Sick Clownfish?

[jbowman0]

Yes I've had a maroon clown in my tank for a little over two weeks and lately I've noticed him being lethargic. Hell lay on strictly 2 areas of the tanks sandbed on his side or stomach quite a bit. Once i enter room or am in sight hes begging for food and swimming everywhere. He doesnt show signs of stress other than maybe breathing a little fast but they arent "gasps" their full breaths. He doesnt have spots for possible ich on him. He's only fish in tank along with a few nassarious snails and a small hitchiker hermt from my LR

Ph is 8.2
Salinity 1.022
Ammonia is 0

Nitrites and Nitrates were 0 last time i checked as of 3-4 days ago.

[leebca]

The symptoms you've mentioned don't indicate anything in particular for a good diagnosis. Keep watching for other symptoms.

For now, those would be the symptoms of water quality issues. I'd like you to do a lot more water testing. Do all the tests mentioned in this post including calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium: What is Water Quality

What are you feeding this fish?

[jbowman0]

i dont understand this little guy when im around the room he seems to perk right up. i even hand fed him this morning just a little while ago. his breathing is alot calmer now. i dont have those test kits. just ammonia, ph, nitrite, and nitrate. i feed him frozen mysis and crushed shrimp pellet food he seems quite fond of the pellets maybe cause he was tank raised. any chance him being by himself may make him "down" when im not in the room? think i may need to put another maroon in there to form a possible pair? maybe thats just wishful thinking

[leebca]

What you're referring to now is something called Anthropomorphism. This is the attribution of uniquely human characteristics and qualities to nonhuman beings (creatures, animals, fishes, etc.), inanimate objects, or natural or supernatural phenomena.

Personification, or personification anthropomorphism is a figure of speech that gives nonhumans and objects, human traits and qualities. These attributes may include sensations, emotions, desires, physical gestures, expressions, and powers of speech, among others. That is to say, fish are not nor do they become 'sad.' Nor are they 'lonely' or the other end of the human scale of emotions: happy.

You'll need those other test kits AND to perform water quality controls based on those results if you want to have long-term success in the hobby. It would be also a very good idea to improve the quality of food and the nutrition you provide your fish. Regarding fish feeding and water quality, these are good things to read: Feeding Marine Fish and Fish Nutrition
and
WATER - Source and NSW

Without more data and information (which those tests will provide) there isn't much more help anyone can provide. Good luck! ;)

[jbowman0]

What would you recommend me feed the maroon other than the mysis and shrimp meal pellet food? Live foods is not a option. Frozen bloodworms?? I'm a bit strapped lately due to lack of work (hours cut back) so i cant go out a buy every single test kit. I was probably using the wrong water source and I'm sure you can probably guess what i used. I just thought if i treated the water It would be okay. Is distilled a better option over Ro/Di? i cant get the test kits and RO/DI(if i do) till later this week. Would it be in my best interest to do a 20% or so water change? I can go get distilled sooner than the RO/DI if so

[leebca]

If you've been using 'questionable' source water, then a huge water change is suggested using the right water. Distilled water is the best; next comes RO/DI water; next is dual DI'd water. Additional info on water quality is in that water quality link I provided earlier.

I understand being strapped for money. Especially in these times. That said, there are no short cuts to the hobby. It can be and basically is an expensive hobby. Maybe the best thing to do is take your livestock to an LFS for credit and shutting down the marine system until such time you can afford to work with it again.

The Maroon Anemonefish is an omnivore. Pellets are not a good food which you'll note are reviewed in that post I liked. The fish needs fresh greens (algae sheets), frozen prepared sea foods with sea veggies in it, and a supplement of vitamins and fats -- all as given in the post I linked.

[jbowman0]

A 50% water change then?

[leebca]

Perform a water change of over 80%. 50% just reduces any chemicals by half. You want to remove as much as possible. If you can perform a water change of over 90%, that is even better. For marine life, that kind of water change is like 'low tide.'

[jbowman0]

i used a different ammonia test and got different results. it was at 0.5. i did a substantial water change and its been 1 day and the ammonia is steady at 0 now. could it have been ammonia poisoning that was making my fish lethargic? he is still being lethargic but remains aggressive during feeding. should i get something to treat him or just keep the water quality good and let nature take its course?

[leebca]

As I think I originally suggested, it was a symptom of low water quality. The fish was poisoned. Its lifespan has been decreased. Just keep water quality up. You might want to try and figure out why there was ammonia in the water. What is going with the biological filter? What is decaying or causing an increase in nitrogen waste?

Keep watching the fish for any signs of any illness.

Get those test kits and start diligently and regularly checking the water.

Good luck! ;)