New Clown in new tank

[Mulch]

I am just starting to add fish. My levels went to zero a few days ago and I threw in a half dozen snails and hermits. Today I added an anemone crab, a cool looking blue sea slug, a gramma and poor little Nemo. Everyone looks very happy except Nemo. He is near the surface having difficulty swimming. It looks as if he is too buoyant and cannot stay submerged.

Anything I can do for him? I thought about putting him in a little net cage that I used to use in my freshwater tank but I was afraid to introduce somthing from another tank.

[Mulch]

Nemo is still alive. He was in the same spot, up near the return, swimmming downward in one position. He looked better but not well. Any suggestions?

Just happy he is still around...

[david7700]

How much flow do you have, turnover, etc? My clownfish are happy with my flow rate which is very high, maybe you should feed him 2x a day? that's what my LFS told me but I try not to overfeed, 2x a day is quite a bit! I wouldn't worry about the fish if he's swimming near the surface, when they sink down to the bottom and breath very quickly, that's when you worry. It also could be he was sleeping! lol My 2 false perculas sleep like they are dead floating on the surface just flopping around..

[BillyD]

Well if you recall, Nemo has a gimpy fin and is not a strong swimmer. j/k

My Maroon clown hung out at the surface swimming around for 2-3 days before he came down and explored around the tank. i would just give him some time. Is he eating at all?

Also, have you tested the water params after adding all those fish? Generally i will only add one at a time (Or 2 if they need to be added in pairs) i hear it can cause a small ammonia spike if you add to much at one time.

[Nemo 22]

if he eats and hes swimming your good.just tie a brick to him and he will go down.lol

[Mulch]

Levels were not bad last night. 0 am, 0 NO2, low NO3 (5 or 10ppm). My turnover is huge. I turned off one of the Korollia 2's because I thought I had too much current in the tank. He did eat a flake or two when I first put him in.

[omard]

Not to worry. "Nemo's" are lousy swimmers. If eating and water params all ok, he will be fine.

[Mulch]

Thanks All! I went home at lunch and he looks better still. He scarfed a flake or two and kept treading water. I think I have successfully not killed any of my first animals... yet...

[baugherb]

Give him time!!! Hardy little fellas....

[BaxterS80]

I wouldn't be too concerned. As long as he is eating, don't worry. They are very poor swimmers and have some very strange habits. On the reef, they do not stray too far from their anemone so they tend to stay in the same place for the most part in a tank.