CaptainW
Community Member
#fishmedic Looking for help please. I posted a build thread here which may be helpful, and below I have included current details as well.
My black clownfish is struggling/dying and I'm hoping for guidance. About 5 days ago I noticed a lot of interaction between the 2 clowns similar to the video in my build thread. I haven't had them long but they always have appeared to get along well. The worst I've seen has been minor nipping and chasing. They were sleeping together up until then but over the past 4 days the black one has been progressively becoming more lethargic and breathing faster. It has not eaten since Thursday 4/13 and is staying at the bottom of the tank and not moving much. This morning I woke up and it's gotten worse. stress, or disease? 2 days ago I tried a freshwater dip which at the time didn't seem to hurt, but things haven't gotten better. I did not see anything fall off into the water that would indicate parasites but I'm new to this. today I might see some white spots on it's body, but could possibly be sand.
These are my first 2 saltwater fish, and looks like this one may be too far gone. How should I proceed? Unfortunately I am injured and on one leg right now, so setting up a hospital or QT tank seems impossible, but can order supplies to my house or stop at petco for small things. At what point do I pull the plug, and how/do I determine cause?
Video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TViqAXculs0
The changes since my post on the 12th include a 2 gallon water change with LFS water, addition of intank media basket for chamber 1 + filter floss, etc. and removal of stock filtration. Probably ill advised, but before the symptoms got worse I also added a frag of GSP on 4/15. It opened up almost immediately and is thriving which leads me to believe water quality is ok? Pictures below.
Aquarium Parameters:
Aquarium type: Reef, 1 GSP, 2 clowns roughly 1.25in, 3 Trochus snails, 1 Halloween Hermit
Aquarium water volume - 13.5gal Fluval
Filtration type - Prior to yesterday stock. Yesterday added intank chamber 1. Kept bio media and carbon in rack and added marinepure spheres a couple weeks ago.
Lighting: Stock fluval 13.5
How long has the aquarium been established? March 5
Digital image of the aquarium under white light:
Water quality (be sure to indicate what measurement units you are using, as well as the test kit brand)
Temperature - 78
Salinity - 1.026
LFS test 4/15
In-depth information:
Have you lost any fish to this problem yet? no
Are any invertebrates affected? unsure - crab has been lethargic this week - see sand bed
Respiration rate of affected fish (in gill beats per minutes, count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4) = very rapid 100+
Are the affected fish still feeding? no
What remedies have you tried so far? direct feeding,, FW dip, no medicine.
Digital image of the fish with the health issue, taken under white light:
My black clownfish is struggling/dying and I'm hoping for guidance. About 5 days ago I noticed a lot of interaction between the 2 clowns similar to the video in my build thread. I haven't had them long but they always have appeared to get along well. The worst I've seen has been minor nipping and chasing. They were sleeping together up until then but over the past 4 days the black one has been progressively becoming more lethargic and breathing faster. It has not eaten since Thursday 4/13 and is staying at the bottom of the tank and not moving much. This morning I woke up and it's gotten worse. stress, or disease? 2 days ago I tried a freshwater dip which at the time didn't seem to hurt, but things haven't gotten better. I did not see anything fall off into the water that would indicate parasites but I'm new to this. today I might see some white spots on it's body, but could possibly be sand.
These are my first 2 saltwater fish, and looks like this one may be too far gone. How should I proceed? Unfortunately I am injured and on one leg right now, so setting up a hospital or QT tank seems impossible, but can order supplies to my house or stop at petco for small things. At what point do I pull the plug, and how/do I determine cause?
Video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TViqAXculs0
The changes since my post on the 12th include a 2 gallon water change with LFS water, addition of intank media basket for chamber 1 + filter floss, etc. and removal of stock filtration. Probably ill advised, but before the symptoms got worse I also added a frag of GSP on 4/15. It opened up almost immediately and is thriving which leads me to believe water quality is ok? Pictures below.
Aquarium Parameters:
Aquarium type: Reef, 1 GSP, 2 clowns roughly 1.25in, 3 Trochus snails, 1 Halloween Hermit
Aquarium water volume - 13.5gal Fluval
Filtration type - Prior to yesterday stock. Yesterday added intank chamber 1. Kept bio media and carbon in rack and added marinepure spheres a couple weeks ago.
Lighting: Stock fluval 13.5
How long has the aquarium been established? March 5
Digital image of the aquarium under white light:
Water quality (be sure to indicate what measurement units you are using, as well as the test kit brand)
Temperature - 78
Salinity - 1.026
LFS test 4/15
In-depth information:
Have you lost any fish to this problem yet? no
Are any invertebrates affected? unsure - crab has been lethargic this week - see sand bed
Respiration rate of affected fish (in gill beats per minutes, count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4) = very rapid 100+
Are the affected fish still feeding? no
What remedies have you tried so far? direct feeding,, FW dip, no medicine.
Digital image of the fish with the health issue, taken under white light:
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