I have just started my first salt water tank. I have 2 percula clowns a 6 line wrasse and a pajama cardinal. One of my percula clowns looks very sick. He is really thin and does not seem to be eating. His color has lightened and he his tail fin and pectoral fins seem to have a milky white film on them. He is not swimming normal and seems very weak. I tried to get a picture to post, but I can't get a good shot of him. The other 3 fish all seem healthy and happy. Any idea of what this might be and what I can do to save him?
Newbie needs help with sick percula clown
- Thread starter bonjoy01
- Start date
Well, unfortunately he didn't make it through the day. The tank is a 20 gallon. Tank was set up with Aquatic Gardens "real ocean water", live aragonite, approximately 15 lbs of cured live rock and a protein skimmer. I let the tank cycle for more than a week, testing water each day, before adding fish. The fish was added to the tank on 9/5. He ate that day (frozen brine shrimp), and seemed to be eating a small amount at feedings 2x each day, but did not eat as much as the 6 line wrasse and pajama cardinal do. I have continued testing the water every day and all levels are within the recommended range. He looked fine yesterday, but looked terrible this morning. I'm concerned about the other fish in the tank. They all look ok and are eating fine, but I don't want to lose another one. Any suggestions.
To me, it seems awful fast to have 4 fish in a 20 gallon. Could be part of the problem.
From what I've read, percula's are hit or miss. I got a bad one, he was gone in two days. It was my fault, I didn't see him eat at the store, and had just been shipped in. Once acclimated, they are apparently very hardy but I've read too many things about clownfish disease and other problems with parasties. I'm not a big fan of playing a $25 game of russian roulette, so I'm exploring other options.
The false percula's are supposed to be more hardy.
From what I've read, percula's are hit or miss. I got a bad one, he was gone in two days. It was my fault, I didn't see him eat at the store, and had just been shipped in. Once acclimated, they are apparently very hardy but I've read too many things about clownfish disease and other problems with parasties. I'm not a big fan of playing a $25 game of russian roulette, so I'm exploring other options.
The false percula's are supposed to be more hardy.
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