Clown fish fighting or spawning

[garyb]

Hi I have a pair of clowns that were getting along great for 2 weeks and now they are either fighting or spawning? This has been going on for 2 days the one is losing color and the other one chases it all the time. Why did they get along for 2 weeks and now display this. I am new to salt water tank is just 8 weeks old these are the first fish i have introduce to it. Any help would be great. ThankYou Gary

[salman]

2 weeks is a miracle for spawning. They usually take a year to spawn. I think they are fighting, Is the bigger one chasing the smaller one? If so, then the female is getting used to the male, it should stop soon. But, if its serious you should separate them or exchange the one that is getting picked on.

[garyb]

Thanks the small one is the one doing the chasing. The big one just rubbs on the sand or the rocks and kind of shakes. Sorry to say I dont have a way to seperate them right now.

[2manyfish]

What kind of clowns and how big is the tank? You said that the tank is only about 8 weeks old....is the tank fully cycled? The rubbing on the rocks could be a sign of ich. Do you see any "sprinkles of salt" on the fish? Is it breathing rapidly?

[garyb]

I have been testing the water and the LFS said that they thought it was done cycling. There are no spots or signs of ich the fish is breathing rapidly. In the past hour they seem to be getting along better when the lites go down they are swiming and seam happy. I am so confused as to what is going on.

[kkyyllee]

there fihgting over male/female rolls were they a pair when you go tthem? if not there in the process of pairing you might have to seperate them with a divider if it doesnt get better, what are your params?/tank size/ breed of clowm

[2manyfish]

I have been testing the water and the LFS said that they thought it was done cycling.

So what does this actually mean? Is your tank cycled or not? What readings do you have for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate?
How big is the tank?
What kind of clownfish are they?

So the fish in question IS breathing heavy? And flashing on the rocks? And has lost color? But you don't see any signs of ich? It could be marine velvet which is very, very contaigous. Very deadly too.

If it was me, I would remove both fish to another container. Doesn't have to be a tank, it could be a rubbermaid container or even a plastic cooler. Put filter/filter media in there with an airstone or powerhead and some of the substrate in the container (premix saltwater first of course). Then put the fish in there. Dose them with Coppersafe and follow the directions on the box/bottle. Dose the entire amount of time recommended.
Raise the temp in the main tank to 86º to 90º F. This will speed up the life cycle of the velvet parasite. You will have to leave the main tank empty of ALL FISH for at least one month. Put a small hunk of raw shrimp in the tank (1/2 or less) to help keep your benefical bacteria alive. As it decays it will provide food for them.
When the month is up, do a 50% water change on the main tank and bring the temp down to normal. Once that's done put the fish back into the tank, toss out any filter media and the substrate that was in the container with the fish.
Keep a very close eye on your water parameters in both the container and tank while doing this, and afterwards too. Anytime you see a spike in ammonia, or nitrites be prepared to do a water change.

HTH and good luck!

[coachfraley]

I have had clownfish for about 6 weeks now, and I have come to the opinion that they are just morons!:c3: For instance, for a while, my female was hosting the filter intake, and so she spent the night at the surface, getting stuck in the intake and then swimming free, and then repeating again and again. Tonight the pair started hosting the powerhead I moved into the tank.

Unless you see something totally obvious, like flashing or surface breathing, I would not try to use their behavior to diagnose a tank problem. I think you are much better off just looking at tank parameters from your test kit.

[2manyfish]

Coachfraley wrote:
Unless you see something totally obvious, like flashing or surface breathing,


Garyb wrote in his first post:
This has been going on for 2 days the one is losing color...
Garyb wrote in his second post:
The big one just rubbs on the sand or the rocks and kind of shakes...
Garyb wrote in his third post:
...the fish is breathing rapidly...

The fish IS flashing, the fish IS breathing heavy and the fish IS losing color.

Gary, if your fish die before you start any treatment then I would definitely suggest you leave the tank empty of all fish for at least one month. Raise the temp of the tank while it's empty and put that small piece of shrimp in there so at least you won't have to recycle the tank again.


BTW saltwater fish in general will not go to the surface when they have breathing problems like freshwater fish do. Usually they will do the opposite in the tank and go to the bottom. In the ocean, going to the surface means that they will become vulnerable to being eaten! So they go to the bottom where not only are they safer but the water temp is sometimes a degree or two cooler and cooler water means more oxygen. :c2:

[coachfraley]

2manyfish,

I wasn't trying to debunk your diagnosis...I was just saying that clownfish behavior can be VERY erratic.


The big one just rubbs on the sand or the rocks and kind of shakes.

The first time I read that, I interpreted it as the clownfish doing their love dance, but after reading it again, it does sound like flashing. I should have kept my mouth shut.

[2manyfish]

Don't say that Coachfraley!! Your input is very much appreciated around here!! :c5: My only point was to show that more than one symptom was there and that Garyb really needs to do something ASAP.

[coachfraley]

TY Barb,

The last thing I wanted to do was contradict something you said, you have helped me out a lot in the past!