New fish with swim bladder issues

[Corapandora96]

Hello. I am brand new to fish ownership and have a small 10 gallon saltwater tank. It finished cycling late last week and I added a clownfish fish two days ago. Very quickly things went kinda downhill with the fish staying in the top right corner of the tank and just not quite looking right when it swam. I realized I introduced him wrong (I did float him to match temperatures but I didn't add tank water to his water slowly before adding) but unfortunately I couldn't go backwards.

He actually looked OKish for a couple hours yesterday morning but by the evening he was swimming vertically (either head up or head down) in the corner of the tank. Research says its likely a swim bladder issue so I wont feed for 24-48 hours and give him a pea to see if that will help. But I also read that it could be bacterial. I bought antibiotics but I dont know if I should dose him or not. From what I read it sounds like treating for a bacterial infection could mess up the whole tanks bacteria and obviously I don't want to do that if it isn't bacterial related.

I got him from Petco and he did have a tank mate that I thought was swimming kinda funny but my SO said he wasnt so maybe I was just imagining it. This morning he was swimming top left of tank. Right now he's doing pretty well hanging out in the middle but it's obvious he's still not swimming right. Does anyone know how to tell if I should use the antibiotics or not?

Tank was set up with Distilled water, is only him and a decoration (no live rock and no coral), and these are my readings. Theyve been stable for 3 days and are the same today.

Alkalinity 120 ppm
GH - 75 dh
KH - 40 dKH
Chlorine, Coper and Iron - 0 ppm
Ammonia and Nitrites - 0 ppm
Nitrates - 10 ppm
PH - 8 pH
Salinity 35

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

A picture or even a short video will really help. When clowns go to new tanks, they can be weird and hang out on the surface or in the corner until they feel more comfortable. It might actually be normal but need to see it.

What kind of filter is on the tank? I am also wondering if its a low oxygen issue

I would suggest to add some rocks to your tank. Rocks is vital in a saltwater tank, it provides the surface area for nitrifying bacteria, it provides breeding spaces for micro organisms, and provide hiding space for fish which is important for them to feel comfortable. IMO

 

[Corapandora96]

Hello - Thank you very much for such a quick reply. The filter is a Tetra Whisper IQ and I (think...) I have added two video's I just shot of him right now. I don't have a video of him swimming vertically (head up tail down or vice versus) or in the corner but I'll look through my album just to double check.

I have a bubbler I could run a tube into the tank if you think that would help. I can also get some live rock, I was just under the impression that an FO tank was the best way to start for a brand new fish owner. Because then you are only trying to worry about keeping one thing alive. LOL

The thermometer is the dirty thing you see in the back of the video and is one of the ones you can set to a specific temperature and it has a gage and what not to keep the temperature steady to the set temperature.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

#fishmedics please help

 

[W31Olds]

Cora, I can't view either one of videos. Unlikely that's it's aswim bladder issue. Clowns will often swim head up or down sometimes. I wouldn't treat yet but go ahead and try to feed him.

 

[Corapandora96]

Cora, I can't view either one of videos. Unlikely that's it's aswim bladder issue. Clowns will often swim head up or down sometimes. I wouldn't treat yet but go ahead and try to feed him.

Okay, I'll do that. Here are links to the video if they help at all.

Video 1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GD5LczNbWyia6N2L6

Video 2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/4k6WjrVQndT6P1wV9

Video 3: https://photos.app.goo.gl/7JXwyWk89eiYhoiy8

 

[W31Olds]

Your clown is swimming fine so not a swim bladder problem. His Tail looks beat up and that doesn't look like aggression so he's likely to have something else going on. Could be Bacterial or even Flukes. Let us know if he eats. Looks ready to me.
@Jay Hemdal
@vetteguy53081

 

[vetteguy53081]

Your clown is swimming fine so not a swim bladder problem. His Tail looks beat up and that doesn't look like aggression so he's likely to have something else going on. Could be Bacterial or even Flukes. Let us know if he eats. Looks ready to me.
@Jay Hemdal
@vetteguy53081

Agree, tail is bitten due to aggression from likely another clown and will heal if damage not continuous. Separation may be necessary

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hello. I am brand new to fish ownership and have a small 10 gallon saltwater tank. It finished cycling late last week and I added a clownfish fish two days ago. Very quickly things went kinda downhill with the fish staying in the top right corner of the tank and just not quite looking right when it swam. I realized I introduced him wrong (I did float him to match temperatures but I didn't add tank water to his water slowly before adding) but unfortunately I couldn't go backwards.

He actually looked OKish for a couple hours yesterday morning but by the evening he was swimming vertically (either head up or head down) in the corner of the tank. Research says its likely a swim bladder issue so I wont feed for 24-48 hours and give him a pea to see if that will help. But I also read that it could be bacterial. I bought antibiotics but I dont know if I should dose him or not. From what I read it sounds like treating for a bacterial infection could mess up the whole tanks bacteria and obviously I don't want to do that if it isn't bacterial related.

I got him from Petco and he did have a tank mate that I thought was swimming kinda funny but my SO said he wasnt so maybe I was just imagining it. This morning he was swimming top left of tank. Right now he's doing pretty well hanging out in the middle but it's obvious he's still not swimming right. Does anyone know how to tell if I should use the antibiotics or not?

Tank was set up with Distilled water, is only him and a decoration (no live rock and no coral), and these are my readings. Theyve been stable for 3 days and are the same today.

Alkalinity 120 ppm
GH - 75 dh
KH - 40 dKH
Chlorine, Coper and Iron - 0 ppm
Ammonia and Nitrites - 0 ppm
Nitrates - 10 ppm
PH - 8 pH
Salinity 35

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I agree with the others, this fish had gotten beat up at the store. Hopefully, it will settle in and regrow that fin damage. Don’t add any new fish until it does.

Is the fish eating?

I suspect that Petco kept it at lower salinity, so there was a shock to your fish when it was moved over - and that can make the fish tend to float more.

I saw your mention of “feeding peas”. That is something that works on fancy goldfish, but not marine fish.

 

[Corapandora96]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I agree with the others, this fish had gotten beat up at the store. Hopefully, it will settle in and regrow that fin damage. Don’t add any new fish until it does.

Is the fish eating?

I suspect that Petco kept it at lower salinity, so there was a shock to your fish when it was moved over - and that can make the fish tend to float more.

I saw your mention of “feeding peas”. That is something that works on fancy goldfish, but not marine fish.

LOL!! I don't know why but your comment that feeding pees is something that works on fancy goldfish but not marine fish made me laugh.

Okay, I'll scrap the pea idea and no worries about adding any more fish any time soon. It's a very small tank and I want to make sure the current inhabitant is happy and healthy and the tank is stable before adding any more fish. I've never had a fish I've taken care of myself (and I'm well into midlife) so I'm trying to go slow and steady so I can figure it out with the least amount of damage as possible.

I just fed him and he seemed quite excited about it. Even darted up to the top of the tank to get a little flake which is the furthest I've ever seen him swim since he has mostly just stayed in place versus swimming around.

Hopefully all is right with the fishy world now. I'll not make the mistake of only acclimating to the temperature again!