Mystery Clown Killer

[nicodim55]

Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SoCal
Posts: 285

Mystery Clown Killer
Calling all clown experts. Can someone explain to me why is it that every time I put in any type of ocelaris clowns, within a few days they die

only ocelaris, I have skunk clowns and they’re ok. What mystery killer do I have in the tank that only affects occis?

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Mixing species doesn't usually work. I'd be looking at the skunks.

 

[nicodim55]

Mixing species doesn't usually work. I'd be looking at the skunks.

I don’t think the skunks are the issue, they just huddle in their nem and doesn’t bother the occis I added. But for some unknown reason to me, within a week they all dropped dead. I did noticed some sort of mucus on them when I took them out. If it’s brook wouldn’t it affect all clowns?

 

[NY_Caveman]

I would think the Skunks are killing them too. How big is the tank? Any other fish? Other livestock? More information would help.

 

[nicodim55]

I would think the Skunks are killing them too. How big is the tank? Any other fish? Other livestock? More information would help.

I know everyone is leaning towards the skunks as the culprit, but I watched my tank everyday and I know for sure it’s not them. I have kept different types of clowns in my tank and I’ve never had an issue with them fighting. People that knows me and have seen my tank can attest to that. It’s a 150g mixed reef with tangs and wrasses

 

[davocean]

You have existing clowns, and only new clowns are affected negatively, it's pretty hard to not suspect the existing clowns as that is their nature.

 

[nicodim55]

You have existing clowns, and only new clowns are affected negatively, it's pretty hard to not suspect the existing clowns as that is their nature.

As stated before, NO AGGRESSION between clowns. I know the majority thinks it’s almost always the other clowns are to blame. I understand that it might not work all the time mixing them but I can assure everyone here that ALL my clowns get along. I appreciate everyone’s opinion and all so if we can please rule out aggression because I am, after all the person that looks at this tank daily :) I am not a newby by any means, my parameters are all in checked. Like I said, I have other fish besides the clowns and none of them show any parasites or diseases. I will say this though, whenever I took a dead occi out they did have some sort of mucus membrane on them. I’ve thought of brook or flukes but wouldn’t that affect all clowns in the tank? Or some clowns have better immune system to fight it?? Thanks again for everyone’s input.

 

[davocean]

Ok, well mixing species of clowns is usually done by someone new to reefing and not knowing their typical behavior, so excuse me for pointing that out.
99.5% of the time it does not work out, and often the times it seems to work may change as they mature.

Mixing species in a normal size tank is strongly advised against doing just FYI