Is this fish aging and going to die? Or wrong food? (pic i

[Anonymous]

This fish used to be brilliant. It's about 3 years old, and the other one its size used to be the runt, but now is dominant. They both eat the same thing, but the other one is only a year old, and has much brighter healthier colors.

Is this old age creeping up on it? I thought clowns could make it up to 10 years.

Or is there something else I can do to remedy the situation?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[StrikeThree]

The new one probably became the female, thats why its bigger. If you have a mated pair, one should be larger than the other. Congrats.

BTW, got a little xenia goin on there.

Good luck

Brian

 

[StrikeThree]

also- my clownfish darkened once they started hosting in my xenia. I think they sometimes get darker when they host

Brian

 

[Anonymous]

Actually, maybe the picture is bad, but he looks really faded, is that what you mean by darker?

Any ideas why it is pinched in like that?

Yes, I have way TOO MUCH xenia.

 

[StrikeThree]

He does look a little skinny. What are you feeding? Is he bullied by the other one? He looks "old" like a human would look old - sullen, sunken "cheeks" - but I dont think fish would show aging like a human. Id look into what you are feeding him first and see if you cant fatten him up with some enriched foods or fresh stuff from the grocery store (my clarkiis love minced clams).

Good luck.

Brian

 

[EmilyB]

I don't have any answer, but it seems to be pinched like an "old horse", I agree. Not the stomach area at all. Was it wild caught and fully grown when you bought it ?

I once asked about the appearance/behavior of aging fish somewhere else, but never got any answers that would indicate it was something visible.

Strange.

 

[Brad M]

Is it true that clown fish can live for 10 years?

 

[Anonymous]

I agree that it is definitely not his stomach area that is pinched in. It's along his upper side. He eats fine, and all other fish in the tank are healthy.

They get fed Sera mini-marine pellets.

 

[Henry1]

The poor guy is emanciated.
I suspect its infected by some kind of digestive tract parasite.
A good indicator of this symptom is when a fish eats well but would not put on any weight. All the nutrients ended up with the parasites.

Perhaps trying garlic treatment might help.
I'm not sure . . . but its better to let it waste away.

Just my 0.02

[ September 20, 2001: Message edited by: Henry ]

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Try to feed a variety of food with Selcon supplements. There is no really substitution for live or frozen food in addition to dry food.

 

[jamesw]

Your fish could have also gotten parasites from eating live food, etc. You might want to try some of the anti-parasite "Medicated food" that they sell at teh lfs.

Could be that your fish is eating plenty, but "tapeworms" are getting all the nutrients.

Cheers
James

 

[davelin315]

It looks like it's not doing well, how's your water quality? I took in a cinammon clown from a friend that had that same look, very skinny along it's spine down to it's rib cage, and then normal. It was very emaciated and not looking very good. It acted normally, but it definitely was not a healthy fish. I would suggest giving it more varied food and making sure it is eating enough. It took about 2-3 months for my adopted clown to recover, and now he looks very healthy and fat, just as a clown should look. It's definitely not eating enough, or well enough, and that may be due to some water conditions or just the food itself (my friend's tank was overgrown with hair algae, had elevated phosphates, and his polyps were even turning black and fading, but all of it has recovered in my tank).

 

[fishfarmer]

I would bet on an intestinal parasite as well, especially if it is still eating.