Clownfish breathing heavy with white stringy poop

[Tigershark22]

A couple videos.

I posted earlier with different title but didn’t get a large amount of feedback. Not trying to spam emergency but it just doesn’t seem right.

Heavy breathing. White string like feces hanging out. Hiding underneath and behind the red BTA.
This change in behavior was very sudden. Fine this morning and then started acting like this.
9+ other fish in tank and all are behaving normally.

Ocellaris clownfish are a pair and I have had them for 6 months. They share the anemone, which is a recent addition. This is the larger of the two and I believe to be the established female.
It is a voracious eater and I was initially concerned it may be constipated. But I was advised that the symptoms seem more severe than that.

Again, very sudden change in behavior.

I researched that clownfish become female mentally long before the genitals change and that it often takes around 6 months (how long they’ve been a pair now).
I’m not sure if this physical change is stressful on the fish or if that’s a possibility.

The research helped me realize that I also noticed typical clownfish mating behavior just yesterday. The shaking dance from both of them. So I’m not sure if this is related to that either?

Just hoping it’s not something intestinal.

pH- 8.2
Salinity- 35ppt
Ammonia- 0ppm
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate- approximately 0 ppm
Temp-79-80°F

 

[vetteguy53081]

A couple videos.

I posted earlier with different title but didn’t get a large amount of feedback. Not trying to spam emergency but it just doesn’t seem right.

Heavy breathing. White string like feces hanging out. Hiding underneath and behind the red BTA.
This change in behavior was very sudden. Fine this morning and then started acting like this.
9+ other fish in tank and all are behaving normally.

Ocellaris clownfish are a pair and I have had them for 6 months. They share the anemone, which is a recent addition. This is the larger of the two and I believe to be the established female.
It is a voracious eater and I was initially concerned it may be constipated. But I was advised that the symptoms seem more severe than that.

Again, very sudden change in behavior.

I researched that clownfish become female mentally long before the genitals change and that it often takes around 6 months (how long they’ve been a pair now).
I’m not sure if this physical change is stressful on the fish or if that’s a possibility.

The research helped me realize that I also noticed typical clownfish mating behavior just yesterday. The shaking dance from both of them. So I’m not sure if this is related to that either?

Just hoping it’s not something intestinal.

pH- 8.2
Salinity- 35ppt
Ammonia- 0ppm
Nitrite- 0ppm
Nitrate- approximately 0 ppm
Temp-79-80°F

You posted this earlier and please refrain from cross-posting which takes away from others who too are seeking answers to their concerns. The feces confirms excess mucus in stomach lining in which you did not mention if you were indeed feeding mysis and brine shrimp. Jay H has also placed input on other thread and some questions are unanswered. Shaking dance is a display of pairing up or dominance and I still think intimidation is playing a role here. Ther heavy breathing is the biggest concern I see here and I would often suggest a 5 minute freshwater dip but not for a fish breathing heavy.
Again, can be ammonia level, gill flukes, mucus in gills or stress from intimidation

 

[Tigershark22]

You posted this earlier and please refrain from cross-posting which takes away from others who too are seeking answers to their concerns. The feces confirms excess mucus in stomach lining in which you did not mention if you were indeed feeding mysis and brine shrimp. Jay H has also placed input on other thread and some questions are unanswered. Shaking dance is a display of pairing up or dominance and I still think intimidation is playing a role here. Ther heavy breathing is the biggest concern I see here and I would often suggest a 5 minute freshwater dip but not for a fish breathing heavy.
Again, can be ammonia level, gill flukes, mucus in gills or stress from intimidation

I genuinely appreciate your time and your input. I am just concerned for the fish.

But I want to say that don’t appreciate the condescending introduction when I’m just trying to make sure the fish is ok. Especially when you and Jay were the only people who responded to the emergency post from 7 hours ago, and both stopped responding to me when I did, in fact, respond directly and answer all questions including what I’m feeding and posted new video. I didn’t get any firm suggestions for a course of action, if any need be taken. Jay sure seemed concerned so with lack of continued assistance, I wanted to reach more people. If it were an emergency that can be helped and nobody is responding, am I just supposed to let it play out? Cmon. I’m not taking away from anyone else by cross posting when I didn’t even get the help I was looking for.

