Clownfish - Bloated and Breathing Fast

[tymo92]

I’m concerned about my male clownfish that is looking bloated, breathing heavily, and is trailing a bit of white stringy poop.

I’d like to avoid medicating food as this is in a tank with 15+ other healthy fish and I don’t have an external QT set up.

Is this something I should wait to see if it clears up or take action immediately? It’s the pronounced breathing that has me particularly concerned, but clownfish do seem to have more exaggerated breathing than some other fish even when healthy.

Quick video link:

 

[StartingATank]

Medicated Food wouldn't really harm the other fish, only make them poop more. I recommend treating whatever you feed with metronidozale, I think that is how you pronounce it. Or, depending on what other types of fish you have you could try pre-medicated flakes. Does it seem to have a pinched in head? Are any other fish showing symptoms? This food is really only for internal parasites that interfere with the digestion of the fish. Also, are any other clownfish showing these symptoms? What was your most recent addition? From the video I can tell that it is having a harder time swimming. #fishmedics

 

[tymo92]

Medicated Food wouldn't really harm the other fish, only make them poop more. I recommend treating whatever you feed with metronidozale, I think that is how you pronounce it. Or, depending on what other types of fish you have you could try pre-medicated flakes. Does it seem to have a pinched in head? Are any other fish showing symptoms? This food is really only for internal parasites that interfere with the digestion of the fish. Also, are any other clownfish showing these symptoms? What was your most recent addition? From the video I can tell that it is having a harder time swimming. #fishmedics

Definitely no pinched head, and no other fish are showing symptoms. All fish were either captive bred from ORA or bought from quarantined sellers. His mate is not showing any issues. I should add he also isn't eating food that's put in the tank, so medicated food may not reach him.

 

[StartingATank]

Well, I recently had a fish die from intestinal blockage, even though it wasn't a clown, it had a very swollen stomach. It never ate that much. Do you know if in the pair if this is the female? This could rule out that they might have eggs. I have seen a forum about swollen stomachs. I will edit this post in a sec to post the link.

Edit: Here is the link: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/causes-of-abdominal-swelling-in-fishes.1098720/

 

[tymo92]

Well, I recently had a fish die from intestinal blockage, even though it wasn't a clown, it had a very swollen stomach. It never ate that much. Do you know if in the pair if this is the female? This could rule out that they might have eggs. I have seen a forum about swollen stomachs. I will edit this post in a sec to post the link.

The one with the issues is the male, so definitely not eggs unfortunately.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m concerned about my male clownfish that is looking bloated, breathing heavily, and is trailing a bit of white stringy poop.

I’d like to avoid medicating food as this is in a tank with 15+ other healthy fish and I don’t have an external QT set up.

Is this something I should wait to see if it clears up or take action immediately? It’s the pronounced breathing that has me particularly concerned, but clownfish do seem to have more exaggerated breathing than some other fish even when healthy.

Quick video link:

The very likelihood and what I often see in clowns in diet. Please dont start medicating this fish for nothing as the body mass is good and not indicative of eggs or coccidia but rather excess mucus in the stomach lining especially is feeding mysis shrimp, brine shrimp or both. If this is a main part of diet, add flakes, TDO pellets, LRS reef frenzy and plankton in which will offer a proper diet and you will see a change in color and consistency with feces

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’m concerned about my male clownfish that is looking bloated, breathing heavily, and is trailing a bit of white stringy poop.

I’d like to avoid medicating food as this is in a tank with 15+ other healthy fish and I don’t have an external QT set up.

Is this something I should wait to see if it clears up or take action immediately? It’s the pronounced breathing that has me particularly concerned, but clownfish do seem to have more exaggerated breathing than some other fish even when healthy.

Quick video link:

The rapid breathing, swollen abdomen and mucus feces all together indicate a severe systemic infection.

How long have you had this fish and how long has it had these symptoms?

I see somebody linked my post to abdominal swelling - you’ll want to look that over to see if anything matches up to your fish.

 

[tymo92]

The rapid breathing, swollen abdomen and mucus feces all together indicate a severe systemic infection.

How long have you had this fish and how long has it had these symptoms?

I see somebody linked my post to abdominal swelling - you’ll want to look that over to see if anything matches up to your fish.

I’ve had the fish for 3 months, and just noticed symptoms today. It’s possible that it’s had these symptoms for a few days and I haven’t noticed.

Very helpful post re: swelling. Would you try catching it for an epsom bath now or wait 24h to see if it was potential overeating that improves on its own?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’ve had the fish for 3 months, and just noticed symptoms today. It’s possible that it’s had these symptoms for a few days and I haven’t noticed.

Very helpful post re: swelling. Would you try catching it for an epsom bath now or wait 24h to see if it was potential overeating that improves on its own?

No - skip Epsom salts, that is a freshwater fish remedy. Seawater is already very high in that salt, so adding a bit more is of absolutely no benefit.

Sorry, I don’t think this is going to get better, the symptoms are just too severe. I don’t see any treatment. If it is from coccidea, there is no cure for that.

 

[tymo92]

Just an update - fish is unchanged, still swimming relatively normal but breathing very rapidly and bloated.

Caught the fish and put it in a 1.5 hour Cipro bath in the hopes that it's something bacterial that can be alleviated. Going to repeat in 24H.

May try adding Metro to the bath if it's something protozoan.

 

[tymo92]

Post-antibiotic bath, bloating is definitely reduced but breathing is unchanged and rapid. @Jay Hemdal do you think flukes is a possibility and is it worth trying a FW dip?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Post-antibiotic bath, bloating is definitely reduced but breathing is unchanged and rapid. @Jay Hemdal do you think flukes is a possibility and is it worth trying a FW dip?

Flukes don't cause bloating. Antibiotic baths don't work that fast. Could the fish have been constipated?

A FW dip is easy to do but not really effective for much of anything except *maybe* buying a little time if the issue is flukes. "Seeing flukes in a dip" only works for one species, for the other types of flukes, you need a microscope to see them in the dip water.

 

[tymo92]

Flukes don't cause bloating. Antibiotic baths don't work that fast. Could the fish have been constipated?

A FW dip is easy to do but not really effective for much of anything except *maybe* buying a little time if the issue is flukes. "Seeing flukes in a dip" only works for one species, for the other types of flukes, you need a microscope to see them in the dip water.

I suppose constipation is possible, have you seen that cause rapid breathing though? That’s what is concerning me.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I suppose constipation is possible, have you seen that cause rapid breathing though? That’s what is concerning me.

No - the rapid breathing is a separate issue.

 

[tymo92]

No - the rapid breathing is a separate issue.

Fish now shows no visible bloating but breathing is still rapid and unchanged. The fish won’t eat but otherwise appears normal and is swimming fine. I’ve done 4 consecutive days of cipro and methylene blue baths.

Not sure what my best course of action is now.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Fish now shows no visible bloating but breathing is still rapid and unchanged. The fish won’t eat but otherwise appears normal and is swimming fine. I’ve done 4 consecutive days of cipro and methylene blue baths.

Not sure what my best course of action is now.

I'm not sure that you've ruled out flukes here. Did you do a 5 minute FW dip? Did that show any relief a day or two later?

 

[tymo92]

I'm not sure that you've ruled out flukes here. Did you do a 5 minute FW dip? Did that show any relief a day or two later?

Just tried a 5 minute FW dip. No visible flukes but will report back if shows any relief.

 

[tymo92]

Condition worsened overnight to where it’s now occasionally resting on the bottom of the acclimation box and being lethargic. I’m stumped and am considering euthanasia.