weird clownfish behavior

deathmatch782 · 07-02-2006, 11:25 AM

One of my ocellaris clown has been acting funny for the past 3 days. I have noticed that it swims to the sand, and then just lays down on the sand in roughly the same spot.
My clowns are a mated pair, but I am unable to tell which is male/female since they are very similar sized.
While the one clown is doing this, the other which i think is the male, swims around the area the clown is laying on the sand.
Neither appear to be sick, or have laid eggs. So i'm stumped as to this behavior.
i appreciate any insight to this situation
thx

deathmatch782 · 07-02-2006, 11:54 AM

I've also noticed that the clown in question is thin. I tried to target feed it, but the fish didnt seem interested in food.

Should i pull it out and qt it?

Geoff · 07-02-2006, 01:11 PM

what kind of foods have you been trying to feed them? usually they are pretty easy to feed.

G~

deathmatch782 · 07-02-2006, 01:17 PM

been feeding flake food, cyclopleeze, frozen mysis

TheReefer12 · 07-02-2006, 01:53 PM

How well is the water movement and skimmer? It is important to get as much oxygen into the water as possible. I have had the same problem with a clown, which later died, and the only conclusion was not enough oxygen.

deathmatch782 · 07-02-2006, 02:24 PM

I tested the water yesterday before my waterchange and nothing was out of the ordinary.
My skimmer is a TF1000

I decided to setup a qt for the clown. Waiting for the water to reach temp for now. Also bought some garlic extract to see if that will help.

jenajet · 07-02-2006, 03:30 PM

I would be concerned that it's not eating. My clown is a pig and wants to eat 24/7. I wish I could offer more help but the only thing I have ever had to treat was velvet and that had obvious symptoms. Does it even try to come up to eat?

deathmatch782 · 07-02-2006, 03:53 PM

It ate a little this morning when i fed the tank. Not like the other clown or the tangs, but at least something.

yellow submarine · 07-02-2006, 10:59 PM

you can get a general sense of a fish's health by their dorsal fin....

> fully extended means its happy and healthy

> clamped down by its body for extended periods means it sick

I've been using this as a "gauge" for years now and I've never been wrong
.
.
.
.

deathmatch782 · 07-03-2006, 09:22 AM

Update:
Much to my surprise, the clown is still alive. Last night i fed her using my frozen food with garlic and selcon, she didnt eat anything.
I doubt she'll live much longer.

So this is really baffeling me. No idea why the clown is sick... also very weird that last wednesday my blackcap died. So this will be 2 fish deaths in a week.
The tangs and other clown are happy and fat as can be.

deathmatch782 · 07-03-2006, 06:15 PM

Well, came home from work and found the clown dead.
So that makes two fish in one week. I still have no idea why either. Tests have all come back fine, temp is no more than 82.