im a nervous wreck over it.. first problem I've had in 15 years

 

[AaronFC]

i sorry to hear of all this richard! such a beautiful tank doesnt need a poor sick fish. i hope things get better!!