Percula Clown trouble??

[i have no clue]

I bought two 1 inch percula clowns 5 days ago. One of them is eating fine and appears to be in great shape. The other won't eat and it appears to be breathing rapidly. It has no outside appearance of a disease, ( no white dots, no rubbing, etc.) What does it mean when a percula clown is constantly breathing rapidly? Thanks.

 

[beth]

Well, it could be any illness, however either oodinum [velvet] or brooklynella come to mind. Both deadly parasites.
When did the fish start with the heavy breathing? Have you noticed any discoloration at all of the surface of the fish? [Look with a magnifying glass]. How about the gills, are they red or swollen?

 

[i have no clue]

It's been a couple of days. The clown still does not eat. He is still breathing rapidly, even more so now. He now hangs out by himself in the back of the tank. He used to swim with the other clown. He has no white spots still and he does not scratch himself on anything. I don't see any discoloration and his gills look normal to me. Should I put him in a hospital tank? If I should, what should I treat him for? My water is good except that my nitrate is a little high, it's around 100. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[beth]

100 is more than a little high. Why is the nitrates so high? What type of system and filtration are you using?
Are all your other readings zero?
When is the last time you did a water change?

 

[tankstolove]

I think you're on the right track, 100 is way to high. I just wanted to ask your aquarium temp. the clown may be weak from shipping and the only one to be effected by high heat so far. Which means less dissolved oxigen, raising breathing rate. Although I doubt it I just wanted you to check. I again think you are on the right track.
SEE LIFE... "It's a beautiful world!"

 

[i have no clue]

Yes, all my other readings are zero. My nitrate is now at 80 ppm. I did a 25 gallon water change. The reason it's so high is because it reached over 200 ppm during my initial cycle. I've been lowering the nitrate concentration with 25 -30 gallon water changes once or twice a week. I was going to wait until my nitrates were low before adding any fish but everything I read said that clown fish were extremely hardy and can be used to cycle a tank. So I figured if they can withstand the ammonia and nitrite associated with tank cycling I thought they should be able to withstand a nitrate reading of about a 100. My clown seems to be doing better today. He is hanging with the other clown again. He still doesn't eat but his breathing seems to be less rapid. I'm hoping he starts eating tommorrow. I was wondering, can a person use a rubbermaid container for a hospital tank? Thanks.

 

[i have no clue]

I'm just giving an update. Both my percula clowns are doing great. I could have sworn that the one clown was close to death. I did a couple more water changes and got my nitrate down between 40 and 80 ppm. The next day he was acting near normal. Both clowns are eating and doing great. Thanks for the advice.