[swinginbeef]

one of my clowns isn't acting him/her self. It seems slightly faded and has been hanging out down by the bottom of the tank since yesterday. It's usually swimming around. It seems to be eating fine but the rest of the time it's just lying low. It's the slightly larger of the two and the other seems fine. They've both been in the tank for ~7 weeks and are the only fish. I'll try to check it out better at lunch but I didn't notice anything other than the slightly faded color this morning. I have noticed that over the last 2-3 weeks or so, that it's dorsal fin has been staying laid down most of the time as opposed to the other fish (healthy smaller one) who's fin is standing up and full most of the time.

Water checks fine.
1.025
Am - 0
Nitrate - 5.0 (which is slightly higher than I normally see)
Nitrite - 0
PH - 8.4
Alk - 2.2 (which is lower than normal, did a water change and add some buffer, I'll check again tonight)
temps are steady +/-79

Should I pull it out and treat it with something even though I'm far from actually having a diagnosis. Maybe just a freshwater dip for a couple minutes?

[rlcline76]

When I lost my clowns last week, they were hunkering at the bottom of the tank...no eating, heavy respiration...telltale signs of illness. I checked with WWM, someone had a similar problem, but without the signs of disease. The boys over there suggested that it might be some genetic issue. I knew that wasn't my problem because I had those 2 for 9 months.

Have you added anything to the tank lately? Meds? Any water changes before it happened? I would hesitate to yank them out for a freshwater bath if I wasn't certain they were sick.

[swinginbeef]

about a week and a half ago, I added 4 corals. I'm wondering if I didn't bring something with them? The LFS I bought them from DOES keep a few fish in each of their huge coral tanks but they all looked very healthy. Can parasites travel via coral?

Now that you mention it, I did do a water change the night before it started hanging out down low. I tested last night and my alk was a little low but still in the 'normal' range on the card. My nitrates were higher than they've been since my cycle, coming in at 5.0 (usually between 0 and 2.5). Everything else was normal. Salinity was 1.025, Am - 0, pH - 8.4. Temps are a steady 78-79.

[rlcline76]

From what I understand, parasites can come with just about everything, just doesn't infect everything.

I have reread this post...
color fading, swimming at bottom of tank, clamped fin=QT. I would also consider yanking the other one and leaving your tank fallow for a month.

Sounds like ich...but clownfish can get some nasty forms like amyloodinum. Do a little reading. Treatment will depend on what it has.

Don't know why I cannot read today.

[swinginbeef]

They are the only fish in the tank. Can whatever it has affect the rest of the tank? And if the whole tank has been exposed shouldn't the whole tank be treated? Or will whatever it is, die in the tank with no 'host' fish?

I'll start mixing water at lunch (half tank, half new??) and pull them out tonight.

[rlcline76]

Caught with your pants down and no QT, eh?

You will not be able to treat the whole tank. If it is ich, it will die without a fish host after a good fallow period.

Use as much of your tank water as possible to keep your levels stable. There are plenty of QT threads (I have one in New to the Hobby) for you to browse. I'll provide the link. You can start thinking about the bare essentials.

[rlcline76]

http://www.reefbuilders.com/forums/n...t-disease.html

[swinginbeef]

fired the QT up at lunch and will transfer both fish in tonight. The sicko isn't on his side yet, but he's breathing heavy and not moving much. I'm pretty sure I'm seeing the ick spots now.

I'll get them both out tonight and we'll see what happens.