Sick Clownfish ???

[YamahaF934]

So my male clownfish just started acting funny yesterday when i was feeding the tank. I noticed that he did not eat anything. He didnt eat anything today either. His behavior is kinda strange, sticking around the base of the anemone and not venturing very far. His age is only 1.5 years.

There is no external effects of anything and his respiration is a little high but nothing alarming.

All the other fish in the tank are fine.

Is there a reason he is not eating???

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Need a lot more information to answer. Size of tank, temperature, Nitrates, salinity, ph, alkalinity, water flow or turn over, frequency of water changes. What type food, other tank mates, tank size, etc.
The more information, the better the diagnosis.

 

[YamahaF934]

OKay,

72 gallon with temp at 78 degrees.

Unknown nitrates at the moment. Salinity is 1.027

5 gallon water change every week. Just did one on Yesterday (maybe the cause)

Lots of flow.

flasher wrasse, another clownfish mate, and a watchman goby. Thats it at the moment.

I feed good food from Barrier reef. I believe its rods right now.


I did just move the tank from the westside. That was three weeks ago.

Hope all this helps, but what would cause just this one fish to change so rapidly?

 

[Elmo18]

Hi,

There is a possibility of several reasons. The first is the initial stress from the move. Did you keep everything constant in the move (Salinity, temp, etc)? The water change is probably not the reason, unless it was bad water.

Any signs of physical damage? Hazy eyes? Stringy poop?


Best,
Ilham

 

[YamahaF934]

Well he has been fine from the move for 2 weeks, so for this to happen suddenly is a little strange to me. The move went well with everything constant. I guess there was a lack of acclimating to the the holding tank.

There is absolutely no physical damage at all. Have looked for a long time and cant find anything!

 

[leebca]

How long have you had this fish? Is it tank bred or was it wild? Did it come from an LFS or from online?

 

[YamahaF934]

I have had this fish for 1 year 8 months. . . . Bought it from a LFS and yes its wild.

I am not sure how these questions pertain to the sickness of this fish. Unless his life span is only 2 years then I am not sure how it would effect.

The only thing I can think of which changed was the move, which could have started a small cycle and Nitrate boom. but why would this one fish be the only one suffering.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[YamahaF934]

Fed again today and he just watched the food go by his face. Not eating for three days is making me nervous.

His respiration is higher still.

There is no bulging under the gill plate or any external parasites.

 

[leebca]

My questions were in trying to determine if the fish carried a problem with it since its acquisition; another question was to determine if the problem might be acclimation related. I don't ask questions without reason. I'm glad you asked and I'm glad you answered.

Has there been any other changes to the system, other than the relocation? additions? changes in equipment? changes in the maintenance routine?

The captive lifespan of these fishes are quite often over 20 years. But this assumes an excellent care, nutrition, environment, etc. There are however, many things which can and do shorten their lifespan. Nitrate would not be likely one of them. The number of 'things' that can shorten their lifespan is quite a list and which, for the time being, would not be reversible.

In the off chance the water quality might be an issue (not something you've tested for, but on the chance there may be a poison in the water), please perform a huge water change (over 80%). There is a sticky post in this forum with gives guidance on how to perform a large water change and the precautions necessary to do one properly. Be sure to follow those guidelines.

Try a live food if you have any available (brine shrimp, micro worms, mysis, mosquito larvae, etc.).

After the water change has been made, in the size I suggested and the way I suggested, please monitor the fish and see if there is any signs of a change in behavior or appetite over the next 8 hours after the water change. Let us know. Hope this might help.

 

[YamahaF934]

If this was a poison in the water, wouldnt the other fish be just as sick or I would think the corals would be more sensitive to any toxins.

I have watched them for an hour today and researched the possible diseases. They are not rubbing gills on anything, absolutely no body markings, or increased mucus production.

He still did not eat today but is way more active. Swimming around the tank and exploring. But will not venture far from the female. After exploring he tucks under the anemone and appears to rest. (maybe thats where he feels safe).

I have noticed him quivering next to the female clownfish as if he is trying to mate with her. Could this be a reason for the strange behavior?

But the not eating is really starting to worry me. How long can he go without food?

 

[leebca]

If the fish had been properly fed and nourished, you can expect it to live more than 3 weeks without eating.

Most hobbyists think that the way all the fish act is a signal that all is right. Not only do different species react differently to the same environment, but even the fish within the species react differently. Like one human is cold and another is not, or one human gets ill from peanut products and another doesn't. Each fish is an individual.

In the case of a chronic poisoning (chronic means over a long period of time) it doesn't mean that all fish exposed the same to the poison will react the same (as noted above), but it could also mean that one or another fish had been exposed longer to the poison. Be the investigator with an open mind as much as you can to solve this mystery. And of course lastly, those things that affect fish don't always affect invertebrates, and vice versa.

Speaking in generalities, a fish that stops eating does so because of a stress. It can be a little stress over a long time, or a larger stress over a shorter time. As long as the mating isn't 'violent' that should not be a factor. Males do sometimes slack off on their eating now and then, but not usually for such a long period as this. It could be a slump.

I'd still recommend a large water change and if there is any change in behavior (to the positive) do another water change 48 hours later. I'd still recommend tempting with live foods.

 

[YamahaF934]

Well Lee after 4 days of not eating he decides to take a bit. He is still finicky about what he eats (as in looks at it a lot before he eats it).


Today he scarfed down a lot of food.

I am not sure what this episode was about but I did a water change and also added carbon to the system.

Thanks for the help.

 

[leebca]

That's good news. You're welcome!