Percula help.....

R

reef tank 2.0

Member
I bought two baby percula clown fish today and got them home and started the drip acclimation process. Once I did that and placed the clowns in the QT, one of them started to lean on its side.

They both ate and seemed well. They found one of the pvc elbows to stay in and they both seemed fine. I didn't see the one leaning any longer........

I had to leave the house for work and my wife got home and said the one is lying on her side breathing really hard.

I'm not quite sure what's happening and why. The other clown is fine.

Any ideas? I don't think it's gonna make it through the night.....

My wife says he goes in spirts. Lies down one moment then swims the next. He's not acting very consistant
 
Last edited:
as for my perameters......the water was taken out of my fresh batch of salt water. The DT was not cycled yet so that water was not used..... But I just measured the NH4 and its at 0. The water is a cloudy white but doesn't register on the NH4 card. The temp is 78 degrees.The second clown is alive and acting normally.......I just fed them a little more and they both eat.

I was going to call the fish store tomorrow and see what they say but should I call even if it has not died overnight?

It was lying on its side again, breathing hard, then when my wife went to look at them, he hopped up and started swimming like nothing was wrong. He definitely acts a little strange when compared to the other.....

I'm afraid to lose him.
 
What's your salinity? I ran into this a couple days ago with a Royal Gramma. I was at 1.026 and was told stores are a lot lower. I'm in the process of lowering my salinity to 1.021.
 
I've had the same issue in a qt. lost one maroon and the other was on its way out. Plopped the other in my DT and it lived
 
This has nothing to do with salinity - fish can handle swings between 1.018 and 1.028 without issues.

Are these wild or tank raised?

Regardless of that I would new clownfish (actually all fish) always give a formalin bath to take care of an eventual Brooklynella infection. Usually, if they are not sick already, one dip should do as long as they go into a uninfected tank.

BTW: cloudy water could indicate a bacterial bloom. I would do an at least 50% water change and feed less in the beginning.
 
these clowns were tank raised

let me clarify the "cloudy water". the water is clear in the QT tank.
The water is cloudy after I place the NH3 liquid in to the test vile and let it set waiting for the test results.........
 
well, I have been searching on line about clownfish behaviors and I kinda get mixed reviews. SOme say clowns do some funny/strange things and this lying on their side sounds normal. Like I said, he doesn't do it all the time. It's very random. Iv'e never had salt water fish before but I have NEVER seen freshwater fish do this type of thing. When I see a fish on it's side, it's dying! period.

He does a lot of "yo-yo'ing" in the pvc elbow. I'm in the process of uploading a video of it to photobucket. Maybe you can see if what he's doing is normal or not.

I know fish go to the top of the water if there isnt enough oxygen, and they haven't done that at all. Just to be safe, I placed an air stone in the water to make sure there is extra movement....See if they react differently to that.

I will post the video of the yo-yo as soon as its ready.

http://vid804.photobucket.com/albums/yy321/crankbait09/20151114_230159_zps5rcpvnxw.mp4
 
Last edited:
In the video they look fine.
I would only start getting worried if they clamp their fins and breathe heavily.
 
I woke up to a live fish, but he was on the other side of the tank by himself next to one of the pvc elbows. Again, lying on it's side. I watched him for a minute or two, then it sprung up and started to "yo-yo". I have yet to see these fish actually swim. So I observed him for a good 15-20 minutes.....same behavior. Sticks tight to the side of the pvc elbow and doesn't stray to far from it......neither of them do.

Since he isn't dead, should I be calling the fish store and asking them what I should do? Or should I let this play out to see if it dies?

Do I need to coax them back together or should I let them be and they will do as they wish? Not sure why they are apart right now.....Yesterday they were attached at the hip
 
Some clowns sleep on their sides so this can be totally normal.

I wouldn't mess with anything and let nature take it's course. It will probably make you feel better to talk with the LFS about what's going on. I certainly won't hurt anything to call them
 
Well to go off the past couple responses, I called the pet store today and told them what I was experiencing. He did say this behavior was normal. He tends to think it is due to stress. E said the fishh should act this way for a couple days at most.

I asked if there was any kind of warranty, and they said no. At least not when it comes to salt water fish. But he did make an exception. He said that if it dies that quickly (day or two's time) that he'll take care of me....

That's good to know but it certainly bothers me if this fish is acting this way due to something I did.......

I'll find out in an hour or so if it's still alive and kicking...... (fingers crossed)
 
Patience goes along ways in salt water tanks. You seem like you've done the best you can so let time do its thing! He seems like he will be okay! My black & white percula sleeps on his side all the time and after a while of thinking well he's dead I just started thinking well he sleeps more than me!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Help with new tank cycling
Replies
12
Views
954
wvned
wvned
beckya
purple tang
Replies
1
Views
149
OrionN
OrionN
rrrrob
Blue Damsel
Replies
7
Views
2K
rrrrob
rrrrob
BigEZ77
Urgent Help Requested - Wrasses Won't Come Out - CB Blue Tang Arriving Today (NO QT)
Replies
8
Views
562
rrrrob
rrrrob
G
New here! Here’s my 150G tall glass cages mixed reef aquarium
Replies
10
Views
100
Uncle99
Uncle99
Back
Top