Floating Clown

[acidbaby1]

I bought a Perc last Saturday for my newly cycled 10 Gallon Nano, 20 Lbs. (3") DSB 20 Lbs. Prime Fiji, Ammonia 0 Nitrate 5<, Nitrite 0, topping off with distilled water. Did a 70% water change today (like I said newly cycled.

Now about my Perc. He is only about an inch long and has been at the LFS for about 2 months, eats tons at LFS and in my tank. Seems very healthy, but has a tendency to stay at the top of the tank and sometimes almost list to one side. Now I know that this would normally be seen like a dying fish, but he takes food readily, and if I chase him away from the top of the water he seems fine. He ate primarily Brine and a little Prime Reef at the LFS, I have been feeding brine and flake soaked in Zoe-Con. I am wondering if the floating is caused by his ingesting air when eating flakes, or if he is having a problem acclimating. The LFS has very different water parameters than my Nano, including a very low (1.022) gravity, mine is 1.025. The LFS claims a 7.2 pH, and my tank is 8.2. What is up with my clown? I am hoping he just has gas, and as of tomorrow will feed strictly brine and Prime reef.
I took much care acclimating him, over three hours. Is he just insecure?

 

[jwtrojan44]

This is not at all uncommon for percula clowns. They are awkward swimmers at best and oftentimes "wallow" around in one spot. I also have one that spends a good deal of time near the top of the tank(by a powerhead)but, as you say, will eat readily and swim away if alarmed or interested in something. False perc (amphiprion ocellaris) also display this behavior but are better swimmers and IMO more "social." One proposed solution is to get yours a mate. In pairs, they are more active. But given your tank size you might want to hold off. If your fish is eating and not displaying other signs of distress (labored breathing, scratching, etc.) he's likely doing fine.