Clown stopped eating, more lethargic, shakes head and yawns

skylan · Jan 9, 2025

Hello,

I have a mocha storm clown in my tank who's been there for about 6 weeks with another clown, they're the only fish in my display and were purchased pre QT. I added some CUC about 2 weeks ago from a pretty reputable company, not mentioning the name because I don't know for sure it's from them. I didn't QT the CUC, I guess I will from now on.

My clown became lethargic yesterday, he was dropping down and laying in the sand for a couple minutes at a time. It's sometimes where he sleeps so I wasn't super concerned, he'd start swimming again as normal. Thought I might have stressed him out with cleaning a bit.

Today he's not eating and I've noticed him shake his head a bit followed by a yawn. I've seen him just yawn a few times on his own as well. Him and the other clown have been "hosted" by the upper back corner of my tank for the 6 weeks, they don't really move out. He seems to be hovering and not actively swimming moreso than the other. He was also the harder of the two to get to eat initially but up until yesterday was eating very well.

Tank parameters:
Temp=77F
PH=8.25
Alk=8.45
Calc=415
Mag=1200
Nitrates=0
Phos=.01
Amonia=0

It's been quite stable. I test at least a few things daily to make sure there's no swings.

I have a QT that I unfortunately just added sand to yesterday because I was going to use it for coral and inverts going forward. It's a bit cloudy right now but I'm sure I can figure something out if I need to QT and medicate.

There's no rapid breathing, no visible marks or spots on the fish.

Any help would be appreciated.

tbrown · Jan 9, 2025

I'm not an expert but it sounds like possible flukes?

Jekyl · Jan 9, 2025

Can you please include white light photos and a YouTube video? Also can you go into detail on the method used for the pre quarantined fish? Many times people are misled in these cases.

vetteguy53081 · Jan 9, 2025

skylan said:
Hello,

I have a mocha storm clown in my tank who's been there for about 6 weeks with another clown, they're the only fish in my display and were purchased pre QT. I added some CUC about 2 weeks ago from a pretty reputable company, not mentioning the name because I don't know for sure it's from them. I didn't QT the CUC, I guess I will from now on.

My clown became lethargic yesterday, he was dropping down and laying in the sand for a couple minutes at a time. It's sometimes where he sleeps so I wasn't super concerned, he'd start swimming again as normal. Thought I might have stressed him out with cleaning a bit.

Today he's not eating and I've noticed him shake his head a bit followed by a yawn. I've seen him just yawn a few times on his own as well. Him and the other clown have been "hosted" by the upper back corner of my tank for the 6 weeks, they don't really move out. He seems to be hovering and not actively swimming moreso than the other. He was also the harder of the two to get to eat initially but up until yesterday was eating very well.

Tank parameters:
Temp=77F
PH=8.25
Alk=8.45
Calc=415
Mag=1200
Nitrates=0
Phos=.01
Amonia=0

It's been quite stable. I test at least a few things daily to make sure there's no swings.

I have a QT that I unfortunately just added sand to yesterday because I was going to use it for coral and inverts going forward. It's a bit cloudy right now but I'm sure I can figure something out if I need to QT and medicate.

There's no rapid breathing, no visible marks or spots on the fish.

Any help would be appreciated.

While yawning can signify flukes, it can also be a defense mechanism with pairing/breeding. Other signs of flukes not mentioned are sudden darting across tank, loss of appetite, loss of color, weird swim pattern and itching/scratching as examples. For best assessment, post a video of at least 20 seconds with white intensity - no blue

threebuoys · Jan 9, 2025

Look for eggs in their corner. Could be they've spawned. Which one is not eating? Generally the female is the larger of the two. When mine spawn (every 10-11 days), the male is more protective of the eggs and sometimes is slow to eat.

skylan · Jan 9, 2025

Once I switched the lights to white only, it really excited both of them so the lethargy isn't really apparent. The yawning can be seen at the end of both videos, unfortunately I wasn't able to get the head shake before it.

They're pretty young so I'd suspect not breeding yet. The little black storm unfortunately is growing about 2x the rate of the one in question here. I had tried to size them so that the male / female part would be sorted without aggression.
https://youtu.be/PFCQIZncwOE?si=eJS5yMDNtIK4V63o
https://youtu.be/rmkcE30xBhc?si=OfMN_IzeJxoXuHzg

skylan · Jan 9, 2025

Jekyl said:
Can you please include white light photos and a YouTube video? Also can you go into detail on the method used for the pre quarantined fish? Many times people are misled in these cases.

Posted the videos above, the fish were from Dr. Reefs which does prazi, copper, metro, and something else.. bendazole or something? I'm new to reefing.

Jay Hemdal · Jan 9, 2025

skylan said:
Posted the videos above, the fish were from Dr. Reefs which does prazi, copper, metro, and something else.. bendazole or something? I'm new to reefing.

I couldn’t see the yawning. The not eating is a serious symptom though. Flukes don’t cause a fish not to eat until very late in the infection.
Can you tell if the other clown is still eating normally?
Diagnosing mostly white clownfish is difficult because changes in the skin are tougher to see.

skylan · Jan 9, 2025

Jay Hemdal said:
I couldn’t see the yawning. The not eating is a serious symptom though. Flukes don’t cause a fish not to eat until very late in the infection.
Can you tell if the other clown is still eating normally?
Diagnosing mostly white clownfish is difficult because changes in the skin are tougher to see.

The big one is not eating at all, the other one seems to be eating quite a bit less. I guess what I was considering "yawning" is right at the end of each video he's opening his mouth which I haven't seen it do before.

Jay Hemdal · Jan 9, 2025

skylan said:
The big one is not eating at all, the other one seems to be eating quite a bit less. I guess what I was considering "yawning" is right at the end of each video he's opening his mouth which I haven't seen it do before.

