Sick Clown

[THE HIT MAN]

I got 2 clowns last Thursday, brought them home. There was a little domestic disturbance with the 3 stripe damsel but I got the damsel out. When I did they started to eat, come out from their hiding places and seemed to be doing great. Today one of the clowns has little white spots on his body. He is not really breathing hard yet. There was a little stress in trying to get out the damsel (he's a fast little booger). I had to take some live rock out for about 10 minutes now there is just a touch of ammonia. Could this be from taking the live rock out? The paramteres in the water right now ph8.2, alkalinity 3, nitrites 0, nitrates 5, and the ammonia is .25. I did a 20% water change last night. The other clown seems to be doing OK, but the 2 were fighting a bit when I first got them. They seemed to have stopped now. Does any one have any suggestions? Coud it be ick? Should I use copper in a hospital tank?

[THE HIT MAN]

Here he is!

[BlueFox]

Moving your fish to another tank will add more stress and weeken the fish more. If you suspect it has ich try adding a cleaner shrimp or two. Cleaner shrimps will clean any parisites off the fish and they are fun to watch. The fish will line up to be cleaned like they were at a car wash. Make sure none of your other fish eat shrimp of course. The shrimp will not hurt anyting in the reef; they also help keep your tank clean.

[Dragoon]

Is he in the anemone (hosting I mean) If he is that's a good sign and I wouldn't worry too much for him/her. If a clown is truely sick they usually lose their ability to host due to the inability to secrete a sufficient slime coat for neutralizing the nematocysts (brief explanation). Unhealthy clowns will soon be consumed by anemones usually, so they tend to give them a wide berth when sick.

I suggest steady varied diet of nice rich garlicy foods.

[THE HIT MAN]

yes I've been feeding garlic but he hasnt eaten in 2 days. But the white spots are gone. He was hosting but he stopped when he got sick. He looks a little better he has stopped fighting with the female. she has started hosting. do you think I hurt any thing by taking the live rock out for that sort of time?and if any one wants a three striped damsel let me know he is about the size of a silver dollar he is a good fish just a little rambuncous.

[Dragoon]

I think it'll be fine. I'd just let him calm down and feed feed feed. As long as your water stays within the parameters mainly Ph, NO2, NO3, and the salinity he'll perk up. hopefully.

Oh yeah and if anyone wants two more three stripe damsels let me know between The Hit Man and I you could have quite the little gang of inmate damsels. Oh yeah they're free to good home.

[Clownfishman]

Mine seems to stay by the powerhead and doesn't eat, not sure whats wrong with him he was eating good....

Hoping maybe my caulerpa might help him when I put it in next week, what is your clown doing that makes you think he is sick... mine just stays by the powerhead, he does swim around some but not much... he kinda seems to swim in place...

His mouth seems to be moving kinda fast, like he may be having trouble breathing or something... but he doesn't swim around...

My ammonia is "SAFE" on my seachem, measures 0-.25ppm on my AP kit, all other chems are good.... any suggestions... do they sometimes come down with something for a few days and get better??