Is my Clownfish Ok?

par55347 · 02-02-2007, 10:17 PM

I bought a clownfish yesterday and every since i put it in my tank it has been laying on my bottem. It kind of starts of fall sideways and sits there. Now its under my live rock and wont come out. He is just sitting on the bottem. I konw he is not stuck but is he ok? Is it normal for a clown to ack this way? Thanks

storrisch · 02-02-2007, 10:19 PM

freshwater dip

wesley · 02-02-2007, 10:19 PM

how did you aclimate him? how're your other levels? some fish do act pretty shy when you first introduce them. I'd just make sure the parameters are good to go and keep the lights off for a day or so.

Clownnut · 02-02-2007, 10:25 PM

how long you have your tank up and running?
check NH3/NH4 and NO2.

jules77 · 02-02-2007, 10:31 PM

sounds like classic brooks to me, if he starts spitting his food out repeatedly and not actually eating, and any white film you better act fast. I would agree on the FW dip.

par55347 · 02-02-2007, 10:54 PM

I floated the fish for 20 min then slowly added a half a cup of water every 10 min 3 times then caught the fish in a net and put him in the water. There was some kind of clear or white stuff hanging on him. The salt level is about 1.025, the ph is about 8, NO2 is about .3 mg/l, the NH3 is at about .25 mg/l the KH test took 5 drops of the water to go from blue to yellow then back to blue but 10 or 11 drops for it to stay yellow. Im not sure how it work, if I have to wait for it to stay yellow or if it just has to turn yellow and if it goes back to blue that ok. I put him in a bucket of fresh water for about 15 seconds and he didnt move and didnt look right so I took him out. He is kind of hanging out at the bottem of the tank but I think he may be looking for a new place to hide. Anything else I can do? Thanks

Clownnut · 02-02-2007, 11:05 PM

new tank symptom. you cant/shouldnt add any fish til your NH3/NH4 and NO2 = 0
dont do fresh water dip.

armagedon48 · 02-02-2007, 11:21 PM

check into a quarantine tank because it will become one of your best investments in the future.
it seems like your tank is not finished cycling.
fish are much more hardier though you should drip aclimate all inverts/corals/(and even fish). you did fine for the clownfish, but any change would have been much easier if it had been dripped over an hour.

you mentioned white film on the clown, it could be excessive mucus. but it could also be Brook (not sure on whole name, but i think its also known as clownfish disease). though im not a vet and would ask someone with more experience. your clownfish should be swimming around at the least and if its just laying on the bottom, something is likly wrong.

Edit: i just noticed someone else mentioned brook and that the tank is still going through the cycle. a formaline dip might fix brook (double check though) and make sure you understand the procedure well because formaline can be lethal if used wrong.

par55347 · 02-03-2007, 02:22 AM

My Clown is now swimming with his head almost out of the water and his tail pointed towards the bottom of the tank. He is getting caught in my filters and I have to get him out. I think he is dying. What can I do. I REALLY dont want him to die. PLEASE HELP!!!

eswebster · 02-03-2007, 10:39 AM

do you have any other fish in the tank????

armagedon48 · 02-03-2007, 11:33 AM

brook attacks the gills right??? if so, maybe there is damage to his gills and he is trying to breath (gasping air at the surface). this is a possibility though i am not 100% on it.

deathmatch782 · 02-03-2007, 11:42 AM

"NO2 is about .3 mg/l, the NH3 is at about .25 mg/l"

These are not acceptable values for keeping fish in.
If at all possilbe, return the fish.

You'll need to wait until these values are both 0 before thinking about adding any livestock.

par55347 · 02-04-2007, 07:53 PM

My clown died yesterday and I took him back to the store and found out that he was sick when the guy sold him to me! My damsel starting to act the same way but it looks like he is ok now. Thanks for everyones help! Its nice to be able to ask questions and have answers so fast especially when your new to this! Thanks again.