Clownfish resting on bottom/side for days

initial_reefer · Jun 9, 2026

Looking for some guidance, I have a clownfish who has been breathing labored for quite awhile ( 30days or so) compared to his female mate. Recently for the past 2 weeks he's been resting on the bottom of the tank and hiding in a rock and sleeping on a shelf rock. 5 days ago he stopped eating. I performed a freshwater dip after he stopped eating and found no flukes. 4 days ago I moved him to qt tank and started general cure and tonight will be the end of the second 48 hour treatment. He has remained the same condition since the start of treatment no better or no worse. Tonight I'm going to start kanaplex treatment after a 25% water change on qt tank. I've offered live brine shrimp with no avail and frozen with garlic entice with no avail. Since starting I have seen 2 clear stringy poop and that's about it. anyone have any ideas or suggestions I feel not eating part with be his demise.

Tank is 1 year old clowns have been in the tank the whole time
Tank parameters are

1.026
78 degrees
0 ammonia
8.35 alk
8.10 ph
480 cal
1320 mag

vetteguy53081 · Jun 9, 2026

initial_reefer said:
Looking for some guidance, I have a clownfish who has been breathing labored for quite awhile ( 30days or so) compared to his female mate. Recently for the past 2 weeks he's been resting on the bottom of the tank and hiding in a rock and sleeping on a shelf rock. 5 days ago he stopped eating. I performed a freshwater dip after he stopped eating and found no flukes. 4 days ago I moved him to qt tank and started general cure and tonight will be the end of the second 48 hour treatment. He has remained the same condition since the start of treatment no better or no worse. Tonight I'm going to start kanaplex treatment after a 25% water change on qt tank. I've offered live brine shrimp with no avail and frozen with garlic entice with no avail. Since starting I have seen 2 clear stringy poop and that's about it. anyone have any ideas or suggestions I feel not eating part with be his demise.

Tank is 1 year old clowns have been in the tank the whole time
Tank parameters are

1.026
78 degrees
0 ammonia
8.35 alk
8.10 ph
480 cal
1320 mag

Fish looks thin and often has bruising and blotches thought to be from overbreeding

Jay Hemdal · Jun 9, 2026

initial_reefer said:
Looking for some guidance, I have a clownfish who has been breathing labored for quite awhile ( 30days or so) compared to his female mate. Recently for the past 2 weeks he's been resting on the bottom of the tank and hiding in a rock and sleeping on a shelf rock. 5 days ago he stopped eating. I performed a freshwater dip after he stopped eating and found no flukes. 4 days ago I moved him to qt tank and started general cure and tonight will be the end of the second 48 hour treatment. He has remained the same condition since the start of treatment no better or no worse. Tonight I'm going to start kanaplex treatment after a 25% water change on qt tank. I've offered live brine shrimp with no avail and frozen with garlic entice with no avail. Since starting I have seen 2 clear stringy poop and that's about it. anyone have any ideas or suggestions I feel not eating part with be his demise.

Tank is 1 year old clowns have been in the tank the whole time
Tank parameters are

1.026
78 degrees
0 ammonia
8.35 alk
8.10 ph
480 cal
1320 mag

Sorry, I don’t see anything that you can do to help this fish. I agree that this is likely a developmental or genetic issue related to a swim bladder issue, increased calorie demand and then when the fish reaches a tipping point, the not eating. Clear or white feces can be a sign of starvation.
I’m ruling out a contagious disease due to the length of time you’ve had the fish, the length of time it has shown symptoms, that it is captive raised and that it’s tankmate isn’t showing symptoms.