Unhealthy Ocellaris

[sgdnycct]

Hi everyone,

I have a paired set of Ocellaris clowns. They’ve been in my 80-gallon display for 1.5 months. 5 days ago, I noticed the smaller one acting a little shy. It’s still eating and swimming normally. 2 days ago, it stopped eating and was hiding. Its skin did not look good. I thought I saw Ich, and it kept one of its lower fins close to its body. Everything else in the tank looks fine.

I put it in quarantine and treated it with copper. It was eating aggressively within 24 hrs. I’m starting to suspect bullying/aggression. BUT I also noticed its body has a strange shape. It’s almost like what I used to see years ago with Cyanide captured fish.

I tried to take some pics. I hope it’s clear enough.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi everyone,

I have a paired set of Ocellaris clowns. They’ve been in my 80-gallon display for 1.5 months. 5 days ago, I noticed the smaller one acting a little shy. It’s still eating and swimming normally. 2 days ago, it stopped eating and was hiding. Its skin did not look good. I thought I saw Ich, and it kept one of its lower fins close to its body. Everything else in the tank looks fine.

I put it in quarantine and treated it with copper. It was eating aggressively within 24 hrs. I’m starting to suspect bullying/aggression. BUT I also noticed its body has a strange shape. It’s almost like what I used to see years ago with Cyanide captured fish.

I tried to take some pics. I hope it’s clear enough.

In this situation, A video using same lighting may be of more help . I do suspect aggression as part of issue as often the larger clown being a female will intimidate the smaller clown, chase it, steal all of the food and confine it to a corner.

 

[sgdnycct]

Hi everyone,

I have a paired set of Ocellaris clowns. They’ve been in my 80-gallon display for 1.5 months. 5 days ago, I noticed the smaller one acting a little shy. It’s still eating and swimming normally. 2 days ago, it stopped eating and was hiding. Its skin did not look good. I thought I saw Ich, and it kept one of its lower fins close to its body. Everything else in the tank looks fine.

I put it in quarantine and treated it with copper. It was eating aggressively within 24 hrs. I’m starting to suspect bullying/aggression. BUT I also noticed its body has a strange shape. It’s almost like what I used to see years ago with Cyanide captured fish.

I tried to take some pics. I hope it’s clear enough.

In this situation, A video using same lighting may be of more help . I do suspect aggression as part of issue as often the larger clown being a female will intimidate the smaller clown, chase it, steal all of the food and confine it to a corner.

Here’s a video. Let me know if it’s enough.
View attachment 20251210_094014_733079BA-5541-451E-BAA8-BA491E9132A0.mov

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here’s a video. Let me know if it’s enough.

I dont see anything on fish disease wise and may be aggression/intimidation and reason its more active is from separation from female clown. The challenge you may have is when fish is placed back with female who may have now become territorial, the behavior may resume. In this case, isolate the larger clown should this happen

 

[sgdnycct]

Gotcha. Thanks! This was my suspicion as well. I’ll get him fat and healthy first. Thank you!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Gotcha. Thanks! This was my suspicion as well. I’ll get him fat and healthy first. Thank you!

I agree, it's possible that the pair bond broke down between the two fish. Clowns are sly - they usually won't bicker while you are in the room watching them. Also, intimidation isn't always super-obvious; just watch for one fish shying away from the other, even if no contact is seen at that time.

 

[sgdnycct]

Here’s a video. Let me know if it’s enough.

I dont see anything on fish disease wise and may be aggression/intimidation and reason its more active is from separation from female clown. The challenge you may have is when fish is placed back with female who may have now become territorial, the behavior may resume. In this case, isolate the larger clown should this happen

What are your thoughts on the horizontal angle running behind his belly? Do you think it’s malnutrition?

 

[vetteguy53081]

What are your thoughts on the horizontal angle running behind his belly? Do you think it’s malnutrition?

Slight thinning.

 

[sgdnycct]

What are your thoughts on the horizontal angle running behind his belly? Do you think it’s malnutrition?

Slight thinning.