I did some more research and added some info to a new post because my responses to you guys weren’t answered and I honestly didn’t want to bother yall if you were busy.

But I wouldn’t have even gotten this new input from you were it not for cross posting. You’re here telling me I didn’t answer questions when you missed my responses in the other thread. And respectfully, you still didn’t give me anything clear to go off of now. I am still concerned.

I mean no offense and hope you don’t think me an butt. I truly respect and appreciate the time you take to help. This is not the first time you’ve assisted me. I hope that it won’t be the last if I have issues in the future. I just feel unnecessarily attacked. This is the only time I’ve ever had to post something I’d consider emergency worthy.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I genuinely appreciate your time and your input. I am just concerned for the fish.

But I want to say that don’t appreciate the condescending introduction when I’m just trying to make sure the fish is ok. Especially when you and Jay were the only people who responded to the emergency post from 7 hours ago, and both stopped responding to me when I did, in fact, respond directly and answer all questions including what I’m feeding and posted new video. I didn’t get any firm suggestions for a course of action, if any need be taken. Jay sure seemed concerned so with lack of continued assistance, I wanted to reach more people. If it were an emergency that can be helped and nobody is responding, am I just supposed to let it play out? Cmon. I’m not taking away from anyone else by cross posting when I didn’t even get the help I was looking for.

I did some more research and added some info to a new post because my responses to you guys weren’t answered and I honestly didn’t want to bother yall if you were busy.

But I wouldn’t have even gotten this new input from you were it not for cross posting. You’re here telling me I didn’t answer questions when you missed my responses in the other thread. And respectfully, you still didn’t give me anything clear to go off of now. I am still concerned.

I mean no offense and hope you don’t think me an butt. I truly respect and appreciate the time you take to help. This is not the first time you’ve assisted me. I hope that it won’t be the last if I have issues in the future. I just feel unnecessarily attacked. This is the only time I’ve ever had to post something I’d consider emergency worthy.

You will get gaps from us as we both work and check in as much as possible. Realize part of delay was waiting for clear video to do a more accurate assessment in which you got a near immediate reply when posted. You can use PraziPro which is safe based on heavy breathing with no signs of ich or velvet but heavy breathing as mentioned is a result of gill irritation. When using Prazi and other meds, it will take a couple of days for most meds to start taking effect.

 

[Tigershark22]

You will get gaps from us as we both work and check in as much as possible. Realize part of delay was waiting for clear video to do a more accurate assessment in which you got a near immediate reply when posted. You can use PraziPro which is safe based on heavy breathing with no signs of ich or velvet but heavy breathing as mentioned is a result of gill irritation. When using Prazi and other meds, it will take a couple of days for most meds to start taking effect.

Ok thank you again. I do truly appreciate it. Nothing but respect.

Just a bit weary because a lost a rabbitfish in QT months ago. I thought it was something minor, his symptoms were similar. I didn’t tag it as an emergency and didn’t think it was. But he was dead within 24 hours of me posting. Sorry for multiple posts this time around.

The clownfish is still breathing rapidly.
Before I try any treatment. I just want to mention behaviors I have noticed up until now since you have felt intimidation to have high potential. If you are still willing to offer your expertise, and if any of the following seems extraordinarily unusual to you, I’ll have to try Prazi.

The stressed fish (the larger of the 2) began hosting the nem a few days prior to the smaller one. They began hosting together for a few days and then I noticed the shaking dance they do. I had noticed this a few times prior to adding the anemone. But in the nem it was much more apparent with both of them doing it frequently.

Next day I notice the fish seems stressed.

Behavior since then has been interesting as well. Maybe this helps, maybe it makes the situation more confusing.
But the stressed clown would periodically go back to the nem and then back to its reclusive spot. The smaller clown actively keeping other fish away from the nem and periodically leaving to check on the stressed companion. The stressed fish seemed to return to the nem when lights went out. And I noticed more of the shaking dance from the both of them as they mingled back and forth in the anemone.

