Can a fish die of diarrhea?

[Corn-Picker]

Recently I had a pink skunk clown fish in my tank die

As soon as he died, I checked all the levels. The pH was right, ammonia and nitrite were 0 ppm, nitrate was something acceptably low like 10 ppm.

The clown seemed normal, got along well with his tankmates (a yellow damsel and a psuedo chromis), and ate well. I fed him every day, twice a day, until he started to spit food.

The only behavior out of the ordinary was his bowel movements. He didn't leave a piece of normal poo, but his butt just sort of exploded. There would be a big cloud of mess behind him when eating. I thought this was normal clown behavior at the time, but now that I have no explanation for his death I'm realizing maybe it was a clue to parasitic infection or some disease?

It's been a few months since the pink skunk clown died, and both of my other fish are alive and doing well.

 

[TinaFishGirl]

It sounds normal. Lots of my fish poo that way. Have you ever seen a lion fish poo. OMG it covers the whole tank with goo.
I do think you are over feeding. You should feed clowns every other day......I feed my tank everyother day and sometimes every third day. In the wild they don't get to eat everyday so why should you bother with more water changes then you need. If everything checked out normal he must of died of parasite, stress, maybe another fish was chasing him? Hmmmm.....could be anything.

Is it just me or does that clown look like a hawk????

 

[OrionGirl]

How long had you had this fish? FWIK, skunk clowns seldom adapt well to an aquarium, and are not considered hardy.

 

[mogurnda]

In the wild they don't get to eat everyday

Not sure where this comes from. In the wild, they are constantly picking plankton from the water column.

 

[Corn-Picker]

How long had you had this fish? FWIK, skunk clowns seldom adapt well to an aquarium, and are not considered hardy.

About 2 months. He was in the pet shop for at least 2 weeks prior to that.

I broke my rule of buying an aquarium guest that cost more than $15. Everything I've bought that cost more than $15 has not done so well. My tank's been up for 11 months, and everything I bought under $15 (with the exception of a cleaner wrasse and a few hermit crabs) is still alive. The fish I've bought that cost more than $15 have not fared so well though...