Clownfish Behavior

buzzbait11 · Jul 21, 2025

Can anyone help me with identifying what is going on with my clownfish? I test my water parameters every week with either a Hanna Test or a spin at the local fish shop.

Started noticing this behavior 3 days ago. Someone did point out a torn fin in another forum but wanted to check here for other possible opinions. I’ve had this fish for just under 2 years.

Please view the video for better description

Salinity: 1.025 CA: 423 KH: 11.98 MG: 1481 Ammonia: 0.0 NO2: 0.0 NO3: 12 PO4: 0.6

Rocks reef · Jul 21, 2025

It's a torn fin. It will heal on it's own. Is it eating ok?

buzzbait11 · Jul 21, 2025

Rocks reef said:
It's a torn fin. It will heal on it's own. Is it eating ok?

When trying to swim it just twirls in a circular/upside down/right side up motion (hopefully the video worked) I have been hand feeding with tweezers daily to help out and will eat just fine.

vetteguy53081 · Jul 21, 2025

buzzbait11 said:
Can anyone help me with identifying what is going on with my clownfish? I test my water parameters every week with either a Hanna Test or a spin at the local fish shop.

Started noticing this behavior 3 days ago. Someone did point out a torn fin in another forum but wanted to check here for other possible opinions. I’ve had this fish for just under 2 years.

Please view the video for better description

Salinity: 1.025 CA: 423 KH: 11.98 MG: 1481 Ammonia: 0.0 NO2: 0.0 NO3: 12 PO4: 0.6

Again, this is a result of aggression and larger likely being female is the likely aggressor and must be separated/isolated

Jay Hemdal · Jul 21, 2025

buzzbait11 said:
When trying to swim it just twirls in a circular/upside down/right side up motion (hopefully the video worked) I have been hand feeding with tweezers daily to help out and will eat just fine.

The rapid spinning in the video is very serious. How often does it do that? The ripped fins could be from other other clownfish, or from this frenetic twirling.

buzzbait11 · Jul 21, 2025

I would say once or twice an hour give or take. He seems to stabilize himself against the wall or gravel most of the time.

Jay Hemdal said:
The rapid spinning in the video is very serious. How often does it do that? The ripped fins could be from other other clownfish, or from this frenetic twirling.

Jay Hemdal · Jul 21, 2025

buzzbait11 said:
I would say once or twice an hour give or take. He seems to stabilize himself against the wall or gravel most of the time.

I've seen fish do slower twirling, and that is due to some neurological disease or injury. This fast twirling is not something I've ever seen before, but it is likely neurological as well. Sorry, I don't have any "cure" for that, just supportive therapy - isolate the fish in a soft sided container (to reduce further injury) but with holes in it to allow good water transfer - maybe a net breeder box?

jabberwock · Jul 21, 2025

Oh my. That is not good...

buzzbait11 · Jul 21, 2025

buzzbait11 · Jul 21, 2025

Jay Hemdal said:
I've seen fish do slower twirling, and that is due to some neurological disease or injury. This fast twirling is not something I've ever seen before, but it is likely neurological as well. Sorry, I don't have any "cure" for that, just supportive therapy - isolate the fish in a soft sided container (to reduce further injury) but with holes in it to allow good water transfer - maybe a net breeder box?

Would there be any concern with any potential infection spreading to the other clownfish?

Jay Hemdal · Jul 21, 2025

buzzbait11 said:
Would there be any concern with any potential infection spreading to the other clownfish?

Sorry, I can’t say. Whirling disease in salmon is highly contagious. However, that disease isn’t known from clownfish. Many neurological issues in fish come from mechanical damage, so wouldn’t be contagious.