Young clowns need some help!

[internexus]

Picked up 2 percula clowns about 3/4"-1" in size on the 25th. One of them looks extremely healthy and is full of energy. The other is breathing a LOT, constantly looks like shes chatting up a storm, and several of her fins had been munched on previously. Acclimated them into the display and then after watching them for some period of time I noticed the energetic one had a bump in his white area so I promptly put them into a QT tank filled with display tank water, and by the end of the 26th I had the salinity down to 1.009, temp @ 80.5*. The healthiest looking fish is swimming around all over the place and actually putting down some flake food. The other one just hangs out in corners breathing rapidly and pretty much turns away from the food. I think I have noticed some possible parasites hanging off the side of this one as well. Can anyone give me some ideas on what I need to be doing to get the 1 to start eating and relax a little? I really want both of these to end up in my display ALIVE! Would it be a wise idea to go grab a cleaner shrimp and acclimate him into the QT to maybe try and eat the parasites?

 

[internexus]

Also since I took the HOB filter out of the display and put it on this QT, can I no longer put that main one back onto the display b/c of possible infection to the aquarium?

 

[nash1999]

Hi - I'm fairly new at this so please get some additonal advice from some experts but
I just experienced the exact same thing...when I asked for advice from the store
they questioned if perhaps I had taken one of them away from their mate or
their anemone. I had purchased them out of a tank with both anemones and 1
additional clown. I purchased the bubble anemone that it was with as well as that 3rd
clown - and now it is happy as can be. Maybe coincidence I certainly don't claim that
this is the answer - I would hate for you to spread something in your tank if he really
is sick - I'm sure QT is the best approach, but this was my experience. Good Luck!!

 

[chrisstie]

Since you have put your fish in QT and into hypo, I wouldn't add a cleaner shrimp. Most inverts really can't handle the lower salinities that fish are known to be more forgiving of.

If you think you're without options and are willing to take a risk you could freshwater dip the distressed clown. Perhaps use some methyl blue type solution to alleviate any stress and help to clean any wounds, especially if any parasites come off. It should help to stave off infection.

They sound very young and juveniles unless strong and healthy from the start can be tough to recover. Are you soaking food in garlic? Gotta intice him to eat to support the energy he's using up breathing rapidly. At this point, though not nutritious maybe a vitamin soaked bit of brine if he'd accept or baby brine just to initiate the feeding response then ween onto something more nutirious and appropriate for that size clown.

If you do the FW dip I would recommend maybe only doing it for 30 seconds- Hypo should definitely treat anything like ich but if there are flukes (is he aquacultured or wild caught? if aquacultured shouldn't have these 99% of the time) they may hang on until you get to pure fresh water to zap them off.

Wondering how he'd do in QT by himself, if the other clown isnt stressing him out?

Just some late night thoughts, best of luck with the little guy

 

[internexus]

Im feeding flake food and type 2 and the type 2 claims to have garlic. The one thats breathing rapidly will not eat a thing, im quite worried that particular one is certainly going to be a goner. Im running out of ideas to do, anytime my hand gets near the QT she is always in a panic over it, the other is usually just hangin out, he will eat a full flake pretty much in an instant.

 

[internexus]

Just read about some people doing garlic and ginger worked into the food, just did this and still the lively one chows down and the other just turns her head away from the food. I am at a loss for this particular one to eat!

 

[chrisstie]

Flake sometimes doesn't grab clowns interest. If there is still time left try a good quality frozen mysis (since he's so small you may have to mush it up into tinier pieces) or possibly some cyclopeez (much tinier food my clowns went nuts for) or the newer Nutrimar lobster eggs - i'm trying it out since it came in new to my LFS and it gets a very similar response.

 

[internexus]

Just tried some frozen shrimp and still no dice.

 

[MIKE ALERS]

very good info christie.i also have 4 baby clowns in my son's tank..well they're not babies anymore.but i had the same problem trying to get them to eat.i got them eating by trying differet stuff like cyclopeeze,mysis and garlic and then blended in food processor until it almost liquified and they seem to be doing fine now.it seems like if the food is to big for their tiny mouths they'll spit it out.

 

[chrisstie]

If he's not eating he is probably still feeling the stress of whatever he may be sick with, or is just too stressed.

I guess he'll haev to rough it out in QT but I really wonder if taking the other clown away would let him relax more to eat.

Let us know how it goes my fingers are crossed for you

 

[internexus]

I stressed myself out to much to play it out to the end and swapped him for another clown. This one isn't all chewed up and seems to be fairly energetic/cheery. We'll find out in the next few days if this ones eating okay. Thanks a bunch

 

[mltmtascp]

Our maroon did not eat when we first put her in our tank we gave her live bbs for about 2 days and now she is eating fine.