Clownfish acting strange

gongshow1988

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 6, 2023
Messages
43
Reaction score
24
Location
michigan
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
one of my clownfish is acting a little lethargic. Still eating but not as excitedly. I’ve had her for about 5 months now. 0 ammonia. 0 nitrite. 0 nitrate. 1.022 salinity. She also has some long stringy white/greenish feces. I will attach a picture. Any help would be appreciated.

IMG_4464.jpeg
 

Katrina71

Learn, Laugh, Love
View Badges
Joined
Mar 26, 2017
Messages
37,307
Reaction score
210,406
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Are you feeding a varied frozen diet?
 

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
91,699
Reaction score
202,427
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
13   0   0
one of my clownfish is acting a little lethargic. Still eating but not as excitedly. I’ve had her for about 5 months now. 0 ammonia. 0 nitrite. 0 nitrate. 1.022 salinity. She also has some long stringy white/greenish feces. I will attach a picture. Any help would be appreciated.

IMG_4464.jpeg
Im not seeing anything that jumps out in the way of disease, I do see tail nipping which may suggest aggression from another clown or even the puffer.
Your salinity is low and should come up to 1.024-1.025
I would also when opportunity allows it to take a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and have them test your ammonia and nitrates and compare readings- then you'll know where your levels truly are at and assure you are not getting false readings. Assure also temperature has not become elevated
As for feces, there may excess mucus in the stomach from foods fed especially fatty foods such as mysis shrimp. There is no signs suggesting internal issues
 
OP
OP
G

gongshow1988

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 6, 2023
Messages
43
Reaction score
24
Location
michigan
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Im not seeing anything that jumps out in the way of disease, I do see tail nipping which may suggest aggression from another clown or even the puffer.
Your salinity is low and should come up to 1.024-1.025
I would also when opportunity allows it to take a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and have them test your ammonia and nitrates and compare readings- then you'll know where your levels truly are at and assure you are not getting false readings. Assure also temperature has not become elevated
As for feces, there may excess mucus in the stomach from foods fed especially fatty foods such as mysis shrimp. There is no signs suggesting internal issues
I keep my temperature at 78 which is monitored with a INKBIRD controller. A lot of the foods I feed do have my sis blended in. I will take a water sample to the LFS. Thank you for the reply
 

Jay Hemdal

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 31, 2020
Messages
25,689
Reaction score
25,533
Location
Dundee, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
one of my clownfish is acting a little lethargic. Still eating but not as excitedly. I’ve had her for about 5 months now. 0 ammonia. 0 nitrite. 0 nitrate. 1.022 salinity. She also has some long stringy white/greenish feces. I will attach a picture. Any help would be appreciated.

IMG_4464.jpeg
The stringy feces catches my eye. This can be caused by a number of factors, some benign, some serious. However, when combined with another symptom, in this case lethargy, it is concerning.
Any recent diet changes?
If not, it could be an overgrowth of bacteria or protozoans in the gut.
You could mix metronidazole in the food at 0.50%, but you would need an accurate gram scale to dose that.
Jay
 
OP
OP
G

gongshow1988

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 6, 2023
Messages
43
Reaction score
24
Location
michigan
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The stringy feces catches my eye. This can be caused by a number of factors, some benign, some serious. However, when combined with another symptom, in this case lethargy, it is concerning.
Any recent diet changes?
If not, it could be an overgrowth of bacteria or protozoans in the gut.
You could mix metronidazole in the food at 0.50%, but you would need an accurate gram scale to dose that.
Jay
No diet changes. I do feed a wide variety of fry/frozen. Maybe something just didn’t sit right with her?
 

Jay Hemdal

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 31, 2020
Messages
25,689
Reaction score
25,533
Location
Dundee, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
No diet changes. I do feed a wide variety of fry/frozen. Maybe something just didn’t sit right with her?
Maybe, but the lethargy isn’t a good sign. Is the fish breathing faster than normal
Jay
 

ReeferMadnessTX

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 6, 2023
Messages
19
Reaction score
9
Location
TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Typically the stringy poop is going to be internal parasites. Metroplex would work for that. Anything new added in the past couple weeks? Might want to QT and monitor/ treat. Slime coat looks fine?
 
OP
OP
G

gongshow1988

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 6, 2023
Messages
43
Reaction score
24
Location
michigan
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Typically the stringy poop is going to be internal parasites. Metroplex would work for that. Anything new added in the past couple weeks? Might want to QT and monitor/ treat. Slime coat looks fine?
Nope. Nothing new. I’ll be honest I’m not sure how I check the slime coat…
Typically the stringy poop is going to be internal parasites. Metroplex would work for that. Anything new added in the past couple weeks? Might want to QT and monitor/ treat. Slime coat looks f
Typically the stringy poop is going to be internal parasites. Metroplex would work for that. Anything new added in the past couple weeks? Might want to QT and monitor/ treat. Slime coat looks fine?
 

Jay Hemdal

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 31, 2020
Messages
25,689
Reaction score
25,533
Location
Dundee, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I would say very slightly faster than normal.
If it worsens, it may stop eating. You can still dose metronidazole, but would need to do that in a treatment tank, in the water.
Hopefully, this was a transient issue and the fish improves today.
Jay
 
OP
OP
G

gongshow1988

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 6, 2023
Messages
43
Reaction score
24
Location
michigan
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
If it worsens, it may stop eating. You can still dose metronidazole, but would need to do that in a treatment tank, in the water.
Hopefully, this was a transient issue and the fish improves today.
Jay
I hope so as well. I will monitor and if need be move the fish to a treatment tank. I appreciate the help!
 

Caring for your picky eaters: What do you feed your finicky fish?

  • Live foods

    Votes: 14 26.4%
  • Frozen meaty foods

    Votes: 44 83.0%
  • Soft pellets

    Votes: 7 13.2%
  • Masstick (or comparable)

    Votes: 4 7.5%
  • Other

    Votes: 2 3.8%
Back
Top