Clownfish swimming down + shaking

[407Hunter]

Dear R2R community,

Maybe some help with my new tank. 6 weeks in. Topped off RO last night. Placed 6 new soft corals in last week.

Darker clownfish affected in videos.
Lighter clownfish will occasionally nudge him at his belly to move or play.

Last evening: Clownfish pointing downwards, hanging in corner of tank.

This early morning: same but with more movement. Ate something off the substrate twice and started shaking. Did spit some out. Not sure if was bloated and belched. But yesterday evening ate nothing.

An hour ago: swimming freely as if nothing wrong. Not pointing down as much. Not hanging in corner. Barely ate.

Parameters today
Salinity (yesterday) 1.026 pre top off
GH 170 ppm (mg/L)
Alkalinity (yesterday) 16!! Pre top off
KH 120 ppm (mg/L)
pH 7.7
No2 ppm <1
No3 ppm <10
Ammonia (yesterday) 0.5 pre top off

Not sure if swimming bladder disease was due to bloating or actual parasite. If meds are needed can someone recommend where to purchase? And if local that would be a plus. CFL area.

Also, how soon would clownfish need a nem or coral to host? Didn’t want to place something that big early in the tank but local market has nice hammerheads that I could afford 3” for $49.
Last Q: wanted to change water today 20%, recommended to wait?

Sorry for the long videos. And thanks in advance!

 

[vetteguy53081]

This can be a behavioral issue or pre spawning but- is fish eating and breathing normal?

 

[dave001]

Ph and kh are both low, but doubt that's the problem, is it like Jerry spasm movement? L....that's normal

 

[crabgrass]

I am not an expert, but the two clowns I have are really odd. They have been in 2 different tanks and in both they spent 99% of the time in the top right of the tank “swimming down”. They are captive and I have had them for 2 years now.

During that time, I haven’t had a Nem. In the old tank, I had some really nasty GHA, and they would leave their corner to “nest” in it.

They also have attempted to spawn in my old 20g and some of the behavior your talking about seems similar.

What you are observing may just be normal activity.

 

[407Hunter]

This can be a behavioral issue or pre spawning but- is fish eating and breathing normal?

As of yesterday didn’t eat the new pellets I tried. But had a bare minimum today with frozen brine shrimp.
No gaping at mouth, no accelerated gill movement.

Thanks for your swift response!

 

[mues]

Mine did this about a month ago as well. Freaked me out at first but definitely seemed to be spawning behavior as mentioned. Have had no issues with them and are fat and healthy since.

Same exact biting and everything, just on my overflow instead of substrate/rock

 

[407Hunter]

Ph and kh are both low, but doubt that's the problem, is it like Jerry spasm movement? L....that's normal

Thanks for your swift response!
Hoping to fix that today. I thought KH was high?
Not sure, he’s acting normal but less movement now.

 

[vetteguy53081]

As of yesterday didn’t eat the new pellets I tried. But had a bare minimum today with frozen brine shrimp.
No gaping at mouth, no accelerated gill movement.

Thanks for your swift response!

Try brine shrimp and small plankton

 

[407Hunter]

I am not an expert, but the two clowns I have are really odd. They have been in 2 different tanks and in both they spent 99% of the time in the top right of the tank “swimming down”. They are captive and I have had them for 2 years now.

During that time, I haven’t had a Nem. In the old tank, I had some really nasty GHA, and they would leave their corner to “nest” in it.

They also have attempted to spawn in my old 20g and some of the behavior your talking about seems similar.

What you are observing may just be normal activity.

Thanks for your swift response!

Still observing them as they are new. They were so playful. He’s chilled out now but is slowly observing the tank.

 

[407Hunter]

Try brine shrimp and small plankton

Will do. Thanks!

 

[407Hunter]

Mine did this about a month ago as well. Freaked me out at first but definitely seemed to be spawning behavior as mentioned. Have had no issues with them and are fat and healthy since.

Same exact biting and everything, just on my overflow instead of substrate/rock

Thanks for sharing!
Yea whatever what he grabbed off substrate but immediately after spitting out whatever (or belching) he started swimming upwards and bit normal.

 

[Cell]

Sounds like a normal clownfish to me.

 

[407Hunter]

Sounds like a normal clownfish to me.

Lol scared me with his pointing downwards.

 

[MnFish1]

Dear R2R community,

Maybe some help with my new tank. 6 weeks in. Topped off RO last night. Placed 6 new soft corals in last week.

Darker clownfish affected in videos.
Lighter clownfish will occasionally nudge him at his belly to move or play.

Last evening: Clownfish pointing downwards, hanging in corner of tank.

This early morning: same but with more movement. Ate something off the substrate twice and started shaking. Did spit some out. Not sure if was bloated and belched. But yesterday evening ate nothing.

