Clownfish on side at surface

[aaclown]

I have had this clownfish for over a month and it has always swam near surface and never been to the bottom of the tank. It has recently been on its side a lot near the surface. I attach a video. The ammonia was a out 1 today so I did a 40 percent water change. The other parameters all seem alright. I'm worried it is not well as it's movement has decreased and increasingly on its side.

 

[kitti-fish]

Having a hard time seeing the video but from my experience clowns are really weird. Mine likes to swim on their side, swim upright, and just hover around wavemakers acting weird. Is it otherwise eating normally?

 

[Fish Fan]

Did you stop the flow in the tank for the video? If not, I would say that this is likely low oxygen, and the tank needs a lot more aeration.

Also, the tank looks very new, was it cycled for nitrogen before adding the fish?

 

[aaclown]

Having a hard time seeing the video but from my experience clowns are really weird. Mine likes to swim on their side, swim upright, and just hover around wavemakers acting weird. Is it otherwise eating normally?

Hi eating normally thanks for comment

 

[aaclown]

Did you stop the flow in the tank for the video? If not, I would say that this is likely low oxygen, and the tank needs a lot more aeration.

Also, the tank looks very new, was it cycled for nitrogen before adding the fish?

I have an aerator pipe although having an aeration rock attached to the end of it might be better for oxygen? Yes I cycled the tank for about 6 weeks.

 

[winxp_man]

Normal clown scare for now. Had a maroon that would do this. Clowns do some wierd things at times.

Keep an eye out on its breathing, eating, and incase anything shows up on it.

 

[mcarroll]

I have an aerator pipe although having an aeration rock attached to the end of it might be better for oxygen? Yes I cycled the tank for about 6 weeks.

Do you mean a protein skimmer?

Is there much water movement in the tank or is it "slow and calm" like many freshwater tanks?

I agree is doesn't look panicked or stressed at least as far as I can see, and this is well within the range of "normal" for a clownfish. :)

Doesn't mean there isn't a problem, but don't think he's sick....so at least that isn't the problem.

 

[Nano_Man]

#fishmedic

 

[winxp_man]

One more question is the fish doing this in this one spot all day long?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have had this clownfish for over a month and it has always swam near surface and never been to the bottom of the tank. It has recently been on its side a lot near the surface. I attach a video. The ammonia was a out 1 today so I did a 40 percent water change. The other parameters all seem alright. I'm worried it is not well as it's movement has decreased and increasingly on its side.

In addition - did you say that your ammonia level was about 1ppm? What test kit did you use and what does it measure after the water change?

 

[Fish Fan]

I have an aerator pipe although having an aeration rock attached to the end of it might be better for oxygen? Yes I cycled the tank for about 6 weeks.

When you cycled the tank, did you raise the ammonia up and wait for it to fall down near zero, or did you simply let the tank run for 6 weeks?

I think more importantly though, did you turn down the flow in your tank to take the video? If not, then I think your tank needs A LOT more circulation. This could be an issue of low oxygen for the fish due to low flow that doesn't allow for gas exchange (CO2 out and O2 in).