Clown fish heavy breathing

[Santac]

I’ve had the clownfish for 1.5 years, and it started acting abnormally few weeks ago. It started with getting spooked easily, its bonded clownfish would come next it and it would dart away. This would lead into a bit of chasing, but didn’t ever see the other clownfish actual touch it. This is the first time I noticed the heavy breathing but assumed it was due to stress. No visible damage and most of the time they would swim together nicely.

Now for a week the fish spends most of its time hiding and only comes out in the evening to sleep with its friend in the top corner and also in the morning to eat. It still seems to eat normally.

Today it has spent most of its time lying down hiding. Only moving a few inches every now and then. Also, I think it’s lost a bit of its color. Hard to get a good video, but I included the best I was able to take.

Any ideas what it might be? Haven’t added anything to the tank in four months. All the other 8 fish in the tank seem normal. Nothing abnormal in water parameters either.

Edit:
YouTube link, same as attachment

 

[BonnieB]

The fishmedics should be on soon to help you!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ve had the clownfish for 1.5 years, and it started acting abnormally few weeks ago. It started with getting spooked easily, its bonded clownfish would come next it and it would dart away. This would lead into a bit of chasing, but didn’t ever see the other clownfish actual touch it. This is the first time I noticed the heavy breathing but assumed it was due to stress. No visible damage and most of the time they would swim together nicely.

Now for a week the fish spends most of its time hiding and only comes out in the evening to sleep with its friend in the top corner and also in the morning to eat. It still seems to eat normally.

Today it has spent most of its time lying down hiding. Only moving a few inches every now and then. Also, I think it’s lost a bit of its color. Hard to get a good video, but I included the best I was able to take.

Any ideas what it might be? Haven’t added anything to the tank in four months. All the other 8 fish in the tank seem normal. Nothing abnormal in water parameters either.

Edit:
YouTube link, same as attachment

Video has too much shimmer and fish which I know you stated hiding. Need to see more the fish in whole.
Any changes to lighting or lighting intensity?
Any additions to tank such as fish or inverts?
Any signs of breeding?

Try reducing brightness of lights and the shimmer and see if fish respond to this change

 

[Santac]

No changes to lighting for a year now. I run the light at 50% and have measured the par which is slightly above 50 on the substrate level. Shouldn’t be the issue.

The fish returned to its normal sleeping spot swimming in the corner. Its breathing is down but its gills do open more than the other clownfishes as it breathes. At least its not lying down…

I don’t know about breeding, what signs should I look for? It has always been the smaller of the two, so I assume it’s a male.

I’ll try to get a better video tomorrow when I feed. Hopefully it comes out for that again.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

No changes to lighting for a year now. I run the light at 50% and have measured the par which is slightly above 50 on the substrate level. Shouldn’t be the issue.

The fish returned to its normal sleeping spot swimming in the corner. Its breathing is down but its gills do open more than the other clownfishes as it breathes. At least its not lying down…

I don’t know about breeding, what signs should I look for? It has always been the smaller of the two, so I assume it’s a male.

I’ll try to get a better video tomorrow when I feed. Hopefully it comes out for that again.

I wonder if the pair bond broke down, clownfish can be pretty sly - while you are watching them, the aggressor behaves nice.

There are only a couple of disease issues that show up in only one fish, hopefully a clearer video will tell us more.

 

[Santac]

I’m starting to think the same. This morning I was able to capture a video of the chasing. I haven’t seen the aggressor actually touch the other clownfish. Aggressor seems like it wants to be very close to it and sometimes does the clownfish shake when it gets next to it.

As both are eating and no visible damage, should I just let them work it out?

Chase video:

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’m starting to think the same. This morning I was able to capture a video of the chasing. I haven’t seen the aggressor actually touch the other clownfish. Aggressor seems like it wants to be very close to it and sometimes does the clownfish shake when it gets next to it.

As both are eating and no visible damage, should I just let them work it out?

Chase video:

That’s very severe chasing. I think you’ll need to put in a tank divider, or move the aggressive one into an acclimation box. Then, you can periodically try a reintroduction.

 

[Santac]

That’s very severe chasing. I think you’ll need to put in a tank divider, or move the aggressive one into an acclimation box. Then, you can periodically try a reintroduction.

I’ll get an acclimation box and try that. How long should I keep it in there before trying reintroducing?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’d try again after two weeks. Hopefully, the less aggressive one will build up some strength and be more secure in its territory. Sometimes though, they never do work things out.

 

[winxp_man]

You need to get that fish out of there asap! It will die if not taken out. That discoloration is what happens in clowns. If you don’t separate and feed the male with selcon or vitachem it might not make it. Hope it’s not in the not feeding mode. Once that takes places it’s almost over.

I feed my fish only spectrum food. Has yet to let me down, and the least amount of fillers vs many brands that will had a bunch of fillers for a binding product. I think spectrum has wheat. That is it. Which is crazy.

Move that fish into a holding box or another tank.

 

[Reef_Aquatics]

I’m starting to think the same. This morning I was able to capture a video of the chasing. I haven’t seen the aggressor actually touch the other clownfish. Aggressor seems like it wants to be very close to it and sometimes does the clownfish shake when it gets next to it.

As both are eating and no visible damage, should I just let them work it out?

Chase video:

The chase looks pretty bad for me