Clownfish lethargic, not eating, laying on substrate. Breathing heavy

Jake_the_reefer

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My clownfish is breathing really heavy, is laying on the sand in dark spots and refusing to eat. If I spook him off the sand he swims away then immediately goes back to laying on the sand. He's so lethargic that I was able to scoop him up by hand.

Possibility he has internal parasites. He had white stringy poop not too long ago. He has been in the tank for about 7 months. He's still alive but I'm afraid I won't be able to save him. I bought metroplex but I doubt I'll be able to get him to eat food saturated with it. Any ideas?

20250122_085621.jpg 20250122_085610.jpg
 

Sphyrna_gal

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Some questions that may help- have you done anything to change things recently? Tested for water issues? Added a tank mate that could be stressing it out? Seems skinny from the image but has it been eating up until now?
 
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Jake_the_reefer

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Some questions that may help- have you done anything to change things recently? Tested for water issues? Added a tank mate that could be stressing it out? Seems skinny from the image but has it been eating up until now?
Has been eating great even yesterday I feed pretty much frozen pods, frozen mysis, frozen brine shrimp mixed with spirulina. My parameters are stable. No changes in ph (8.2)
Nitrites are 0
nitrates are 5
Ammonia 0

No new tank mates

And I agree. Since the day I got him he's always seemed skinny but has been an excellent eater.

Tank mates are a firefish a watchman goby a pistol shrimp, skunk cleaner and hermits
 

vetteguy53081

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My clownfish is breathing really heavy, is laying on the sand in dark spots and refusing to eat. If I spook him off the sand he swims away then immediately goes back to laying on the sand. He's so lethargic that I was able to scoop him up by hand.

Possibility he has internal parasites. He had white stringy poop not too long ago. He has been in the tank for about 7 months. He's still alive but I'm afraid I won't be able to save him. I bought metroplex but I doubt I'll be able to get him to eat food saturated with it. Any ideas?

20250122_085621.jpg 20250122_085610.jpg
Hard to assess a fish out of water and based on tail may be a victim of aggression and deprived of food.
Please place fish back in water and post a video under white light intensity to see breathing rate.
What foods are you offering fish?
What other fish in tank with it?
 

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