Clownfish Feeding Strike

Adnuces · 03-13-2006, 07:35 AM

I have a 75g set up for about 3 months and yesterday I noticed the larger of my two clownfish not eating. Usually the larger fish is a robust (read pig) eater. The smaller of the two has never been as big an eater but now both cannot be enticed to feed. The parameters are great everything is zero. Ph is 8.2 temp 80, sg is 1.025 alk is 3.5 meq/l and ca is 400. They do not show any signs of any parasitic infection and all other fish (yellow tang & diamond gobie) are doing well. The only thing that has happened is the frogspawn that they normally host was pushed out of it's niche by a turbo and I moved it about 6 inches away then it got moved again and I replaced it in it's original spot. I also noticed that a small green star polyps that I had has closed up and won't open. It looks like it was eaten by something. All other inhabitants are doing great eating and swimming. They (the clowns) hang around the bottom corner and don't move very far away. I can't seem to get them interested in feeding. I have tried mysis, brine, soaked in garlic and unsoaked. Normally they run to the baster when I bring it out. She seems sluggish but her eyes are clear and not discolouration or spots on her.

Bruce · 03-13-2006, 04:58 PM

Well what from what i have read the clown fish can be very sensitive when it comes to changes in their surroundings...how long havent they eaten for? are they still hosting the coral?

Adnuces · 03-14-2006, 06:00 AM

The smaller clown has returned to the fs but they aren't laying about in it like they were prior to the fall. Have been heavy skimming and everything else looks okay. The polyps are starting to come back, not sure if they are being grazed over every night by the giant turbo snails. They bulldoze everything. The clown is still with us, looks just as fat as ever but is not eating, going on day 3. If this was ich wouldn't the tang and other clown have it also? I am leaning more and more to an internal parasite? What do you use and can I use medicated food in the main d/t? I tried to catch the clown last night to do a f/w dip and couldn't she still swims away pretty darn fast and I didn't want to stress her out any more than she is. I did notice the tang brushing past her, I wonder if there are shennanigans after dark?

Adnuces · 03-16-2006, 07:32 AM

Update, still no sign of ich, brook or velvet. The clown has started moving around the tank more, though she is breathing kind of heavily and still not eating. I did a 20% water change and will do two more on the weekend as someone claims that it must be water quality though all my parameters are fine. All other occupants are doing great, so who knows. I tried soaking flakes in seachem garlic guard and still not takers....the others gobbled it up like crazy. I think I will crush a clove and soak the food in real garlic tonight and try that. I hate to add anything more to the tank as I want to keep the water quality as good as I can.

rickzter · 03-16-2006, 11:55 AM

Nitrates are ok? The reason I say this is because clowns tend to be super sensitive to nitrates and that might be a cause. Other than that, the only thing I would suspect is illness (obviously). I think your best bet is to keep an eye out and look out for symptoms.

Xtasia · 03-16-2006, 05:19 PM

I read somewhere that all fish have a hard time resisting fresh clam.. can you go to a store, buy 1 clam, cut it open with the knife and see if it interests the clown?

watch for stringy white feces.

I think a day or two without eating is ok.

Uhhh.... hth.

Jenny415b · 03-20-2006, 06:26 PM

Do the clowns stick to one spot of the tank only? If so maybe they are being bullied. This happened to us when we first set up our tank and had 2 false perculas. The didnt seem to be bullied on, but thats cause they never came out of that one spot that they felt safe in. False perculas arent very assertive either. Maybe someone is picking on them?