Clownfish In Bad Shape

[firstlight10]

My 10 year old female clown started exhibiting signs of stress this morning. She was at the surface like she couldn't get enough oxygen and had hair algae ganging from her stomach area. I did a 30% water change then dosed Stress Coat and added carbon to the tank. This is a fish who always eats well yet today she refused food and hid when I tried feeding her. I don't see any visible injuries and she is the only one in the tank. Tank is a 29 gallon well established LPS and softie tank. There is an airstone in the tank and the top is open so I don't think lack of gas exchange is an issue. Right now I'm mixing up some garlic/ fish food in a last ditch effort to try and get her to eat. Is there anything else I can try?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Does she have a mate? Does she look fat in the abdomen? Try doing a epson salt dip. Have to search it here as I cannot remember the dosage. Any changes to the system? Any signs of coat sloughing? Any other fish? Behavior of other fish? Chemicals introduced?

 

[Lasse]

had hair algae ganging from her stomach area.

Was it realy hair algae? Could it be worms looking out from her anus?

Sincerely Lasse

 

[firstlight10]

No recent changes to the system, temp is 77, salinity 1.022. Body condition looks good. She is the only fish in the system, she lost her mate in May 2017. I will look into the Epsom salt dip idea.

 

[firstlight10]

Update: added 6 tbsp Epsom salt to display tank as I felt like trying to catch her wasn't worth the stress. I also put some of my fresh garlic and food mixture in the tank and she showed an interest but I was unable to tell if she ate. The hair algae came off of her. Will continue to monitor the situation.

 

[firstlight10]

Quick update: she is slowly starting to eat and appears slightly stronger.

 

[Mjrenz]

I sounds like it was probably constipation, the correct dosage for epsom salt is 1tbsp per 5 gallons, it works well as a laxitive in fish just like in humans.