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| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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12-30-2008, 11:23 AM
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#1
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Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 14
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What's wrong with my clownfish???
Hello,
Over the past few days one of my clownfish has started to behave a little oddly.
He hasn't been eating and until today he has been quite still at the bottom of the tank next to one of my corals. Today he has moved up to the top of the tank and looks like he's swimming on his side.
Should I be worried? Is there anything I can do to help him?
Thanks
Nichola
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12-30-2008, 11:32 AM
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#2
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: California
Posts: 192
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What type of coral was it swimming next to?
Besides swimming on his side, how does his physical appearance look? Does it have itch?
Is there another fish bothering it?
Are the other fish fine?
What are your water paramaters?
There are a lot of factors that can make your fish behave abnormally. You should probably look into the above questions. What it currently doing because if its still swimming on its side at the top of the tank that's a bad sign. Also how long have you had him? Good Luck, keep us posted.
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My fishtank is so coool! It has a fat tube thing that makes a bunch of bubbles, light bulbs, and a bunch of these little boxes that blow water!
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12-30-2008, 11:33 AM
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#3
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Son of Jor El
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Springfield MO
Posts: 4,615
Reviews: 52
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IMO all clownfish are marginally bonkers. The only concern is that he isn't eating. WHat do you feed? how often? DO you know your salinity, temp and nitrates? Just looking for something that has recently changed or something out of whack. Does he show any signs of disease?
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Jeremy http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f7...ef-119089.html
Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky went hunting? Well anyway, Brasky decides he's gonna hunt down all four members of the Banana Splits. He stalks and kills every one of them with a machete. They all beg for their lives, except Fleagul.
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12-30-2008, 11:38 AM
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#4
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Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 14
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Hi,
He was swimming next to a leather coral, appearance wise he looks fine although he does look like he is breathing a little fast, I have one other clown fish and one regal tang and they are both fine and often both swim around the clownfish - it looks a little like they are lookign after him(???). Nitrate, Nitrite, PH, Salinity, Amonnia, Phosphate, Temperature are all fine.
he is currently doing exactly the same.
Thanks for your quick reply.
Nichola
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12-30-2008, 11:41 AM
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#5
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Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 14
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Hello,
I feed them 3 times a day with a mixture of dried food, krill and i don't know what it's called but it's red and frozen and it's rich and contains a mixture of things.
As far as I can see nothing has changed in the tank recently.
Thanks for replying
Nichola
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12-30-2008, 11:50 AM
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#6
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Son of Jor El
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Springfield MO
Posts: 4,615
Reviews: 52
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3 times a day is a lot of feeding. That is not neccasarily the problem but I feed my false percs at 1/9 that rate so you may want to look at the pros and cons of that. What exactly is the nitrate, SG, and temp? I'm not trying to offend but people have differing opinions of what is fine.
Is he gasping at the surface at all? Do you run a skimmer? (asking this thinking of oxygen levels not nutrients)
Is there any way contaminants could have got in the tank like through aerosol air fresheners or something on your hands?
SOrry just throwing out ideas here 
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Jeremy http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f7...ef-119089.html
Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky went hunting? Well anyway, Brasky decides he's gonna hunt down all four members of the Banana Splits. He stalks and kills every one of them with a machete. They all beg for their lives, except Fleagul.
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12-30-2008, 12:14 PM
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#7
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Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 14
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I don't feed them huge amounts each time, just little and often.
From memory, Nitrate = 0, SG = 1.022, Temperature = 26
No, he's not gasping at the surface and no I don't have a skimmer.
I don't think anything like that could have got into the tank.
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12-30-2008, 12:45 PM
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#8
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Lost Fish
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Avon, Ohio
Posts: 1,200
Reviews: 12
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How is your flow in the tank? Is it creating ripples on top of the water to get the oxygen increased.
My other suggestion is to treat for Brooklynella. Has the color faded at all?
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Brian
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12-30-2008, 12:54 PM
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#9
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Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 14
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Hi,
It has good flow, but no ripples on top of the water - should I angle my jets so this happens?
No it's colour hasn't faded. Just looking up Brooklynella it talks about slime being produced and I can't see anything like that at the moment.
Thanks for you help.
Nichola
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12-30-2008, 01:01 PM
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#10
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Lost Fish
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Avon, Ohio
Posts: 1,200
Reviews: 12
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You may want to get the flow at the top and adding a airstone temporarily may help. If low oxygen levels is the problem.
What size tank do you have?
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Brian
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12-30-2008, 01:05 PM
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#11
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Son of Jor El
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Springfield MO
Posts: 4,615
Reviews: 52
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is there anything he/she is swimming near? clowns will host on intakes, heaters bare rocks etc. any chance he is swimming sideways because he is hosting something? when I first saw temp 26 I was freaking and then I saw UK.... celsius 
Has he had any stringy poo?
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Jeremy http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f7...ef-119089.html
Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky went hunting? Well anyway, Brasky decides he's gonna hunt down all four members of the Banana Splits. He stalks and kills every one of them with a machete. They all beg for their lives, except Fleagul.
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12-30-2008, 01:22 PM
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#12
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Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 14
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Ok, thanks I'll try that. My tank is 90L.
Nichola
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12-30-2008, 01:24 PM
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#13
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Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 14
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He is swimming very near the back of the tank by the wall the thermometer is behind, although as I mentioned earlier, he has only moved up there today and has previously been in the opposite corner. What do you mean by hosting?
Sorry, yes 26oC!
No stringy poo that I've seen
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12-30-2008, 01:32 PM
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#14
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Son of Jor El
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Springfield MO
Posts: 4,615
Reviews: 52
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clownfish in the wild host in anemones. They protect the nems and roll around in them and snuggle into them as they offer protection from predators. in captivity a clownfish will sometimes hover over an object and protect the area like its their host anemone. they may even rub up against it like an anemone. Its not really what it sounds like its doing but I'm still just brainstorming here as I can't observe what hes doing so I wanted to rule this out.
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Jeremy http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f7...ef-119089.html
Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky went hunting? Well anyway, Brasky decides he's gonna hunt down all four members of the Banana Splits. He stalks and kills every one of them with a machete. They all beg for their lives, except Fleagul.
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12-30-2008, 02:19 PM
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#15
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Plankton
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 14
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Well thanks for your help, I'll keep an eye on him and update his progress.
Nichola
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