That’s a tough one because not eating is such a general symptom, fish do that as a result of anything that makes them unwell.

I hate just tossing out suggestions for medication if there isn’t clear diagnosis, but you do need to reverse the not eating.

You could try Prazipro for flukes, or Ruby Reef Rally Pro as a protection against some protozoans. Both are reef safe.

skylan · Jan 9, 2025

Jay Hemdal said:
That’s a tough one because not eating is such a general symptom, fish do that as a result of anything that makes them unwell.

I hate just tossing out suggestions for medication if there isn’t clear diagnosis, but you do need to reverse the not eating.

You could try Prazipro for flukes, or Ruby Reef Rally Pro as a protection against done protozoans. Both are reef safe.

Thanks for the suggestions Jay. I do have a 6 gallon waterbox that I could use in a pinch. I was going to drill and convert it to a refugium but it's here brand new. I could convert it to a quick QT if you think that's a good idea. I have lots of tiny cerith snails, sexy shrimp, fire shrimp, hermits, etc that I'd be a little nervous about using prazi with unless it's just not a concern?

I have prazi on hand but not the Reef Rally. So the only other odd behavior I've just noticed within the past few minutes is the fish will jump or jerk as if they're startled by something that hit them. Other than that it is just the not eating

edit: The big one did have some poop that was brown connected by white strings when I first got it, but assumed it was OK after reading some posts here. It took that one a couple more days than the little one to start eating and has always been a little more picky with larger pieces.

Jekyl · Jan 9, 2025

Just curious, what are you feeding?

skylan · Jan 9, 2025

Jekyl said:
Just curious, what are you feeding?

NLS Flakes , NLS pellets, Frozen Brine, Frozen Mysis, Frozen Baby Brine , Frozen Plankton

He's been much bigger on the baby brine and plankton mix that I do occasionally. Doesn't love the pellets. I've tried baby brine and mysis with garlic guard on it with no luck today. He took a piece of mysis and spit it out.

Jay Hemdal · Jan 9, 2025

skylan said:
Thanks for the suggestions Jay. I do have a 6 gallon waterbox that I could use in a pinch. I was going to drill and convert it to a refugium but it's here brand new. I could convert it to a quick QT if you think that's a good idea. I have lots of tiny cerith snails, sexy shrimp, fire shrimp, hermits, etc that I'd be a little nervous about using prazi with unless it's just not a concern?

I have prazi on hand but not the Reef Rally. So the only other odd behavior I've just noticed within the past few minutes is the fish will jump or jerk as if they're startled by something that hit them. Other than that it is just the not eating

edit: The big one did have some poop that was brown connected by white strings when I first got it, but assumed it was OK after reading some posts here. It took that one a couple more days than the little one to start eating and has always been a little more picky with larger pieces.

Invertebrates are fine with prazi or rally pro.

skylan · Jan 11, 2025

Jay Hemdal said:
Invertebrates are fine with prazi or rally pro.

I decided to give him another day to attempt to get him to eat and for the winter storm to pass. I was afraid I'd be left a small unheated quarantine tank.

Well it didn't eat and the storm passed without knocking out our power so I set up an emergency QT in the 6 gallon waterbox that I was going to use as a refugium.

Used
Seachem Tidal HOB for 20 gallon tanks (no filtration)
Inkbird controller / 50W heater
Airstone
PVC pipes

Did a 5ish gallon water change and used the DT water as QT water so I could transfer him right over, but before I did that I dosed 1.2 ml of prazi to the QT and waited for it to mix.

I'll give it some time but it does seem it is in some discomfort, swimming on the bottom kind of on its side.

Is there anything else I should do now? I won't try to feed until tomorrow assuming it's ok.

If this is not successful and it lives, would you recommend I try the ruby reef?

Jay Hemdal · Jan 11, 2025

skylan said:
I decided to give him another day to attempt to get him to eat and for the winter storm to pass. I was afraid I'd be left a small unheated quarantine tank.

Well it didn't eat and the storm passed without knocking out our power so I set up an emergency QT in the 6 gallon waterbox that I was going to use as a refugium.

Used
Seachem Tidal HOB for 20 gallon tanks (no filtration)
Inkbird controller / 50W heater
Airstone
PVC pipes

Did a 5ish gallon water change and used the DT water as QT water so I could transfer him right over, but before I did that I dosed 1.2 ml of prazi to the QT and waited for it to mix.

I'll give it some time but it does seem it is in some discomfort, swimming on the bottom kind of on its side.

Is there anything else I should do now? I won't try to feed until tomorrow assuming it's ok.

If this is not successful and it lives, would you recommend I try the ruby reef?

Yes - I'd try the Rally Pro also. Be sure you manage the ammonia level in that new tank. Do you have any bio media or live rock that you could move over to that tank?

moretor1 · Jan 11, 2025

I would medicate food with some bloodworms. Might just be crazy but I feel like bloodworms absorb it a lot better

skylan · Jan 11, 2025

Jay Hemdal said:
Yes - I'd try the Rally Pro also. Be sure you manage the ammonia level in that new tank. Do you have any bio media or live rock that you could move over to that tank?

I have some sponge that's been in my DT sump for quite a while, I can move some of that over into the filter if you think that would be helpful

skylan · Jan 11, 2025

Jay Hemdal said:
Yes - I'd try the Rally Pro also. Be sure you manage the ammonia level in that new tank. Do you have any bio media or live rock that you could move over to that tank?

Sorry double reply, I went ahead and just packed the HOB with some sponge from the DT sump. It's probably been in there for 3 - 4 weeks now. I'll go ahead and test tomorrow morning.