Clownfish sickness?

[Kapachuka3]

Just noticed my clown acting kinda unusual. Is this a problem, seems to be breathing heavy, and staying towards the bottom of the tank? Pregnant maybe? My other fish seem fine.

Edit: I think the one is pregnant, what i think is the female keeps shaking.

 

[Kapachuka3]

@Jay Hemdal

Forgive me if its against the rules to tag you in my own post.

 

[christinna77]

#fishmedic

 

[Kapachuka3]

Anybody know? Isn’t shaking and staying close to sand a symptom of brook?

 

[Fish Fan]

Anybody know? Isn’t shaking and staying close to sand a symptom of brook?

Be patient, the R2R Fish Medic team has been tagged and will be here soon

 

[Kapachuka3]

Be patient, the R2R Fish Medic team has been tagged and will be here soon

All good

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Just noticed my clown acting kinda unusual. Is this a problem, seems to be breathing heavy, and staying towards the bottom of the tank? Pregnant maybe? My other fish seem fine.

Edit: I think the one is pregnant, what i think is the female keeps shaking.

These are egg layers, and the presence of eggs in the female won’t cause rapid breathing.

The two clowns may be having a squabble, I can see a bit of a hint of it there. That can happen as a pair bond develops or starts to break down or as a prelude to spawning - clownfish are very dynamic in that way.

I would first ensure that the tank has good aeration, not just circulation, but actual bubbles breaking the waters surface. A protein skimmer or an air stone works well for that.

 

[Kapachuka3]

These are egg layers, and the presence of eggs in the female won’t cause rapid breathing.

The two clowns may be having a squabble, I can see a bit of a hint of it there. That can happen as a pair bond develops or starts to break down or as a prelude to spawning - clownfish are very dynamic in that way.

I would first ensure that the tank has good aeration, not just circulation, but actual bubbles breaking the waters surface. A protein skimmer or an air stone works well for that.

Fantastic, appreciate the advice, anything i need to do with the actual fish? Will they end up hurting each other? I’ll watch out for eggs.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Fantastic, appreciate the advice, anything i need to do with the actual fish? Will they end up hurting each other? I’ll watch out for eggs.

Watch for ripped fins and/or damage to their mouths. That indicates the fighting is getting more serious.

 

[Privateye]

I don't see anything of concern in my opinion. I've had my pair for 15 years and they have some occasional squabbles too. And they breed.

If it gets to the point that they "break up", my trick is to net them out and put them in a bucket for 5-10 minutes. I've paired and re-paired clowns that way multiple times, with lasting results. If they have some other fish to fight against together that can strengthen the pair too. I've done that to pair cichlids before, when previously they tried to kill each other. You just need to remove the target fish before any damage occurs.

 

[Kapachuka3]

Watch for ripped fins and/or damage to their mouths. That indicates the fighting is getting more serious.

Gotcha, i got a stupid question, would I have to separate them or is there a way where I could do something so they could stay in the same tank. I’ve had clown pairs for forever but ive never experienced this.

 

[Kapachuka3]

Gotcha, i got a stupid question, would I have to separate them or is there a way where I could do something so they could stay in the same tank. I’ve had clown pairs for forever but ive never experienced this.

Nevermind jay its been answered appreciate your time.

 

[Kapachuka3]

Watch for ripped fins and/or damage to their mouths. That indicates the fighting is getting more serious.

Quick follow up, doesnt look like any injuries to the one fish, it is however staying at the bottom of the tank and somtimes laying on the sand. He looks fine besides that? Will that pass or do i need to intervene?

 

[winxp_man]

Quick follow up, doesnt look like any injuries to the one fish, it is however staying at the bottom of the tank and somtimes laying on the sand. He looks fine besides that? Will that pass or do i need to intervene?

Clown fish do weird things. I had one it would lay in an acclimation box I had in the tank that I didn’t take out. The minute I would get near the tank it would get up and swim. The first time I saw it, I thought it was dead… haha.

Look for injuries and they figure it out between each other, and incase it is something like flukes, breathing if it gets worse, head shaking, yawning too much, flashing. But from this video as stated by the others normal for the most part.

But keep they in sight when your around the tank.

 

[Kapachuka3]

Clown fish do weird things. I had one it would lay in an acclimation box I had in the tank that I didn’t take out. The minute I would get near the tank it would get up and swim. The first time I saw it, I thought it was dead… haha.

Look for injuries and they figure it out between each other, and incase it is something like flukes, breathing if it gets worse, head shaking, yawning too much, flashing. But from this video as stated by the others normal for the most part.

But keep they in sight when your around the tank.

Sounds good, thats exactly whats hes doing, lays on the sand and has been getting up when im near. I’ll keep an eye on them, and might use prazi pro just in case next water change.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Quick follow up, doesnt look like any injuries to the one fish, it is however staying at the bottom of the tank and somtimes laying on the sand. He looks fine besides that? Will that pass or do i need to intervene?

Is it eating well?
Did you check the aeration?

 

[Kapachuka3]

Is it eating well?
Did you check the aeration?

Seems to not be eating the pellets I just gave him, i will try again later tonight, aeration is good. Water is breaking. Heres another video, they both seem to be shaking when near eachother.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Seems to not be eating the pellets I just gave him, i will try again later tonight, aeration is good. Water is breaking. Heres another video, they both seem to be shaking when near eachother.

Yep, that’s just courtship and pair adjustment……

 

[Kapachuka3]

Just thought id add this, my clownfish have now started hosting my toadstool leather for no reason, clowns are fricking weird, they’ve been around that coral for like 2-3 years now and have never taken interest in it.

 

[winxp_man]

Just thought id add this, my clownfish have now started hosting my toadstool leather for no reason, clowns are fricking weird, they’ve been around that coral for like 2-3 years now and have never taken interest in it.

This about sums up clownfish…… clowns

What sucks when they become hosted with random corals they can end up killing the host.

My brothers Marion that we had a lot of issues from not eating to ich and bacterial infects…. She’s now in the clear… BUT just about killed a new Sherman I got for my brother. So we got her in an acclimation box for now. And the Sherman is slowly recovering. The bigger they get the more they wreck havoc if they again go into the need to be hosted. About 4-5 years ago my brother lost all his LPS in his tank because of a Darwin pair. They even took out a flame angle.