Clownfish swimming funny?

[will?]

Just put this clown in my tank and he looks to be swimming funny, like he can’t float or sink, I can’t quite tell, but it seems like he floats too much. Any ideas and treatment? View attachment 20260106_184148_D0A5FF2D-7D8F-40F9-9A11-263DA476F950.mov
Thank you!

 

[KrisReef]

Is the tank light off? Clowns often seem wary of "swimming in the dark" when they are first introduced into a strange tank, ime. Otherwise, It doesn't seem that disoriented to me, in the video?

 

[will?]

Is the tank light off? Clowns often seem wary of "swimming in the dark" when they are first introduced into a strange tank, ime. Otherwise, It doesn't seem that disoriented to me, in the video?

Oh okay, I had no idea. I turned the lights down to reduce possible stress, but he seems fine without it too. Hearing that it’s normal is comforting, I’m just not sure about his swimming Ive only ever had one other pair and they were clarkii so they were bigger so I don’t really know if this is normal, maybe he’s
just adjusting to more depth, flow etc. there aren’t really any other signs that could imply stress, maybe he’ll adventure down to an anemone later? If it is a swim bladder issue, how long do you think till he’s good?


View attachment 20260106_191543_4255E8DB-C29D-438B-ACE6-82343E76A202.mov

 

[Subsea]

Looks ok to me.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Is it the only clown in the tank? I would aim a powerhead at the surface to get some agitation going to help oxygenate the water, just in case he's up there for more oxygen.

 

[Subsea]

I agree with increasing surface gas exchange. In the little bit of video that I could see, the surface was a mirror: not a good thing in a reef tank.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’ve seen clowns shy away to the surface if they are intimidated by other fish in the tank, especially other clowns.

If the clown was just acclimated to the DT, what was the starting salinity in the tank it came from versus your tank’s salinity?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just put this clown in my tank and he looks to be swimming funny, like he can’t float or sink, I can’t quite tell, but it seems like he floats too much. Any ideas and treatment?

Thank you!

Not abnormal swim pattern but assure current/flow is not strong. Image is dark to see any skin imperfections

 

[will?]

Is it the only clown in the tank? I would aim a powerhead at the surface to get some agitation going to help oxygenate the water, just in case he's up there for more oxygen.

Yeah, only clown in the tank, seems to be calm and asleep in a rock now since it’s nighttime. I do have the power head creating a lot of surface agitation, I just turned it off to acclimate him, since he looked like he struggled swimming against it when I first put him in. It’s back on now and he’s doing really well by the looks, even ate brine shrimp. might just have to get used to the new depth and flow :)

 

[will?]

Just put this clown in my tank and he looks to be swimming funny, like he can’t float or sink, I can’t quite tell, but it seems like he floats too much. Any ideas and treatment?

Thank you!

Not abnormal swim pattern but assure current/flow is not strong. Image is dark to see any skin imperfections

He’s missing one scale by the looks I think from transport or tank transfer, but otherwise healthy now, fed and sleeping. The power head leaves some spots in the tank with low to no flow strategically, so he should find a spot that suits tomorrow I imagine :)

 

[will?]

I’ve seen clowns shy away to the surface if they are intimidated by other fish in the tank, especially other clowns.

If the clown was just acclimated to the DT, what was the starting salinity in the tank it came from versus your tank’s salinity?

I’ll give the salinity a test in the morning, I did briefly acclimate him with tank water in his transport water though, he also seems pretty good now, he’s having a sleep in a rock and he ate brine shrimp earlier. The tank already had some yellowtail chromis and coral banded shrimp too though, I don’t imagine they’d be very intimidating? The banded shrimp took some interest then left the clown alone.

 

[stE26wy14]

Is it the only clown in the tank? I would aim a powerhead at the surface to get some agitation going to help oxygenate the water, just in case he's up there for more oxygen.

+1

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’ll give the salinity a test in the morning, I did briefly acclimate him with tank water in his transport water though, he also seems pretty good now, he’s having a sleep in a rock and he ate brine shrimp earlier. The tank already had some yellowtail chromis and coral banded shrimp too though, I don’t imagine they’d be very intimidating? The banded shrimp took some interest then left the clown alone.

It’s the change in salinity from the store to your tank that’s important…..many stores keep their salinity low, and acclimating those fish up to full salinity needs to be done very carefully.

 

[will?]

I’ll give the salinity a test in the morning, I did briefly acclimate him with tank water in his transport water though, he also seems pretty good now, he’s having a sleep in a rock and he ate brine shrimp earlier. The tank already had some yellowtail chromis and coral banded shrimp too though, I don’t imagine they’d be very intimidating? The banded shrimp took some interest then left the clown alone.

It’s the change in salinity from the store to your tank that’s important…..many stores keep their salinity low, and acclimating those fish up to full salinity needs to be done very carefully.

Oh okay, I didn’t know. I was going to test the water and compare for a few things like salinity and see if there were any excess nutrients in my tank, but he ended up correcting and he seems fine now. Thank you for all the help and I’ll make sure to remember that when I get him (her i imagine by that time) a partner :)

 

[will?]

Thank you everyone for the help, I’ll give you guys an update in the morning. Looking good now, seems to be comfy in a little cave that looks like only he can fit in so he’s safe from anything else in the tank

 

[vetteguy53081]

He’s missing one scale by the looks I think from transport or tank transfer, but otherwise healthy now, fed and sleeping. The power head leaves some spots in the tank with low to no flow strategically, so he should find a spot that suits tomorrow I imagine :)

Missing scale may be from netting or scratch damage but believe this is a clown settling in. Dont see a surface issue with flow

 

[will?]

He’s missing one scale by the looks I think from transport or tank transfer, but otherwise healthy now, fed and sleeping. The power head leaves some spots in the tank with low to no flow strategically, so he should find a spot that suits tomorrow I imagine :)

Missing scale may be from netting or scratch damage but believe this is a clown settling in. Dont see a surface issue with flow

All sorted then by the sounds, I’ll let you know what happens in the morning

 

[will?]

Sorry, bit late on the update, but all looking good, he’s perfectly fine now and looks awesome. Thank you everyone for the help