What is wrong?

[NewFisher18]

I got two clownfish last Thursday and put them in my new tank. It has been 6 days and my Davinci still has not eaten. He seems to be swimming normally to my eye ( I’m new). He just ignores the food. The other is the complete opposite and chases the food. I have tried mysis, brine shrimp, and new life spectrum marine pellets. He just ignores the food as it floats by. Thoughts?

 

[KrisReef]

Davinici is the punk male?

 

[NewFisher18]

Davinici is the punk male?

Not completely sure what you mean. If you are talking about gender not completely sure because both are currently around the same size. I got both recently from cultivated reef and I couldn’t pick size. Both are young. Hope that helps.

 

[NewFisher18]

Not completely sure what you mean. If you are talking about gender not completely sure because both are currently around the same size. I got both recently from cultivated reef and I couldn’t pick size. Both are young. Hope that helps.

Site says both are about 1.25 inch

 

[D-Nak]

How old is the tank? It could be that the clownfish is stressed because the tank is still cycling.

 

[NewFisher18]

How old is the tank? It could be that the clownfish is stressed because the tank is still cycling.

It’s about a month old. I checked the parameters though and they were all fine.

 

[jabberwock]

Fish are individuals. They are new to you, but you have no idea what they have been through to get to you. To many variables to effectively diagnose.

 

[BryanM]

I do not think this is normal behavior after this many days.

#fishmedics

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

Ask what type of food they were feeding. Sometimes fish will be set on certain kind and need to be weened onto what you want to feed. I don't ever recall a clownfish being picky though lol.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I’m surprised it’s not going after at least mysis or brine. How big are the pieces compared to the clown? Any aggression between the two?

 

[NewFisher18]

*update
Today I mixed Brine Shrimp with Seachem Garlic guard
The Clownfish finally started to eat a little bit although a very small amount. He ignored all of the larger or medium sized pieces and only ate the smallest ones. And I mean small
A step up though because at least he was interested in the food. I will keep you guys updated.

 

[NewFisher18]

I’m surprised it’s not going after at least mysis or brine. How big are the pieces compared to the clown? Any aggression between the two?

Not large pieces. Definetly small enough for them to eat. I have not seen aggression between the two. They actually currently seem to get along nicely.

 

[NewFisher18]

Ask what type of food they were feeding. Sometimes fish will be set on certain kind and need to be weened onto what you want to feed. I don't ever recall a clownfish being picky though lol.

*update
Tried feeding again. Unfortunately the fish didn’t eat anything. Completely ignored all of the food. Brine shrimp and mysis. Other clown ate happily. I don’t know what is wrong. Visually speaking looking at the clown it looks normal. No faded color or spots that I can tell. Maybe a little more gill movement. Could just be me. I wish I knew what it was so I could do something.

 

[ShanePike]

I am so sorry. I've been in situations like this before, and it's just so incredibly frustrating (and stressful). Keep us posted!

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

*update
Tried feeding again. Unfortunately the fish didn’t eat anything. Completely ignored all of the food. Brine shrimp and mysis. Other clown ate happily. I don’t know what is wrong. Visually speaking looking at the clown it looks normal. No faded color or spots that I can tell. Maybe a little more gill movement. Could just be me. I wish I knew what it was so I could do something.

Sorry things aren't going right yet. Sometimes fish need time. If you dig through this forum you might find something similar to help. Sorry I can't help much.

 

[viceversabrd]

Maybe try frozen baby brine ? Ive got two small ones like this and they only eat really small stuff.

 

[NewFisher18]

I am so sorry. I've been in situations like this before, and it's just so incredibly frustrating (and stressful). Keep us posted!

*update
Seems to be getting worse. Unfortunately.
No food eaten.
First visible change today. Top fin went down and mouth now open.

 

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

*update
Seems to be getting worse. Unfortunately.
No food eaten.
First visible change today. Top fin went down and mouth now open.

If you have a small clear container and an air pump you can make a quick hospital tank. Doesn't have to be big. Add something for the fish to hide or lay around. Let there be enough oxygen for light flow but not enough to push the fish around. Gentle flow. Leave in there and observe a post pictures in white light. Then maybe we can get better idea.