I’ll keep fattening him up for a while and observe. If he doesn’t improve I might bug you again with questions. Thanks for your help and fast response!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi everyone,

I have a paired set of Ocellaris clowns. They’ve been in my 80-gallon display for 1.5 months. 5 days ago, I noticed the smaller one acting a little shy. It’s still eating and swimming normally. 2 days ago, it stopped eating and was hiding. Its skin did not look good. I thought I saw Ich, and it kept one of its lower fins close to its body. Everything else in the tank looks fine.

I put it in quarantine and treated it with copper. It was eating aggressively within 24 hrs. I’m starting to suspect bullying/aggression. BUT I also noticed its body has a strange shape. It’s almost like what I used to see years ago with Cyanide captured fish.

I tried to take some pics. I hope it’s clear enough.

Just to add - the abdomen issue isn't from cyanide. Clownfish are rarely caught with cyanide, and that really isn't a known symptom of cyanide poisoning.

If you could post a clear video, I might be able to tell you more - the video would give me a better idea as to the fish's overall demeanor, as well as the ability to see it from different angles. Hosting on Youtube works well if you aren't able to upload a video directly to the site here.

 

[sgdnycct]

Hi everyone,

I have a paired set of Ocellaris clowns. They’ve been in my 80-gallon display for 1.5 months. 5 days ago, I noticed the smaller one acting a little shy. It’s still eating and swimming normally. 2 days ago, it stopped eating and was hiding. Its skin did not look good. I thought I saw Ich, and it kept one of its lower fins close to its body. Everything else in the tank looks fine.

I put it in quarantine and treated it with copper. It was eating aggressively within 24 hrs. I’m starting to suspect bullying/aggression. BUT I also noticed its body has a strange shape. It’s almost like what I used to see years ago with Cyanide captured fish.

I tried to take some pics. I hope it’s clear enough.

Just to add - the abdomen issue isn't from cyanide. Clownfish are rarely caught with cyanide, and that really isn't a known symptom of cyanide poisoning.

If you could post a clear video, I might be able to tell you more - the video would give me a better idea as to the fish's overall demeanor, as well as the ability to see it from different angles. Hosting on Youtube works well if you aren't able to upload a video directly to the site here.

I posted a video about 6 hours ago in this thread. If it’s not clear enough I can try again when I get home. He’s acting normally now so that’s good. Thanks for the tip on not likely being cyanide. It is supposed to be tank bred but I’m never 100% confident of that.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I posted a video about 6 hours ago in this thread. If it’s not clear enough I can try again when I get home. He’s acting normally now so that’s good. Thanks for the tip on not likely being cyanide. It is supposed to be tank bred but I’m never 100% confident of that.

Sorry, I missed the video - there wasn't a preview, and I missed the highlighted link.

I don't see anything really wrong with the clown - it isn't thin, in fact, it's got a bit of a belly. No signs of Brooklynella, so that's good.

 

[sgdnycct]

Thank you all for your comments! Little guy is still going strong. Once he’s well rested I’ll start some fish psychology and try to get them paired again.

 

[sgdnycct]

Hi everyone. Thought I’d provide an update. After isolating the little guy and fattening him up, he’s back in the display. I recorded a video to see if I could figure out what was going on. Well, the clown went back in as the same time I introduced a Biota Coral Beauty and pair of Mandarins.

When they initially went in the two clowns were hanging out together with very little aggressive displays. In fact they acted like all was fine. That’s when I did the recording.

What I discovered! My juvie Tomini tang is a tyrant. He first went after the coral beauty. It was awful. Then after the clown. I think he stared at the larger of the mandarins but thought better of it. Then he chased my Diamond goby around the tank pausing to flare his fins at my yellow watchman! I’ve never seen anything like it. I moved around the coral scape and put up a mirror. When he first saw his reflection in the mirror I thought for a moment, he might actually break the glass!

Both the clown and CB seemed to have settled in fine. I’ve noticed since then my long nose hawk has been showing up more so I’m thinking there was something going there too. The mandarins of course don’t care.

For now things seem peaceful but I don’t know what will happen once I remove the mirror and the Tomini gets used to the new rock work. I’m hoping with now 7 other fish to distract him he won’t have a go at the clown again.

Curious if anyone has had this experience? Seems Tomini’s can be hit or miss but the general consensus is peaceful.