An hour ago: swimming freely as if nothing wrong. Not pointing down as much. Not hanging in corner. Barely ate.

Parameters today
Salinity (yesterday) 1.026 pre top off
GH 170 ppm (mg/L)
Alkalinity (yesterday) 16!! Pre top off
KH 120 ppm (mg/L)
pH 7.7
No2 ppm <1
No3 ppm <10
Ammonia (yesterday) 0.5 pre top off

Not sure if swimming bladder disease was due to bloating or actual parasite. If meds are needed can someone recommend where to purchase? And if local that would be a plus. CFL area.

Also, how soon would clownfish need a nem or coral to host? Didn’t want to place something that big early in the tank but local market has nice hammerheads that I could afford 3” for $49.
Last Q: wanted to change water today 20%, recommended to wait?

Sorry for the long videos. And thanks in advance!

I can't see the video. I would just point out that your ammonia is higher than usual, and your pH is a little low - which is probably what's protecting your fish from being somewhat ammonia toxic. Since your alkalinity is so far off (also probably not affecting your fish) - I wonder if your testing is correct. If you calculate the assumed mg/l based on an alkalinity it would be 288 not 120.

 

[threebuoys]

Have the clowns picked a home/host? As suggested, the "spasm" may be pre spawning. I keep a small clay flowerpot on its side in my tank. My pair of clownfish lay eggs in the flowerpot about every 12 days. Swimming in an upward or downward manner seems to be normal, at least for mine.

 

[Treefer32]

Dear R2R community,

Maybe some help with my new tank. 6 weeks in. Topped off RO last night. Placed 6 new soft corals in last week.

Darker clownfish affected in videos.
Lighter clownfish will occasionally nudge him at his belly to move or play.

Last evening: Clownfish pointing downwards, hanging in corner of tank.

This early morning: same but with more movement. Ate something off the substrate twice and started shaking. Did spit some out. Not sure if was bloated and belched. But yesterday evening ate nothing.

An hour ago: swimming freely as if nothing wrong. Not pointing down as much. Not hanging in corner. Barely ate.

Parameters today
Salinity (yesterday) 1.026 pre top off
GH 170 ppm (mg/L)
Alkalinity (yesterday) 16!! Pre top off
KH 120 ppm (mg/L)
pH 7.7
No2 ppm <1
No3 ppm <10
Ammonia (yesterday) 0.5 pre top off

Not sure if swimming bladder disease was due to bloating or actual parasite. If meds are needed can someone recommend where to purchase? And if local that would be a plus. CFL area.

Also, how soon would clownfish need a nem or coral to host? Didn’t want to place something that big early in the tank but local market has nice hammerheads that I could afford 3” for $49.
Last Q: wanted to change water today 20%, recommended to wait?

Sorry for the long videos. And thanks in advance!

I don't know if anyone else caught this. And it could be an error reading. But, .5 Ammonia? Why do you have ammonia? Alk at 16? That's toxic? Alk should be no higher than 8-12 DKH. And I've seen some pretty bad stress levels in fish with alk 10-12. Above 12 I've seen tanks crash quickly.
With the alk at 16, Ammonia at .5 and nitrites detectable, your tank is cycling for some reason.

 

[MnFish1]

I don't know if anyone else caught this. And it could be an error reading. But, .5 Ammonia? Why do you have ammonia? Alk at 16? That's toxic? Alk should be no higher than 8-12 DKH. And I've seen some pretty bad stress levels in fish with alk 10-12. Above 12 I've seen tanks crash quickly.
With the alk at 16, Ammonia at .5 and nitrites detectable, your tank is cycling for some reason.

Yes - I caught it - but thanks for reminding the OP - These values are off Not sure why.

 

[MnFish1]

Since I've gotten a couple notifications - The results on pH All, etc. - are questionable.

 

[407Hunter]

Have the clowns picked a home/host? As suggested, the "spasm" may be pre spawning. I keep a small clay flowerpot on its side in my tank. My pair of clownfish lay eggs in the flowerpot about every 12 days. Swimming in an upward or downward manner seems to be normal, at least for mine.

Good idea. Thanks for the input! Will try that at the moment better than laying another coral at this time.

 

[407Hunter]

I don't know if anyone else caught this. And it could be an error reading. But, .5 Ammonia? Why do you have ammonia? Alk at 16? That's toxic? Alk should be no higher than 8-12 DKH. And I've seen some pretty bad stress levels in fish with alk 10-12. Above 12 I've seen tanks crash quickly.
With the alk at 16, Ammonia at .5 and nitrites detectable, your tank is cycling for some reason.

I think those jumped after adding new corals. Usually my ammonia is undetectable. I topped off last night and should do a water change today about 15% and see readings. Thinking of another 15% by tomorrow. Suggestions?