Today, further away from the nem, closer to bottom of tank, still breathing heavily. Hasn’t eaten since the evening before yesterday.

Added photo of the specific food and ingredients if there happens to be something concerning within that.

 

[lostsailor22]

Try feeding some medication. I had similar issues back a while ago, between FW dips, medicated food, and reef rally baths, I nipped whatever it was in the bud… @Humblefish has good recipes for medicated foods. I fed until I didnt see anymore white stringy poop. And then intermittently afterwards to keep up with any possibility of anything lurking leftover..

Everyone seems pretty happy since. I couldn’t figure out what was the issue. Brook or something internal… it took out my first clown while I was waiting around for the medicine to show up in the mail. Doing FW dips daily to keep her at bay.. she passed the morning before my medicine showed up. I had a trio of clowns, and of course within basically minutes of big mama departing, the second runner up took the tank over! It’s been about a month or so since. I’ve got everyone in QT for another few weeks, while I make sure there is absolutely nothing living in my water in the DT..


Good luck. Hope this helps at all.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok thank you again. I do truly appreciate it. Nothing but respect.

Just a bit weary because a lost a rabbitfish in QT months ago. I thought it was something minor, his symptoms were similar. I didn’t tag it as an emergency and didn’t think it was. But he was dead within 24 hours of me posting. Sorry for multiple posts this time around.

The clownfish is still breathing rapidly.
Before I try any treatment. I just want to mention behaviors I have noticed up until now since you have felt intimidation to have high potential. If you are still willing to offer your expertise, and if any of the following seems extraordinarily unusual to you, I’ll have to try Prazi.

The stressed fish (the larger of the 2) began hosting the nem a few days prior to the smaller one. They began hosting together for a few days and then I noticed the shaking dance they do. I had noticed this a few times prior to adding the anemone. But in the nem it was much more apparent with both of them doing it frequently.

Next day I notice the fish seems stressed.

Behavior since then has been interesting as well. Maybe this helps, maybe it makes the situation more confusing.
But the stressed clown would periodically go back to the nem and then back to its reclusive spot. The smaller clown actively keeping other fish away from the nem and periodically leaving to check on the stressed companion. The stressed fish seemed to return to the nem when lights went out. And I noticed more of the shaking dance from the both of them as they mingled back and forth in the anemone.

Today, further away from the nem, closer to bottom of tank, still breathing heavily. Hasn’t eaten since the evening before yesterday.

Added photo of the specific food and ingredients if there happens to be something concerning within that.

Prime reef is a good item. Some pieces may be too big. Brine shrimp is a top enticer for most fish. The shaking mentioned sounds to be pairing off and at times the fish will squabble during this process showing mouth/chin damage and hiding as a method of succumbing to the other fish. Its generally the larger being female that is the aggressor. While not practical, one way to eliminate dominance/intimidation is to remove the other fish to a bucket even a few hours and see if the fish starts eating and behaving more normal which will be an indicator

 

[Tigershark22]

Try feeding some medication. I had similar issues back a while ago, between FW dips, medicated food, and reef rally baths, I nipped whatever it was in the bud… @Humblefish has good recipes for medicated foods. I fed until I didnt see anymore white stringy poop. And then intermittently afterwards to keep up with any possibility of anything lurking leftover..

Everyone seems pretty happy since. I couldn’t figure out what was the issue. Brook or something internal… it took out my first clown while I was waiting around for the medicine to show up in the mail. Doing FW dips daily to keep her at bay.. she passed the morning before my medicine showed up. I had a trio of clowns, and of course within basically minutes of big mama departing, the second runner up took the tank over! It’s been about a month or so since. I’ve got everyone in QT for another few weeks, while I make sure there is absolutely nothing living in my water in the DT..


Good luck. Hope this helps at all.

Oh wow! Thank you.

Hopefully I can get it to eat in general. I’ll check out the medicated food recipes and more research and see if I can also knock it out

Thank you again