constipated Clarkii?

[Sprattoo]

Last weekend I bought a good looking pair of What I believe to be clarkiis. (They were sold to me as T.R. Sebae clowns for $14.00 each)

They are nice and dark colored I bought with them, but they were not hosted in, a Long tentacled plate coral. As a matter of fact, the clowns were in separate tanks.

Once home, they immediately grouped up and had some issues with a yellow tailed Damsel. I re-arranged my rock work, and they had been hoovering over and occasionally getting stung by the plate.. All seemed to be well and they were being left alone and trying to live in the coral.

The larger one started getting a "pudge" where his belly ought to be, that is, just in front of his front fins. I thought he was just filling up on all the mysis swarming the tank.. and my heavy feeding to help distract the damsel.

This is day 4 in the tank and he has a pronounced bulge, seems to be breathing a bit heavy, not eating and staying away from his "mate" hanging out where they have been sleeping in an upper corner.

All other tank mates and life seems full force, healthy and happy, water quality has stayed the same... that is, PH 8.1(ish) temp 79, calcium 420, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia = 0.

Does he just need to take a big ol' Crap? Or is this the process for changing sex? Or is he staring down the reaper who's holding his number?

Has anyone seen this before?

*looking worried for one of his new favorite buddies*

 

[Anonymous]

Well believe it or not fish can be constipated. Have you seen it try to relieve itself ? Are there any other symptoms ? Is the fish swimming funny ( head pointed up, scales sticking out, etc.) ? At the moment it could be quite a few things such as an internal parasite or tumor. Also since this is the largest of the pair it would be the female and could possibly be egg-bound. Can you get any pics ?

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Sprattoo]

sure...

Pic posted.. No I haven't noticed him trying to relieve himself, He has returned to the Coral.

No unusual swimming attitudes, Gills a little more open than his mates, he seems to be slightly labored in breathing.

Doesn't seem to extend those lower front fins as much as his mate when swimming.... I think he did use them more the first couple of days.

I'm a bit worried because when I bought them the kid corraled one in a plastic box, dumped him in the bag (as expected) then corraled the second in the box from a different tank, reached in with his hand, scooped him out and plopped him in the bag with fish#1. (I smacked myself on the forehead for the poor handling and just lifting him out of the water with his hand) Im not 100% clear on if the water was different for the two tanks or all plumbed together.

But they both seemed ok for the first 2-3 days until I noticed this belly bulge... and still all seemed ok until this afternoon when this guy seems a bit more sluggish.

I was also thinking.... he is the more persistant one with the coral, spending more time with it and closer than the other fish. Is it possible he's just sluggish from being stung by the coral more?

After all It's not exactly the perfect Clarkii host....

 

[Anonymous]

Well after seeing the pic I can conclude a few things. This is not an Amphiprion clarkii. At the moment without a better pic or I'm going to try to enhance yours I can't yet narrow it down to a specific species. :? Also from the pic the bulge would not be from constipation. It could very likely be from the corals sting as we still don't completely understand how a clown's mucus protects it from an Anemone, whether it's inherent, or the clown builds up a tolerance to it. It's a good sign that the clown has moved back to the coral though the slightly labored resperation may be a concern. We still can't rule out a tumor or an internal parasite yet. Has the clown begun to eat again ?
If not try tempting it with shreds of mussels, squid, shrimp or brine shrimp.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Sprattoo]

well.. heres some news.

The mate is doing fine and well... Hanging around the coral etc..
Today I have noticed that on his left side, his lateral line is more prominent, (giving me concern) and it looks like it may be having a bit of trouble, by that I mean that one side looks a little stressed. A couple white dust specs made me nervous.... But I haven't had any Ich type outbreaks ever and no one else has it.

I even put in a baby peppermint shrimp a while back (though I haven't seen him) he should be doing the Ich clean-up if it even exists.

I just don't think its Ich.. looks more like stressed slime coat...

He is now swimming up near the water surface breathing heavily. He was interested slightly in food around Noon, now at 6:20 PM he doesn't care for it at all.
Eyes slightly glazed now, bulge diminished, a teeny white speck on the outer side of the right gill.

The webbing between the first 3 or so dorsal spines look stressed.. Maybe a bit fuzzy-ish? Fungus?

Anyway, sorry about the bad pics Is it possible I actually ended up with Amphirion Sebae?

What makes them not look like Clarkiis?

He may yet go back to the Coral again.. This is a bit similar (minus new physical stress signs) to what he was doing before.
I'm thinking it's possible this is the guy that got the rough handling, the two tanks may not have had the same water, and now he's feeling the effects.

 

[Anonymous]

Is it possible I actually ended up with Amphirion Sebae?

It's possible.

What makes them not look like Clarkiis?

At the moment the tail. I'm still working on the ID though.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Sprattoo]

I lost him....

But I still have his happy healthy mate.
Once we get an ID Can I put another mate in and will it be accepted by the established fish?

 

[Anonymous]

I lost him....

But I still have his happy healthy mate.
Once we get an ID Can I put another mate in and will it be accepted by the established fish?

Sorry to hear that.
Yes get one that's smaller and you'll be fine.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Sprattoo]

I think I may have found a big part of the problem.. It was an angry Yellow tail Damsel.

There were 2 in the tank and 1 was definately dominant. He was harrassing the smaller damsel and the clowns..even after re-arranging the rockwork. I had to pretty much take all the rock out of the tank (a 75G setup) To get him. but both Damsels removed now and living in my nano, until I figure out what to do with them..

All thats left is a yellow Tang and my remaining clown.. (with some slightly nipped fins) but he/she's ok.

I will try to fond another like this one... I will try to post more pix to see if I can get a positive ID.

 

[Sprattoo]

Well I think I ID'd the clowns I had... 3 band clownfish. Also Prone to illnessess during or right after acclimation per "The Complete book of the Marine Aquarium" by V. Hargreaves.

But when they passed away I did some looking around and found some real nice looking A. Ocellaris upon everyones suggestion.

The pair seems healthy (day 4) the little one twitching rapdily and vibrating the larger (Im assuming female)
Just today they ventured out and seemed slightly interested in the Condylictus (dammit I wanted them to check into the plate coral)

anyway.. the larger seems to be just "laying" on the ground around the anemone. Not on her side or anything.. just putting her belly on the ground and being unusually still......Maybe she got stung?

If I put my hand near the glass she will pep up a bit and dart away a bit... but then goes back to being docile.

Is this common behavior? Is there an online or reading resource for clown fish behavior, especially when meeting a new host? I really want to learn more about these guys.