[Guardrail]

well i got my first starter fish today 2 aquacultured clownfish. I acclimated them for 4 hours and they seem to be acting very strange. I caught them in the corner of the tank the smaller male was in the very corner wile the female was like right ontop of him they have been there like all night and very close togeather. is this stress/mating/sleeping without an host? thanks for the help

[leebca]

WELCOME TO REEFLAND!

It's unclear what you mean by 'starter fish.' Fish don't go into a new aquarium for a few months after setting one up.

Your experience sounds similar to the one in this thread. You want to read this: too many questions I know!

If you want to provide the information asked for (in the above thread, 2nd post), I may be able to spot the problem/source of the stressor(s). If your tank is young, then the information at the end of that thread will apply to your situation.

Good luck!

[salt-rookie]

Has the tank been cycled? I'm hoping it has and this is not a sight of ammonia stress! If you don't already have some, go to your local fish store and buy 3-4 nice sized pieces of live rock to get some bioload in the tank. What is your specific gravity?

[Guardrail]

How old is your tank? When did it originally cycle?--- the tank is about 2 months old and has had liverock and livesand in it for about a month



What is the size (dimensions and gallonage) of your aquarium? Does the gallonage include the volume from the sump and any refugium? the tank is 36X15X20 its a 46 bowfront tank and no sump or refugium yet..

Do you use carbon, skimmer, mechanical or other chemical filtration?. i use a mechanical filter rated to handle 100gal and a skimmer

List all specimens sizes in the tank -- 2 aquacultured clownfish

Do you use a quarantine tank and procedure? not these guys

Foods you use and feeding schedules. havent started feeding them (just put in last night)

Do you use any vitamins? Fat additives? Any elemental or other additives? no


Chemistries all before i put them in read constant for a couple days – ammonia - 0 nitrate - 0 nitrite - 0 calcium - between 350 and 400 tested daily

.
Water parameters – salinity - 1.023 - 1.025, temp range is a anywhere from 80*-82*

Do you see any of the following in your system: dont see any of the alages, on the rock i see a few small dots of green surrounded by white and lots of new coraline popping up.

Water changes (how much and how often). none yet but filling as evaporation takes place and will do 20% every 2 weeks.

What is your source water? original fill was tap water have been buying huge jugs of distilled water to fill now.

List what you added or taken out of your aquarium system (living, decorations, and equipment) during the past 6 weeks. nothing has been taken out or added besides liverock being put in with livesand...


Maintenance schedule. What have you done lately? cleaned skimmer, cleaned tank walls, tested daily added the two small clowns...


they only sit in the corner when the lights off... when the light is on the timing for on they swim across the front of the tanks and up and down the corners... and sometimes around the tank off the wall...

[leebca]

More than likely they are still acclimating to the new tank. See if they don't swim around more, shortly. It isn't unusual for them to get to know the tank, then stick around in one area most of time. Many like to just 'float around' in about the same spot quite a bit of the time.

Turn your attention to getting them to eat and make sure you provide the proper foods. Read this long post and understand that your Anemonefish are omnivores and need some veggies in their diet along with some supplements: Feeding Marine Fish and Fish Nutrition

Before making any other additions or changes in marine life, let this tank age a couple more months.

[Guardrail]

well i fed them for the first time today and they ate like they were starving and are now doing awesome and not sticking to the corner. thank you for the help and everything