New Clownfish are swimming weird.. what do I do.

[bobthegreat]

Hi again, this is my second time posting ever and I’m going to answer some of the questions I got on my other post.
This is my first saltwater tank, have had it running for 4 months now and a week ago I’ve finally got 2 make clown fish and a yellow gobbie. I also have 3 hermits and they are doing great, same with the gobbie.
I have no corals in this tank and I don’t have magnesium tests or calcium tests.
One of my clownfish (the black one) isn’t eating. It ate a little bit of food the day I got them but hasn’t since. The other clown east just fine, but this clown dosent swim around too much and stays a the bottom of the tank. The black clown on the other hand swims around a lot. They are not wild caught and they are mismatched pairs.
The black clown seems to rapidly swimming around and looks like it’s in discomfort.
My temperature is 78
20 gallon tank
Salinity is 1.025
Ph 8
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
I did miss a step when putting the fish in, I did not quarantine them or do any baths, but they did acclimate for an hour
I did order ruby rally reef pro but it won’t be here till Wednesday-Thursday and due to the Canadian weather my local fish stores aren’t open. I think they might have swim bladder issues, they don’t have any physical problems other then the weird swimming. I’m very worried for my clowns and I keep waking up in the middle of the night and checking on them, please help !!

Here’s a video of them swimming

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

They are establishing dominance. This is normal behavior. Relax and enjoy.

The more dominant one will morph into a female. Same as in human relationships

 

[bobthegreat]

They are establishing dominance. This is normal behavior. Relax and enjoy.

Is laying on the sand normal too? And the not eating? Thanks

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi again, this is my second time posting ever and I’m going to answer some of the questions I got on my other post.
This is my first saltwater tank, have had it running for 4 months now and a week ago I’ve finally got 2 make clown fish and a yellow gobbie. I also have 3 hermits and they are doing great, same with the gobbie.
I have no corals in this tank and I don’t have magnesium tests or calcium tests.
One of my clownfish (the black one) isn’t eating. It ate a little bit of food the day I got them but hasn’t since. The other clown east just fine, but this clown dosent swim around too much and stays a the bottom of the tank. The black clown on the other hand swims around a lot. They are not wild caught and they are mismatched pairs.
The black clown seems to rapidly swimming around and looks like it’s in discomfort.
My temperature is 78
20 gallon tank
Salinity is 1.025
Ph 8
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
I did miss a step when putting the fish in, I did not quarantine them or do any baths, but they did acclimate for an hour
I did order ruby rally reef pro but it won’t be here till Wednesday-Thursday and due to the Canadian weather my local fish stores aren’t open. I think they might have swim bladder issues, they don’t have any physical problems other then the weird swimming. I’m very worried for my clowns and I keep waking up in the middle of the night and checking on them, please help !!

Here’s a video of them swimming

This is Not dominance. The clown to the left is quite thin and appears to be weak and may have a buoyancy issue. It is approaching the point of being moribund and should be isolated and given air with air stone. I assume its Not eating which is the first sign

 

[bobthegreat]

This is Not dominance. The clown to the left is quite thin and appears to be weak and may have a buoyancy issue. It is approaching the point of being moribund and should be isolated and given air with air stone. I assume its Not eating which is the first sign

Oh gosh.. The one on the left is the one that is eating, and that is normally at the bottom of the tank.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is Not dominance. The clown to the left is quite thin and appears to be weak and may have a buoyancy issue. It is approaching the point of being moribund and should be isolated and given air with air stone. I assume its Not eating which is the first sign

Eating

Oh gosh.. The one on the left is the one that is eating, and that is normally at the bottom of the tank.

Eating is a good sign.

 

[bobthegreat]

Eating

Eating is a good sign.

How do I treat whatever sickness it’s having? Is it swim bladder disease?

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

They look exactly the same to me. Neither one looks unhealthy. But that’s just my perception.

 

[vetteguy53081]

How do I treat whatever sickness it’s having? Is it swim bladder disease?

Unless it snaps out of it, isolation box and added oxygen may pep it up. Feed it brine, mysis and even plankton to fatten it up

 

[bobthegreat]

They look exactly the same to me. Neither one looks unhealthy. But that’s just my perception.

Okay thanks

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I found this through a search.

 

[bobthegreat]

I found this through a search.

Sounds really similar to my situation, but the clown in my tank that’s always in the Conner is the one eating and not the one swimming about.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

It’s not going to be exact in every aspect. Do a search on you tube regarding this. You may see similar behavior. Also others will chime in shortly.

 

[bobthegreat]

It’s not going to be exact in every aspect. Do a search on you tube regarding this. You may see similar behavior. Also others will chime in shortly.

Okay thanks so much!

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Okay thanks so much!

The not eating is a serious symptom, it cannot go on for very long.

Some tank raised clowns don't develop normal swim bladders, but that doesn't keep them from feeding. Did you see these clowns swimming in the pet store? Were they normal there?

 

[bobthegreat]

The not eating is a serious symptom, it cannot go on for very long.

Some tank raised clowns don't develop normal swim bladders, but that doesn't keep them from feeding. Did you see these clowns swimming in the pet store? Were they normal there?

They were perfectly normal in store, it’s a really good store too! All the fish looked really healthy. Do you think my clown dosent like the food I’m giving it? Ive been feeding them brine shrimp and I also have a very small soft pellets that are for all marine species, they ate some of that the first two days they were in the tank but haven’t eaten them since

 

[vetteguy53081]

They were perfectly normal in store, it’s a really good store too! All the fish looked really healthy. Do you think my clown dosent like the food I’m giving it? Ive been feeding them brine shrimp and I also have a very small soft pellets that are for all marine species, they ate some of that the first two days they were in the tank but haven’t eaten them since

While these foods are accepted, add LRS fish frenzy, plankton, mysis shrimp and flakes

 

[bobthegreat]

While these foods are accepted, add LRS fish frenzy, plankton, mysis shrimp and flakes

Will do!

 

[MnFish1]

I agree that this isn't 'only' dominance - Swim bladder issues may also be benefited by antibiotic treatment (such as neomycin or kanamycin). Were the fish alone together (ie. already paired) in the store? In any case - I would consider isolating and antibiotic treatment.

 

[bobthegreat]

I agree that this isn't 'only' dominance - Swim bladder issues may also be benefited by antibiotic treatment (such as neomycin or kanamycin). Were the fish alone together (ie. already paired) in the store? In any case - I would consider isolating and antibiotic treatment.

One of them were in a tank with many other clowns and another was in a different tank with one other clown and my now gobbie