Lethargic clownfish heavy breathing?

[jadedog]

Good evening,

I have a 40 lagoon with a pair of clowns, 1 flamehawk and a melanurus wrasse. I recently noticed the female clown appears very lazy and lethargic. All other fish including the male clown are normal. None of the fish show a visible disease. I'm thinking possibly gill flukes. I've had these fish together for about 50 days so far. I did a observation quarantine for 3 weeks on both the wrasse and flamehawk. I have prazlpro on hand but I'm cautious to dose due to the wrasse. Looking for any opinions thanks.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Good evening,

I have a 40 lagoon with a pair of clowns, 1 flamehawk and a melanurus wrasse. I recently noticed the female clown appears very lazy and lethargic. All other fish including the male clown are normal. None of the fish show a visible disease. I'm thinking possibly gill flukes. I've had these fish together for about 50 days so far. I did a observation quarantine for 3 weeks on both the wrasse and flamehawk. I have prazlpro on hand but I'm cautious to dose due to the wrasse. Looking for any opinions thanks.

Tough to say if it's gill flukes or not. the timing is about right for that, but the lethargy isn't a primary symptom. Also, flame hawks are really prone to flukes, so it being symptom free is odd.

You can safely use prazipro if you dose to the NET volume of the tank's water and if you add extra aeration.

 

[jadedog]

Tough to say if it's gill flukes or not. the timing is about right for that, but the lethargy isn't a primary symptom. Also, flame hawks are really prone to flukes, so it being symptom free is odd.

You can safely use prazipro if you dose to the NET volume of the tank's water and if you add extra aeration.

Would you suggest I wait for more signs of symptoms? Does the clown look like it's breathing hard in the video? Thanks for advice!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Would you suggest I wait for more signs of symptoms? Does the clown look like it's breathing hard in the video? Thanks for advice!

Sorry, yes, the clown in the video is breathing too fast and too deeply.

Does the tank have good aeration (not just circulation)? If so, I think a prazipro treatment would be something to try.

Here is my post on dosing prazi:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dosing-praziquantel-pzq.1105700/

 

[jadedog]

Sorry, yes, the clown in the video is breathing too fast and too deeply.

Does the tank have good aeration (not just circulation)? If so, I think a prazipro treatment would be something to try.

Here is my post on dosing prazi:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dosing-praziquantel-pzq.1105700/

I only have the 525gph mighty jet running on the 40gal long with the nozzles hitting the surface and two ai Nero 3s. I'll probably toss in a airstone for tonight and maybe buy a protein skimmer for some more aeration. The clown does appear to be breathing less rapidly as of now. I'll see if the extra aeration helps at all if not I'll consider dosing the prazi tomorrow.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I only have the 525gph mighty jet running on the 40gal long with the nozzles hitting the surface and two ai Nero 3s. I'll probably toss in a airstone for tonight and maybe buy a protein skimmer for some more aeration. The clown does appear to be breathing less rapidly as of now. I'll see if the extra aeration helps at all if not I'll consider dosing the prazi tomorrow.

Airstone will be of benefit and monitor ammonia with a reliable test kit

 

[jadedog]

I'm going to dose the prazi she flashed twice against the back wall and breathing is still heavy. Will be dropping in two airstones and pointing all pumps to the surface. I'll dose according to your post Jay.

 

[jadedog]

Sorry, yes, the clown in the video is breathing too fast and too deeply.

Does the tank have good aeration (not just circulation)? If so, I think a prazipro treatment would be something to try.

Here is my post on dosing prazi:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dosing-praziquantel-pzq.1105700/

Hey Jay I'm just wondering if you would have any other ideas about this. I've ran Prazi twice now at 8ml for 40gals. I got two very strong airstones going and she is still breathing heavy. Male clown, flame hawk, melanurus wrasse and midas blenny which I got pre quarantined about 10 days ago all show no signs of disease or flashing. I used your calculator and it said to dose about 8.5ml and I did 8ml because I was scared for my wrasse which I regret because he is totally normal with the 8ml dose. Thinking about hitting it with a third dose of prazi but starting to think it's not flukes.

 

[jadedog]

Updated video still looks bad after prazi doses she is the only fish affected.

 

[jadedog]

This is the aeration currently. Tank is about 2 or 3 months old seeded with media from my bigger reef tank. Ammonia is 0

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Updated video still looks bad after prazi doses she is the only fish affected.

I agree, it is unlikely to be flukes since the prazi didn't work. Also, while flukes sometimes only infect certain fish species, I didn't know you had two clownfish - it is VERY unusual to have flukes in a tank and have only one of two fish of the same species be affected.

In this video angle, I can see that this clown has deformed gills. That's pretty common in tank raised clownfish, and that can impair respiration and make the fish breathe too fast. However, while this issue does get worse as the fish grows, it is a gradual thing, and you thought this came on more suddenly, correct?

 

[jadedog]

I agree, it is unlikely to be flukes since the prazi didn't work. Also, while flukes sometimes only infect certain fish species, I didn't know you had two clownfish - it is VERY unusual to have flukes in a tank and have only one of two fish of the same species be affected.

In this video angle, I can see that this clown has deformed gills. That's pretty common in tank raised clownfish, and that can impair respiration and make the fish breathe too fast. However, while this issue does get worse as the fish grows, it is a gradual thing, and you thought this came on more suddenly, correct?

Thanks for the response! This is what I've been trying to remember. I got this fish about 8 or 9 months ago there ORA breeded clowns. I don't think I ever noticed this breathing behavior but I'm definitely not certain. This fish however since the day I got her has been extremely lazy she will intentionally suck herself to the overflow for about half the day. I have guards on the overflow so she doesn't get hurt but in both my 15 and 40gal she has done the same behavior. The male clown has always been way more active. I would say it's more likely this breathing issue has started more recently but I'm not 100% certain it could have been going on and I didn't catch it. If this is genetic is there anything you recommend? Would you let this fish live out her life? I don't plan on jumping the gun on anything and I will try to oxygenate the water even more for her but I don't want her to suffer.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the response! This is what I've been trying to remember. I got this fish about 8 or 9 months ago there ORA breeded clowns. I don't think I ever noticed this breathing behavior but I'm definitely not certain. This fish however since the day I got her has been extremely lazy she will intentionally suck herself to the overflow for about half the day. I have guards on the overflow so she doesn't get hurt but in both my 15 and 40gal she has done the same behavior. The male clown has always been way more active. I would say it's more likely this breathing issue has started more recently but I'm not 100% certain it could have been going on and I didn't catch it. If this is genetic is there anything you recommend? Would you let this fish live out her life? I don't plan on jumping the gun on anything and I will try to oxygenate the water even more for her but I don't want her to suffer.

If this IS the issue, there are two causes; genetic or environmental during early development. There really isn't any "cure", just supportive care, feed it well and keep it away from aggressive tankmates.

 

[jadedog]

If this IS the issue, there are two causes; genetic or environmental during early development. There really isn't any "cure", just supportive care, feed it well and keep it away from aggressive tankmates.

Thank you for your help!