HELP! Clownfish swimming vertically

[clowning_around_]

My clownfish started swimming oddly today and I'm worried about it. She's never done this before in the two years I've had her. It's like she struggles to stay neutrally buoyant and be horizontal. I did add a bubble tip anemone to the tank this week so I was thinking that maybe she was stung. Any idea what might be going on or how I can help her? Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

My clownfish started swimming oddly today and I'm worried about it. She's never done this before in the two years I've had her. It's like she struggles to stay neutrally buoyant and be horizontal. I did add a bubble tip anemone to the tank this week so I was thinking that maybe she was stung. Any idea what might be going on or how I can help her? Thanks!

No signs of stings known as hyper-melanization but I do see discoloration from mucus and heavy breathing both pointing to brooklynella. This mucus generally starts at the facial area as well as gills and spreads across the body producing lesions as it progresses often confused with ich and can turn into secondary bacteria. Other symptoms will be lethargic behavior, refusing to eat and heavy breathing from the mucus.
Start with a prolonged 60 minute bath of ruby rally pro then at a lower concentration in a quarantine tank. The longer the fish are exposed to the treatment, the more effective it will be at eliminating this issue.
Since a formalin solution is often not available for use, temporary relief can be achieved by giving the fish a FW bath or dip in water same temperature as display tank. Even though this treatment will not cure the disease, it can help to remove some of the parasites, as well as reduce the amount of mucus in the gills to assist with respiration problems.
Treatment is best done in a QT tank using either quick cure (more effective but now harder to find) or Ruby Rally Pro. Ruby takes a little longer and initial treatment generally takes 2-3 days to really start going to work.

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

Hoping your clown survived, OP! I ran into this thread because mine is doing the same now (swimming vertically in the same spot - the spot has changed a few times). He stops swimming vertically for short times when I feed and at other times randomly for a bit, but still swims fast/frantically. He looks like he’s trying to eat, although once he spit out a pellet and at other times he appears to head toward food and then swim away. I got him from the pet store several days ago and he was lethargic and gasping on his side in the bag. They transferred him to clean salt water and gave him to me to take home and try to save but he’s been doing this since. He did perk up when I transferred him into a tank (is no longer lethargic or gasping) but now he swims frantically and vertically. Posting this here in case someone can advise.

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

Ok, I was just able to watch your vid, and mine is able to keep himself in one spot (not float downward) and swims much more quickly in place. A lot of the time he swims under an overhang of live rock. In the first pic he happened to hover in the corner of the tank.

 

[SaltyGirlMom]

Just noticed one eye bulging. Treating with Maracyn.