Kellz Posted October 11, 2002 Report Share Posted October 11, 2002 I have a 1 sick clown out of 2... it breathes rapidly or floats around rear bottum of tank... then tries to swim.. it has also gone dark around its head ammonia:0 Nitrites:0 Nitrates: 5 Other tank members... 2 swords, 5 neons,1 small red tail shark in 30g fully cyled tank fine.. Any suggestions welcome...... Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 11, 2002 Report Share Posted October 11, 2002 Has it been picked on or bullied by the other clown? They are a shoaling species and you should have at least 3. If you have 2, one will become dominant and attack the other one. A lone clown can pine away. Loaches are very sensitive to water conditions and must have good filtration and regular partial water changes although they don't tolerate large changes at all. Be careful if you ever decide to use some medication in the tank as clowns do not tolerate most of them. They can cope with white spot cures though. Sorry I don't have anything more helpful to offer. Hopefully someone else has more ideas. Perhaps our new member Wayne, the almost vet can help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellz Posted October 11, 2002 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2002 These to clown were separated from my 4 other clowns because they were getting picked on a month ago.. all seemed well in the tank... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted October 11, 2002 Report Share Posted October 11, 2002 HI Kellz, hope it's still hanging there... doesn't look too good unfortunately. well, the rapid breathing is probably due to gill problems or osmoregulatory failure.. u should IMMEDIATELY 1) isolate it if possible( in case it's contagious. NOT a must if u havn't got extra equip) 2) provide extra aeration. this might b a life-saver esp if it's coming up to the surface often. an airstone/airpump is probably the safest way to go about doing this. 3) Add aquarium salt or rock salt( not table salt) at 1 generous tablespoon per 10L. 4) perform a 30-40% water change( remember to allow dechlorinator to react for at least 5 mins, then gently add the new water ensuring that it's at the same temp as the tank water... u can take a breath after this n give it some time to stabilise. at this stage, we can't rule out environmental toxins such as ammonia, extreme pH, medications etc, but they r less likely from your water testing results and the fact that the other tank mates r ok. still let's play safe n do the water changes n salt. there r 2 main things to consider. 1) gill infection. numerous causes..mayb fungal, protozoan, flukes etc. there r easy to cure with a salt dip. this would b our next step once it's stabilised in terms of breathing. 2)systemic bacterial infection. might b our usual acute Aeromonas septicaemia, or even possibly TB....u'll need proper antibiotics from the vet, n u might have to inject it..... i reckon u should do the above points, let him/her settle down, then do a salt dip asap...and if he/she doesn't make it, it's most likely a bacterial septicaemia which often kills them rapidly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted October 11, 2002 Report Share Posted October 11, 2002 Do not bother replying to this if u havn't done the 'emergency' plan above. just collecting some history stuff to help us narrow down our diagnosis. how big is your tank? when did u first notice the problem? has it progressed since then? did it happen suddenly? i presume he/she is not eating right? any previous problems in the tank? any deaths with your neons over the past? they seem to b esp susceptible to fish TB ( at least the ones in NZ) what sort of filtration do u have? how often do u do water changes? how much each time? what do u add to the water to 'age' it? any recent changes or significant event took place recently? Carly has raised really good points about stressors that might have predisposed to this problem. it's very likely that the recent move/trauma a mth ago played a role in the development of this... Tell us about his/her diet. finally, have a quick scan of his/her body. in particular, conc. on the following areas. Can u see the gills? r they red, or pale red, pink, or brownish, or whitish...with mucus material? check the skin. any areas of cloudiness? any ulcers/depressions/sores? check the fins. check for a distended abdomen. or is it flat? compare it to the other clown. check for pine-cone scales. r they raised? turn off aeration n view from the top. check for popeye. the eyes protrude from the socket. compare both sides to the normal clown. i can't think of anything else... good luck...hope we're not too late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellz Posted October 12, 2002 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2002 sorry hes gone , such a shame good wee bugger.. got him for me birthday from the bf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted October 12, 2002 Report Share Posted October 12, 2002 Sorry to hear that..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellz Posted October 12, 2002 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2002 Thanks for all the time and effort Wayne you put into my post... SHould I bee concenerd about my other fish in that tank.... They show no symptoms.. The tank is about 37gallons I have a fluval filter and a underground... the temperature is set at 26 and varies from 25-26.5... I have had no neon deaths what so all.... however about 3 months ago I lost some Zebra Dainos which is scary because they are so hardy.. The clowns were feed on Nutrfin flakes, spirlena tablets and sinking food, occasionally bloodworms(not for awhile though and they mess the tank up). I do 1/4 water changes once a week, with aqua plus that has been left for 10-15 minutes... However I have had problems with green water, nice and unsightly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted November 8, 2002 Report Share Posted November 8, 2002 Hi Kellz Bought 4 Clowns from the local FS. They swam up and down the tank, like clowns do. Ate well and looked healthy. 1 week later they all died. Shop owner said, his also died. Replaced one. Got another one from a different shop. Had then for a couple of months then they behaved strangely. They were lying either sideways or even upside down for hours. Looked dead. when I approached the tank they up-righted themselves and swam away like nothing happened. LFS said thats normal. Not to me. Had clowns for years, but they never behaved like that. I lost those two also. But so did I lose the whole tank. Sad, but what can you do. Fish die all the time, all over the world. But it only hits you when it happens to you. One has to take the good with the bad. Out of all the different fish I had, all I have left is Mamma mollie, and her youngs. When they are sold, I'll start afresh. But with all the tragedy behind me, I will still enjoy my fish. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillipdoan Posted November 8, 2002 Report Share Posted November 8, 2002 hello kellz how long did you keep the clown fish until it died? kellz and john1 i'd just like to inform you that clowns are very sensitive to the water that you are providing them with, one mistake and they are gone. I myself have lost a few clowns. Clowns are very very hard to keep in the early stages (once you have brought them), what you should do is the normal routine for introducing a new few member to the tank, like leaving the bag in the tank for about 20mins then start adding little proportions of the tank water in the bag so that the clown can get used to it. Once your clowns have adjusted to your water conditions they will become the most hardest fish in the tank. I have several clowns swimming around, healthy, eating and are about 3inches in size. i just hope this helped you a little and good luck with them in the future. John1 when they are lying down and look dead, they are sleeping or resting so it is normal. after a very long swim they have a rest until they feel active again. Fish do die but if the whole tank dies then there is something wrong with you water, you should try measuring you water. ok i think thats enough so cya around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldie Posted November 9, 2002 Report Share Posted November 9, 2002 That sure was ruff Kellz John you r so right the death of OUR fish hits hard. I have two clowns in one tank (with angel, neon tetras & various bottom feeders) and four in another (with discus & bristlenoses) All are doing well and just rest on the hard wood to sleep. I previously lost two through medicating the tank and not realising that the clown loaches have no scales poor things. A hard lesson for me. R u going to get any more clowns Kellz?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellz Posted November 9, 2002 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2002 Yup will do.. Just that they are costly.. $20 a peice.. I'll have to wait. Heh Thanks again for all the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellz Posted November 9, 2002 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2002 Animates here in WGTn have largish ones for $30, $20 are tiny as... Might fork out for a 30 buck one with my $10 gift voucher.. hopefully be a bit harder... Its funny with fish stuff aye.. well with me its all or nothing all my fish are fine for years... then many get ill/die.. ah thats nature for you... long as yr doing things right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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