Petco Clownfish Health?

[atomicenergy13]

Hey everyone! I am planning on getting two clowns from Petco to start my new tank but i'm a bit concerned. Something just bothers me and I don't know why. One Clarkii has a huge bite mark injury on him. All the rest just seem stressed. Fins clamped a bit.

My main concern is color though. Should a clown be shiny? All the clowns at petco seem to have dullish color to them. Not like ich (salt sprinkles), just an all over grayish, not vibrant color. Almost like they have no slime coating or something maybe. I'm new to all of this so excuse me, maybe this is normal.

Think they're safe to buy? I don't want a Clarkii so the bitten one isn't something I need anyway. Just concerned about the dull color. Thanks!

 

[KCthe I inTeam]

Hello I'm new to the forum but several years ago I purchased an ocellaris clown from petco. He was a light orange almost yellow color but once in my tank and fed properly he turned a darker orange color. Just my opinion but I would worry more about his fins or any type of infection they might have.

 

[KCthe I inTeam]

Hello I'm new to the forum but several years ago I purchased an ocellaris clown from petco. He was a light orange almost yellow color but once in my tank and fed properly he turned a darker orange color. Just my opinion but I would worry more about his fins or any type of infection they might have.

 

[atomicenergy13]

Thanks, I guess that is my concern. Is the paleness dull color a disease or infection in itself.

 

[KCthe I inTeam]

That could be possible, but more likely caused from stress, bad water quality, ect. In my experience color can also depend on if the clown is wild caught or tank bred. Many tank bred specimens have better color due to selective breeding. I actually paired up a wild caught ocellaris clown with the one I purchased from petco (which was tank bred), and the wild one was always a more yellow or dull color. He never colored up like the tank bred clown did.

 

[Tmoriarty]

If they look healthy, are not underfed and do not show signs of disease or infection they should be fine. I would definately QT them, even as the first addition to your tank. Just because they do not show obvious signs of disease like ich does not mean they do not have ich.

Ensure they are swimming normal (not erratic) and are otherwise healthy. Worry less about the color, if they are juvenile they will also not have their full color yet.

 

[EllieSuz]

Do you mean to "start" your tank with live fish? If so, that practice isn't done anymore. We use ghost feeding or a raw table shrimp to start the cycle. Using a live fish is torture for the animal. If your tank is already cycled and your intention is to make a pair of clowns your first addition, I suggest you go ahead and buy a pair from Petco, but quarantine them before you put them in your Display Tank. You might as well get in the habit of quarantining now before you introduce a deadly disease or parasite to the Display.

 

[bellis31]

I purchased 2 clowns from Petco and spent 8 weeks clearing up a case of ICH. I'm sure it's fine to buy from Petco but please consider a quarantine system before committing them to your main aquarium.

 

[Whip316]

i would be very wary of a fish from petco. my local petco is abysmal. if you see a stresed or a fish that is injured then your opening up a can of worms by putting it into your tank without QT'ing them. i would suggest a better local store to get a pair of clowns from. most local stores can order you any kind of clowns you want. if petco is the only option then be very careful.

 

[SweetTang]

Spend a few extra bucks and buy some clowns from a reputable LFS or other hobbyist in your area. If you are just getting started, you don't want to start in the negative....follow your gut feeling!