clown fish

khalisee · Dec 3, 2017

Hey,

Is it normal that sometimes one of my clown fish stays close to the ground a bit on the side? Is it sick or lacking of something? usually it seems better when I provide food but today also the food was not directly eaten.

khalisee · Dec 3, 2017

Here the picture of my clown fish on the ground...
I hope you can help me to solve this problem
Thanks in advance

View attachment 20171203_112456_1512296798291.jpg

Gmj4409 · Dec 4, 2017

khalisee said:
Here the picture of my clown fish on the ground...
I hope you can help me to solve this problem
Thanks in advance

View attachment 20171203_112456_1512296798291.jpg

Hi Khalisee
The clown does not look quite right but you’ll need to provide some more info and hopefully a better picture/closeup of the the fish.
Is he in your display or a QT?
How long has he been there?
How long have you had him?
Has he been treated with any medications?
Do you have tank parameters you can share?
Other fish?
Hopefully one of our more experienced folks will jump in.

DeniseAndy · Dec 4, 2017

Looks like could be a new set up. Was he qt'ed or treated for anything? How long have you had him? He does look off. Any spots or rough looking slime coat? Bloated or heavy breathing? I think he needs treatment, but not sure what for yet. Need more info and possibly pics.

Sandroni · Dec 4, 2017

I had a very similar problem with a very similar pair of clown fish. What do you use to measure your salinity? Do you know you salinity. My pair of photon clowns died because of my faulty hydrometer and I had them for 2 months!!!!

khalisee · Dec 4, 2017

Thanks a lot for your help,
My tank is quite new, about a month and I got the 2 clown fish last week. One of them started to get lazy and stayed on the ground, a bi ton the side. But then looked better and suddenly down again. Today I saw him close to the filter and I thought that he was dead

but when I opened my aquarium I still saw him moving. I tried to give him food but he didn't eat anything. and now couple of h later it seems ok again. I really do not understand this behaviour and what I should do. My clown fish is still in the tank since I do not have an appropriate QT running.

In my tank, i just have these 2 clown fish, 2 cleaner shrimps, hermits and snails. One violet algae that I am not sure about the name (maybe chondrus crispus) and a briareum neon.

The parameter from the water looks fine but I just have few of them. Nitrate and nitrite are close to 0. GH 16°d. KH between 3°d-6°d. Maybe the pH is a bit low around 6.6. Cl2 0. For the salinity I use also an hydrometer and salinity is at 1.023.
It seems also that he starts moving when I coming close to the aquarium. Here the pictures that I did now. But I do not see any particular symptom...

I didn't treated them with anything yet since I do not know what can be the problem

and I didn't observe a weird breathing
I hope you will be able to help me... Let me know if I could give you more information

khalisee · Dec 4, 2017

Here again in the corner right down on the floor. When I approach more he goes away so I cannot do a better picture

DeepBlueSomething · Dec 4, 2017

Have you confirmed ammonia levels? pH and hardness seem low, but depends on if you have had any changes recently or whether the set-up has been the same.

Any recent water changes or treatments / additives to tank?

khalisee · Dec 4, 2017

I had to put a bit water because the level was too low... and i change the water 10 days ago

khalisee · Dec 4, 2017

Unfortunately I have nothing to check ammonia levels

DeepBlueSomething · Dec 4, 2017

If you have a LFS nearby they can probably get some ammonia testing done for you -- that would be my biggest priority.

Gmj4409 · Dec 4, 2017

khalisee said:
Unfortunately I have nothing to check ammonia levels

Did you cycle the tank? I would start there with the ammonia question above. You really need to get a test - especially on a new tank like yours. If it’s not possible ASAP then do a significant water change to help rule ammonia in/out. It could very well be Disease. You will need QT setup. Either of these require fast action.
One more question - are you using tap water for tank? If so, are you using a declorinator?

khalisee · Dec 4, 2017

My water was tested from the store where I bought it before to put any animals or fish. I guess they tested for the right things. I brought water again the day I bought the fish and they told me the water was ready for the fish... But I do not know what they exactly tested... Also since they didn't want me to have my personal test I bought some in internet because I would like to act fast in this kind of situation. I was not expecting a pb so fast and the kit didn't arrive yet.

khalisee · Dec 4, 2017

I do not use tap water but distilled water.

Gmj4409 · Dec 4, 2017

Ok sounds like your best bet is to get another water sample up to the store and have the check your water as Deepblue suggested.

khalisee · Dec 4, 2017

DeepBlueSomething said:
If you have a LFS nearby they can probably get some ammonia testing done for you -- that would be my biggest priority.

I will go then tomorrow... everything is closed already where I am

DeepBlueSomething · Dec 4, 2017

That sounds like a good step. Early in the addition of animals is the trickiest time for ammonia as the bioload can change quickly and the bacteria may not be able to keep up. That could mean that the water tested good -- but once fish are in and being fed, the levels of ammonia can start to build. As well, it might not be ammonia, but certainly want to know given what you are experiencing. Best of luck and keep us updated

khalisee · Dec 5, 2017

Hey, I am really disapointed I went to different shop this morning and such deception they just looked on the nitrite levels again

but when I came back I saw that my complete kit arrived, so I will check again on all the parameters and keep you updated.
Thanks a lot for the support and hopefully I will find the problem

khalisee · Dec 5, 2017

So here we go... The water results:
Temperature: 25°C
KH: 8°dKH
pH: 7,4 and 7,6
NH4: ~0
NO2: ~0
Cu: ~0
O2: 4-6mg/l
NO3: ~0
PO4: ~0
SiO4: ~0
Ca: 420mg/ml
Mg: 1500mg/ml
salt: 1,023

So my pH is too low ans also my O2. Shall I change the water to solve the pb of the pH? and increase the skimmer?
Or do you have better suggestion?
Thanks a lot for the help