I had two percula clownfish for a year and a half. They died suddenly a few weeks ago. I noticed the smaller fish one morning swimming rapidly sideways with a whitish face and he died minutes later. I tried to feed him before he died but he wouldn't eat. He was heading towards the filter so I shut it off so he wouldn't be sucked up. After he died, I promptly removed the dead fish and the other one seemed fine. I was very distraught over the fish dying, so I forgot to turn the filter back on. The next morning, the other fish still seemed ok so I turned the filter back on. He immediately began acting as the other fish had before he died, and was also soon dead within minutes. What could have caused this? I'm confused because I had them for quite a while with no problems whatsoever, they seemed to be very happy and active when they were alive. I want to know because I'm thinking of replacing them but am hesitant to because I'm not sure what went wrong.
2007-08-04 19:00:33 · 5 answers · asked by marm212 5 in Pets ➔ Fish
This could have been a water quality issue, but it may have also been a parasite that produces the condition called "clownfish disease" (Brooklynella) which is somewhat confusing because fish other than clownfish can get it.
I would try to rule out a water quality problem first, because it's easier to remedy. Test (or have a pet store test for you) the pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels in the tank, and also the temperature and salinity. If all these check out as within normal ranges (pH 8.2-8.4, ammonia and nitrite = 0, nitrate <20, temperature 76-82o, salinity 1.020-1.026 [fish only] or 1.024-1.026 [reef]), I would suspect the parasite.
You an check the photos in this link to diseases of marine fish: http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/disease.html for Brooklynella and others, but also click on the name "Brooklynella" where it appears in red - names in red will open a link to another page with more photos and information about the condition.
If this is the cause, you should not have any fish in the tank for at least 4 weeks, to allow time for the parasites to die for lack of a host [reef setup]. You couls also drain all the water and refill the tank with freshwater which ould also kill the parasites, but it will also kill the bacteria that cycle the wastes as well as any inverts in the tank. If you habe fish other than the clowns, you should remove these as well and treat them in a separate tank with a medication containing formalin.
2007-08-05 07:50:44 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
*bad water quality
*No weekly water changes.
*filter not clean
*filter not turned on
*no aeration
*Stress
Could be anything really. We don't know what weekly water maintenance you do.
2007-08-05 02:11:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
athlonxp81: a clownfish is a marine fish. there are no filters or aeration in marine tanks, they use skimmers and current pumps instead.
2007-08-05 04:09:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Because he was convicted of molesting and murdering an elephant and the judge sentenced him to death.
2007-08-05 02:21:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
it is because the water got contaminated or the water is dirty and poisoned.
2007-08-05 02:37:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