- Joined
- Aug 17, 2013
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Hey all, I've got a clownfish that isnt acting quite right. I've had this pair, bought from WWC over a year ago as a bonded pair. They started off more or less the same size, and one has gotten a whole lot bigger now (probably 2x the size of the small one). The big momma has always been dominant, chasing the smaller one away from food, but the small one was always able to get enough floating around the tank. I'd say two weeks or so ago I noticed that the small guy was swimming mostly near the tank return nozzle and over the last week his swimming has become really strange. He swims in circles at the top by the return nozzle at a 45 degree angle. Sometimes he swims backwards. I haven't been able to get him to eat for the past week, this is what concerns me the most. I've tried my standard flake food, a different flake food and tried frozen and tried to directly feed him with tweezers (which he used to love). No dice.
Tank parameters are perfect.
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 10-20
Phos .02-.03
The other clown is completely normal. I have looked over the small guy as best as I can, and I see no spots, no film, no red streaks, no bulging eyes, no white stringy poop, his breathing is maybe a little bit heavy, but not that bad. (I have previously had clowns with brook, so that is my comparison with heavy breathing). The only thing I notice physically wrong with him is that his fins are more tattered than I remember them being in the past.
What I've done:
5 minute FW dip, didn't see any flukes
Tonight I set up a small QT and put him in it.
My theories:
1. Stress of being picked on lead to a bacterial infection causing minor fin rot and air bladder dysfunction
2. Nothing physically wrong with him, just emotionally distressed from being picked on
3. Something really bad
Pictures and video attached below. Whats the consensus on how to proceed. I'm thinking about treating with melafix.
Tank parameters are perfect.
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 10-20
Phos .02-.03
The other clown is completely normal. I have looked over the small guy as best as I can, and I see no spots, no film, no red streaks, no bulging eyes, no white stringy poop, his breathing is maybe a little bit heavy, but not that bad. (I have previously had clowns with brook, so that is my comparison with heavy breathing). The only thing I notice physically wrong with him is that his fins are more tattered than I remember them being in the past.
What I've done:
5 minute FW dip, didn't see any flukes
Tonight I set up a small QT and put him in it.
My theories:
1. Stress of being picked on lead to a bacterial infection causing minor fin rot and air bladder dysfunction
2. Nothing physically wrong with him, just emotionally distressed from being picked on
3. Something really bad
Pictures and video attached below. Whats the consensus on how to proceed. I'm thinking about treating with melafix.