Question about clown fish. Is something wrong or not?

jgonier

jgonier

Member
I just bought two clown fish today. Aclimated them for 1 1/2 hours before adding them to the tank (first fish in there). My question is this....
I see clowns in pictures on the site where they lay sideways inside anemonies (literally on their sides) I believe when they are sleeping. I have no anemonies in my tank as of yet, but one of my clowns (perc.) is lying half on his belly and half on his side on the bottom of the tank with the other one hovering above him. Is he just sleeping or is there a problem starting already?
The other thing I was wondering is , when mine swim throughout the tank, it's like there on speed or something. Zipping around real quick (sometimes banging into things). I know they are active fish, but is this also normal?
20 Gal.
PH = 8.2
Ammonia = 0
Nitrites = 0
Nitrates = 20
Sal. = 30
S.G. = 1.023
2 Perc. Clowns
2 astrea snails
1 scarlet hermit
1 blue leg hermit
6# LR
10 # LS
20# Dry white powder sand
Stress Zyme (bacteria) added as directed on bottle during cycle.
Tank cycled about 4 days ago and has been up for about 3 weeks I believe.
 
chuckularone

chuckularone

Member
Sounds like a stressed fish. Keep an eye on them, they'll probably be fine. Were they swimming around happy at the LFS?
 
neowind

neowind

Member
I don't know why but I have always had hard times with clowns but it sounds like one of your clowns is having a hard time acclimating. Where they tank raised or captive caught?
 
jgonier

jgonier

Member

Originally posted by chuckularone
Sounds like a stressed fish. Keep an eye on them, they'll probably be fine. Were they swimming around happy at the LFS?
Yea, they were swimming around just fine at the LSF. I picked out the two best looking ones. I think he was just sleeping. He has been swimming all over the place today. I know they sleep like that in anemonies, I just don't have one in the tank yet, so I think he was just using the bottom of the tank.
Thanks for the help.
 
jgonier

jgonier

Member

Originally posted by Neowind
I don't know why but I have always had hard times with clowns but it sounds like one of your clowns is having a hard time acclimating. Where they tank raised or captive caught?
Unless I buy from the internet, most LFS around here have no idea if there wild or tank raised. I have asked every store I go to, but they all say the same thing. "I just look at the order sheet and order what I need. I don't know if they send me wild or tank raised when I order."
 
neowind

neowind

Member
Thats cool. Too bad the fish store doesn't find that out. But awsome that your fish is doing better. I love clowns.
 
jgonier

jgonier

Member

Originally posted by doodle1800
what other fish are in the tank?
None. Just the two clowns, 2 astrea snails, 1 scarlet hermit and 1 blue leg hermit. I had two mollies in the tank during the cycles, but took them out before I added the clowns.
 
fishdreams

fishdreams

Member
Mine did the exact same thing when I first got them. They will do that for a few days and then they will get over it. However they will probably lay on their sides for a long time mine did and I think that it is normal behavior if you do not have an anenomy.
HTH
 
klongo

klongo

Member
My clowns have been my tank for two months now, and they also seem to always be on speed. They never stop moving!
I do love them. Whenever I go near the tank they come right to the glass and I SWEAR they beg for food just like my dogs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top