Clownfish Question

[fishorbust]

I bought a Percula Clownfish yesterday and it seemed to be fine, swam around and was active. Today it just seems to stay in one place and move it fins. Every once in awhile it will move up and down. But for the most part, all day it hasn't really been active. Just swimming in place. The Coral Beauty is just swimming and is perfectly fine. Any ideas?

 

[sly]

How did you acclimate it? What are your water conditions? Are there any other fish that bother it?

 

[thomas712]

Originally posted by FishorBust
Any ideas?
Any tank specs?
Something might be stressing him out.
He might just be waiting to see who's territory is what for now, depending on how you acclimated him he may simply be adjusting to your tank conditions.

 

[fishorbust]

The ammonia was alittle over ideal, and the ph was a little below ideal. the LFS said it was prolly because i had to transport my tank from my old house to my new one and would level out. I only have a Coral Beauty, and The Clownfish in there right now. I have 3 crabs. Nothing seems to be bothering it. Just seems to stay under the powerhead, or in the opposite side sorta near the bottom. The Coral Beauty and it seemed to like each other yesterday. It would follow the coral beauty around. But today it just seems to stay in one place.
I left the fish in the bag for about 20 minutes and slowing let the fish go into the water. its a 20 gallon. ph tested a little below ideal. and ammonia was alittle over ideal,

 

[sly]

It's possible that the fish is experiencing shock from a short aclimation time. With your ammonia a little high, it may have a hard time adapting. Is there anything you can do to lower your poison in the tank? If it's cycled already, have you done a water change?

 

[thomas712]

Did you release it near that power head? If so then that might explain why he favors that spot.
Give him a couple of more days and see what happens. Right now what you are describing isn't all that unusual.
Ammonia is never ideal
That was a short acclimation time.
Thomas

 

[fishorbust]

How long should u let a fish acclimate? I mean the LFS says at least 15 minutes. I done a water change one tuesday. I added the fish yesterday.

 

[sly]

https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/acclimation.php
I've personally hurt many poor fish by not acclimating correctly. :nope:

 

[fishorbust]

So should the fish go back to normal?

 

[streaker]

Give it a little more time. My perculas started hanging out by the powerhead when my blue tang was chasing them. They eventually jumped out the back. So, watch for any aggresion. Also read up on acclimation a little too.
Good luck,
Scott

 

[texasranchers]

fishorbust, when you acclimate a fish, you need to acclimate more than just the temp. It is good to have lights off, drip some tank water into bag slowly, as the bag fills, take some water out and throw it away. Continue to replace with tank water. All of this is done slowly, over a period of a couple of hours. Read and read and read some more on this hobby. Nothing in this hobby goes fast. (Except a crash, or a leak, or power failure and those are all negative results.) LFS are normally paid by the hour, few perks, and may not even have a tank or any knowledge of this hobby.
There are some good knowledgable LFS out there, just not enough to go around.

 

[zap800]

the best way i have read to acclimate a fish is to put a small tube into the tank and then run it into the container that is holding the fish and slowly add the water like that. the rate should be about 3-5 drops a sec. but then again thats what i read. easier said then done and i am a newbie to this side of the hobby. but i have had fwt all my life. i used to let the bag sit in the tank for about 20 min. then use a turkey baster and suck the water out of the tank and add about 1/4 of the baster in the bag then wait about 10-15 min. then add another 1/4 turkey baster full and so on till the bagg was almost filled then put the bag back in to the tank and slowly let the fish and the water out. but that what i did on the fw side of the hobby. so take my advice with a grain of salt

 

[coxy101]

Well, your situation might be related to acclimation - but sometimes clowns just act a little "clowny". Mine sleeps funny at the top of the tank sideways like he's dead - but livens up when the lights are on and act normal. Sometimes he has lazy days when he just hangs out in one spot and only moves to eat. Just give him time to get used to the new hood.