Depressed Clown Fish?

[amallapaty]

Hi,

I just recently purchased two clown fish. In hopes that they would pair. They seemed to be swimming together the first day, then all of a sudden one of the clown fish starts to swim at the top of the fish tank. It just stays up there staring at the "sky" the whole day. It also hasn't eaten anything since I got it, and its been four days. I've tried: pellets, flakes, and brine shrimp...nothing.

The other fish are all happy and eating well.

Any ideas what could be wrong? Is this normal?

-Ajaya

 

[NYreefNoob]

might be on it's way out, if you have only had it a few days. did you qt the fish ? and how did you add them to tank ?

 

[amallapaty]

I acclimated the fish like this: I left the bag in the water for ~10-15 minutes...and then every 5 minutes I added a little bit of water from my tank. I did that for about 25 minutes...then released them.

unfortunately I don't have a quarantine tank...I had one algae blenny in the tank before, and bought these three fish (two clowns, and one pseudo) at the same time..from the same place.

You really think its on its way out? Could it be affecting the other fish..whatever it has?

oh man.. poor fish

 

[MikeyNYC]

when we meet up later, I'll bring some frozen mysis soaked in garlic extract, hopefully the garlic will get him eating.

 

[NYreefNoob]

not that i am a expert, and never had luck with perc's but any of them that started swimming at the top died, how does it's breathing look ? and spots on it ?

 

[amallapaty]

Thanks mike...hopefully that will help.

I don't see any spots, and its breathing looks good...its a beautiful clown fish actually.

 

[marrone]

It's probably swimming at the top because it's afraid of the other Clown or some other fish in the tank. Is anything attacking it or do you see the other Clown bothering it?

 

[Tim]

What size are the clown`s? Is one bigger than the other or are they the same size?

 

[jag10016]

Try an anenome ! My carpet made the clowns very happy.

 

[amallapaty]

Thanks for all the advice. Tomorrow morning I will try the garlic extract and see if he starts eating. I will also try and get an anemone asap...

Of the two clowns, it is the smaller one, and they are about 1 inch.

The two clowns seem to be getting along. As far as I can see, they either swim together for a while, or mind their own business.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Before you get an Anemone.....................

Is your tank suitable for one? What kind of lighting do you have? Are water parameters good enough for them. Are all of your powerheads and pumps covered and protected from the anemone getting caught in it and getting shredded and fouling up your tank?

Anemone's are not easy to take care of you need to provide them with good lighting and great water. My clowns host a giant mushroom. My clowns also hung out at the top of my tank until they felt comfortable in the tank. It is not a requirement to have an anemone to have clowns as it is not a requirement to have clowns to have an anemone. They can live independent of each other.

 

[amallapaty]

I have a 36 Bow with the coralife 30 inch (130 W) PC lights - the same one marki24 is trying to sell.

Yea, my water quality and the water parameters would be good enough for them, and all my pumps are covered them up.

When your clown's were at the top of the tank, were they eating? Cause one of them is, but not the other...and thats what i'm concerned about. Micheal gave me some garlic extract which I tried this morning but it hasn't eaten yet...

How long can a fish survive without eating?

 

[NYreefNoob]

your lighting wont be suffice to a host anenome, not sure how long they can go without eating. try different foods also

 

[amallapaty]

I know this is now getting slightly off topic. What kind of lighting would I need for my 36 Gallon? PC's aren't good enough, or is it because of the total Watts?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I would say min T5 or MH lighting to keep an anemone. I have tried with PC lighting and was unsuccessful many times.

 

[h20 freak]

Thanks mike...hopefully that will help.

I don't see any spots, and its breathing looks good...its a beautiful clown fish actually.

View attachment 32745

The fins look a bit frayed,did you get the little guy like this or are those nips new?

 

[amallapaty]

got him like that...at the store he was in a tank with 10 other clowns, that could be the cause.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Give him time and feed him he should be fine.