Please HELP!Clowns getting stuck in Nano Filter

[blazin2k6]

Ok so i just got two new clownfish today. They seem to be just hovering around by where the water gets sucked in to the filter chamber. They were eating and everything and seem perfectly healthy but the smaller one seems to get too close to the chamber that sucks in water and gets stuck to its side on it. I touch it and it swims away perfectly fine. And when i seen it stuck it was breathing fine and everything seemed like. Should i be worried about this and what should i do to stop it ? I can't sit up allnight long and watch em. I have to leave my house for the night so please let me know if they will be fine or will i get home in the morning and they be dead and stuck to filter chamber wall ? Please someone help ! Thanks

 

[grumpygils]

Originally Posted by Blazin2k6
Ok so i just got two new clownfish today. They seem to be just hovering around by where the water gets sucked in to the filter chamber. They were eating and everything and seem perfectly healthy but the smaller one seems to get too close to the chamber that sucks in water and gets stuck to its side on it. I touch it and it swims away perfectly fine. And when i seen it stuck it was breathing fine and everything seemed like. Should i be worried about this and what should i do to stop it ? I can't sit up allnight long and watch em. I have to leave my house for the night so please let me know if they will be fine or will i get home in the morning and they be dead and stuck to filter chamber wall ? Please someone help ! Thanks

My nano filter has a large area grate on it so that doesn't happen. For the short term, can you put a peice of thin foam/filter material over it?
Mc

 

[perfectdark]

How big is the fish? The draw on the filter for the nanos isnt that powerful and a fish shouldnt have any problems avoiding getting sucked in on it. Unless it is weak and not feeling well, or very very small.

 

[dawman]

Originally Posted by PerfectDark
How big is the fish? The draw on the filter for the nanos isnt that powerful and a fish shouldnt have any problems avoiding getting sucked in on it. Unless it is weak and not feeling well, or very very small.

+1 My babies can handle the draw and current in my nanos .

 

[blazin2k6]

they are not that big. 1 is about an inch and the other is about 2 inches. They are some strange lookin clownfish and seem very very healthy and swimming good. Like i said when i touch him he swims away from it easily. I noticed the big one get stuck also but a couple seconds later and he was freed on his own. Do you think the small one would be able to get off of it as well on its own ? I dont wanna lose sleep over it and no i dont have any extra foam or anything but i guess i could go and buy some at walmart in a moment. Thanks for the advice guys.....

 

[perfectdark]

Just a guess but IMO there is something wrong with your fish. The way your describing them, lethargic movments then getting stuck on your intake. Then allowing you to touch them sparking an adreniline rush makes them appear to look ok until the threat is gone and they are back to the way they were. IMO yes the size fish you have should have no problem whatsoever not getting sucked in on the intakes. Test your water chemistry and post the results here, include pH, SG, and amonia and temp.

 

[blazin2k6]

PH 8.2 Amm 0 SG 1.021 Temp 81 anywhere from 79-82 79 at night and 82 at mid day. Nitrates and Nitrites 0. i believe all of that is ok. Actually though with them getting stuck i dont know. I seen the small one get against the wall again but it got free on its own. Should i not worry about it and just leave them alone or what ? And they are not swimming in eratic behaviors. They are just pretty much staying in that one corner for right now. Earlier when i put them in the tank though they were swimming all around. But when i turnedthe lights out and hit the lunar lights they just have been staying in the corner where the filter and foam pad is located. Would it be cool to go to walmart and buy a foam pad and put it on the inside of the tank where the filter holes are at ? Also i just got these fish today so maybe they arent used to their new home quiet yet. Had them for about 10 hours in the tank now.

 

[blazin2k6]

ok so quick update. i went to walmart and bought a 3.50 Aquarium Net Breeder. I have them in that until i get home tomorrow. Should that be ok or would that stress them out superbad ? i put it near the spot where they have been swimming so i hope it will be OK. They seem to be alright in it. I am only doing this temporarily until they get used to their new home because obviously these fish were not tank raised. I would think if they are tank raised they would know to stay away from the vents of this aquapod. They seem to just chill in front of it and let there tailfin get caught in the vent and then they swim free but i dont want to come home in the morning to 40 dollar each dead fish. and yess i think i got ripped off at my lfs 36.99 for 2 true percs that i dont even think are true percs. But they looked diifferent so i wanted to get them. They also had a 2 pair of Teardrop clowns and had them labeled as true percs so who knows. hehe. Well ill post pics tomorrow. Tonight i will just pray they do well in the little net breeder thing and dont get terribly stressed out.

 

[dawman]

Actually 1and 2 inches is pretty descent size for Percula and Ocellaris as they grow to 2.5 inches . My babies are a half inch in size and can handle it . Something is definetly wrong with your fish .$36.99 is not too bad for two percs that size .Why do you think they are not perculas ?

 

[blazin2k6]

well i tried to take a picture but my batteries are dead. They did well last night in the breeder net and i put them into main tank again today. They eat fine and everything when i feed them but then go right back to swimming towards the vents. I Dont understand why they keep getting stuck on the vents. Maybe i just got a couple not so smart fish. Well anyways hopefully they be ok.

 

[ncacura]

sounds like they're pulling a nemo.....
but in all seriousness, that's wierd that that happens, i've never seen/heard of it, except in nemo. lol
hopefully everything works out, i'd suggest jsut putting something over the intake so that they can't get stuck......maybe your fish like it or something? I don't know.

 

[blazin2k6]

yeah its only the clowns. I also have an orchid dottyback and twin spot goby and they dont get anywhere near the vents. And like i said they seem to eat perfectly fine. Ok here are a couple photos. When i feed them they swim away from vents all over tank catching food but then after its all gone they go right back to chill in front of the vents. So should i just not worry about this behavior or what ?

 

[grumpygils]

You could push down the foam in the chamber about 1-2 inches. This would make the pull greatest on the top part and maybe they would not get stuck?
Mc