Banner image

sick/injured clownfish? (1 Viewer)

Jucksta

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
350
Location
Carver, MN
I'm not sure what, if anything is wrong with my clown. It appears as if he has an indent on his skull above the eye and overall his skull area appears more sunken. He didn't touch the frozen brine I put in tonite, even dangling it at the top didn't attract him.

There are also two, tiny white spots on his head one on the edge of the gill and one nearby.

Normally he seems more feisty.

The only other fish is a black combtooth goby... fairly aggressive toward me, but I haven't seen it bother the clown.

Am I just being overly worried? Should I keep an eye on it or start to treat? What should I treat with? I have a broad spectrum anti-biotic but it says not to treat w/ inverts... I know I can't treat w/ copper so I'm confused.
 
The tank has been up for about 2.5 months, I've had bothe fish for 2 weeks tomorrow.
 
Did you QT the fish before putting in the tank? Could be Ich but hard to tell. Keep an eye on it and see if it progresses.
 
I'm looking at placing an order to to Foster & Smith asap... what ich treatment and antibiotics are safe for inverts and reefs?
 
Personally, if I do treat with anti-biotics I always treat in a different tank. It took me a good 6 months in the hobby before I realized that a QT tank was a good idea and cheap investment (craigslist find on freshwater 10gal setup for $10).

Then you can treat the fish's disease without worrying about killing the good worms, bacteria, and other organisms in your display.
 
Personally, if I do treat with anti-biotics I always treat in a different tank. It took me a good 6 months in the hobby before I realized that a QT tank was a good idea and cheap investment (craigslist find on freshwater 10gal setup for $10).

Then you can treat the fish's disease without worrying about killing the good worms, bacteria, and other organisms in your display.

+1 to this. very cheap, beneficial
 
I am not one to buy in to chemcials for ich and other treatments. Mainly because they don't seem to work. With that said, I have tried Rally and Kick-Ich on a flame angel that had pop eye and ich.

Either the fish kicked it on it's own or the two products where able to do their job in 24 hours :)

QT tanks are a must.
 
I had great luck w/ all in one remedy sold at petco, cant remember the brand right now. Will update when i get home tommorow
 
Well, the clown is gone :(

It was looking the same today, but the spots were gone. It wouldn't eat and was sluggish. No other signs. I started to set up a qt tank in the other room. When I check it was hiding in a corner, but still moving around. 10 minutes later it was gone.

No other signs on the body.

So my next question will be... when would it be advised that I could add another fish or any other inverts. I'd like to add a clown w/ an anemone this time. Also looking to maybe add another emerald crab and of course some corals.

Thoughts?
 
In examining the body further, there is what looks like a tear behind the pectoral fin. I don't know a crab could have done it in the brief time it was down, but it also didn't appear to have any trouble swimming.
 
sounds like it got hit with brook. it takes abit before a clown dies from ick. but this guy died rather quickly. especially going from eating to not eating was a sign to look for brook. white spot, slimy blotches, heavy beathing can all be signs to look for.

with your next clowns, just choose carefully and look for signs of illness before purchase. Alot of time to the untrain eye, you miss things at the store that you dont see until you get home. Even That still happens to me and i look at my clowns very very carefully before purchase.

search my user name for my clownfish QT thread for your next clown. has good info and medication choices to treat most clownfish disease.

btw, your setup is good for an anemone. :) happy reefing.
 
Last edited:
Sorry to hear about your clown. It sucks to lose SW fish. They're so expensive and a big investment. Good luck with your next purchase. The RTBA is definitely a plus, if you think your setup can manage nems. They are cool alone, but definitely much much better with clowns swimming in and out of it. I have a maroon clown. Look into maroons...they are the most aggressive, but I don't think you'll have any problems about it hosting your nem.

Also, go for a Rose bulb tip anemone. Much hardier and forgiving than other nems out there. Avoid long tentacles and the ones that have hawaiian something in there. :biggthumpup:
 
So one of my new clown had an attack of ich a few days ago. I thought maybe the anemone now in the tank would help w/ resistance or care some.

I think the trigger was a more aggressive water change than I usually do. Anyhow, within 2 days he was covered and I still don't have my qt set up. I added some garlic extract to the food he likes. The next day... all better. It's been almost a week and no sign of ich on any of the fish.

Nice to have a success!
 
Last edited:

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top