Percula Clown loses slime coat/turns white at night

[fishfoo]

The weirdest thing (imo at least) has been happening the past week with my clown. During the day he has full color, is super active and eats like a pig. But at night when the lights are off, his pupils get very small and his body turns a whitish color (assuming the loss of his slime coat based on what research I have done). He looks and acts like he's on the brink of death each night but the next morning is completely fine. Does this happen with anyone else's clowns? Any ideas what could be wrong? Thanks in advance for your responses

24gal jbj nano that has been up for 6 weeks. Put him in two weeks ago.

Amm, Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 5ppm
Calc: 480
Ph: 8

 

[ThRoewer]

Fish loosing color at night is totally normal.

What do you mean with "acts like he's on the brink of death"? Disoriented and bumping into things when the light is turned on? Or is he breathing heavily?

 

[fishfoo]

Fish loosing color at night is totally normal.

What do you mean with "acts like he's on the brink of death"? Disoriented and bumping into things when the light is turned on? Or is he breathing heavily?

well whenever I turn my bedroom light on after the tank light is off he'll be bumping into the rocks and sometimes will even be up against the filter sucked onto it for a brief moment before moving off of it. Then by the time I wake up I always see him in the upper right corner where he usually sleeps and he looks totally fine. It's just super odd. But if you think it is normal than I guess there's not much to it.

Oh and no heavy breathing from what I've observed.

 

[ThRoewer]

That is completely normal behavior for a fish that has been ripped out of sleep. (It is actually one way to catch fish)

Imagine how disoriented you would be if someone rips you out of deep sleep by turning bright lights on and tossing you out of the bed.

 

[fishfoo]

That is completely normal behavior for a fish that has been ripped out of sleep. (It is actually one way to catch fish)

Imagine how disoriented you would be if someone rips you out of deep sleep by turning bright lights on and tossing you out of the bed.

Very true that's what I was hoping was the case! Thank you very much for the peace of mind.

 

[ThRoewer]

I would give that fish a home. If you don't want to add an anemone a ceramic flowerpot will do. If you don't like the red ceramic look you can let it overgrow with green star polyps. Otherwise coralline or other algae will take it over and make it look like it belongs into the tank.
I can assure you that a flowerpot is for clownfish the next best thing to an anemone.

This was one of my breeding pairs back in Germany:

 

[fishfoo]

I would give that fish a home. If you don't want to add an anemone a ceramic flowerpot will do. If you don't like the red ceramic look you can let it overgrow with green star polyps. Otherwise coralline or other algae will take it over and make it look like it belongs into the tank.
I can assure you that a flowerpot is for clownfish the next best thing to an anemone.

This was one of my breeding pairs back in Germany:

I saw those in your profile pic. Very beautiful fish. The gsp on the ceramic pot sounds like a pretty good plan so I think I'll try that. Again, I appreciate your advice. Thank you.

 

[ThRoewer]

Those were wild Solomon percula, some of the first that ever came to Germany. You hardly find those anymore, and if, you have to pay an outrageous amount.