Can a tomato clown fish turn black as it gets older? – 03/22/09
<Not jet black, but very dark from the upper head through the mid-section.>
Thanks
<James (Salty Dog)>

Hiding clown 3/16/2009
Good afternoon!
<And you>
First of all, let me tell you that I think your site is great. There are so many fish related bulletin-boards around where beginners try to answer each other's questions, and as a beginner it becomes really hard to tease out good answers from bad ones. Of course, here that's not a problem as all the advice is coming from you experts. Thank you so much for providing it!
<Certainly welcome>
Lets get started with tank parameters / equipment: I have a 20 gallon long tank, with 4 x 18watt T5s the length of the tank. For flow there is a Hydor Koralia 1 powerhead and the intake/return from the sump, which has about  as much flow. I have about 25 lbs of live rock and a sand bed that ranges from 2-4 inches. The sump holds an additional 8 gallons of water with mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration. That is, a filter sock, cylindrical biofilter media (submersed underwater so that it will  hopefully not over-scavenge ammonia/nitrite compared to nitrate, I plan on replacing these with live-rock rubble soon), activated carbon, and space to soon add a protein skimmer (I'm thinking Tunze nano, but still doing my research).
<A good product I'll warrant>
I've tested water parameters every 3 days since the cycle has ended and they are quite stable. Water parameters this AM are temp 77.3, SG 1.0245, ammonia 0, pH 8.2, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, alkalinity 12dkh, calcium 520ppm.
<Yikes! This last is too high... can be troublesome... particularly if Mg is out of balance>
The tanks inhabitants/cycling is as follows: The tank was set up on 1/19.
Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate were tested daily and the cycle was complete 1/30 (ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate <20). On 2/1 I added a cleaner crew consisting of 2 Astrea snails (one since flipped and was eaten), a Cerith snail, and 2 hermits sold as "reef safe hermits" (I had asked for blue-legged, but they weren't in stock and I didn't know any better). I used the site <http://users.skynet.be/fa311324/article/hermit.htm>
http://users.skynet.be/fa311324/article/hermit.htm to ID them, and I think I actually was sold Calcinus Laevimanus and Clibanarius eurysternus. I have kept a close eye on them, but so far so good. My algae started growing strong, but with still perfect water parameters on 2/5 I added a strawberry crab and 2/7 (I know maybe a little soon) I added a pair of pink skunk clowns. 2/14 I added two Nassarius snails and a small (4-5 inch) piece of live rock with mushroom polyps and (to my pleasant surprise when I arrived home) a feather duster. 2/22 I added a red/green Australian Acan frag.
3/10 I added three more Ceriths and two more hermits. This time they were supposed to be "red reef hermits" but I think they are Dardanus lagopodes and Clibanarius corallines.
<Mmm, Val... I'm not a big fan of Hermits period...>
On 3/13 I added frogspawn (two heads - one looks like its dividing?). Hitchhikers I've found so far have included a two more feather-dusters and a marbled serpent star (?). The star is pretty small but I often see tiny (1cm) banded legs wiggling out from the rock.
Sorry, maybe that was a little long/wordy, and I haven't even asked my question yet...
I have a question about my pair of pink skunk clowns. When I first purchased them a little over a month ago, they immediately decided that the small space between the filter (a Fluval 2 Plus submerible at the time) and the heater would be there new home. The male would venture out and swim around a bit, but the female would mostly only come out at mealtimes or when I wasn't near the tank and was easily frightened. About two weeks ago, they decided to switch homes (much to my approval, as it has allowed me to remove the filter without feeling bad about removing their home and complete the switch to a sump system). Unfortunately, their new home is behind a rock at the very center-back of the aquarium, and its not possible to see them from any direction: front, sides, or top. Also, in the last week, the female has made decreased trips away from her home.
<Not atypical behavior>
The male can often be seen swimming against the current directly above their rock-home (he doesn't really come to the front of the tank either). The female has not even come out to eat all her meals this week (of course, with the current, I am sure food makes it back there eventually). Yesterday's meal (Spirulina flake) she popped out for a second, then dove back under the rocks, but I am not sure she even caught a flake. Two days ago (frozen mysis shrimp - normally her favorite), she didn't come out at all when I was trying to feed her and only popped out later to try to steal a piece of mysis from the Acan coral above her rock. Normally she will come right up to the tweezers to steal mysis and eat several of them. Two days ago she didn't come out at all for freeze-dried brine (though I blame myself, as I came home from work really late and lights were already out). Before that she acted rather normal, though shy as usual. Its really hard to physically inspect her since I don't
see her at all, even if I sit/stand away from the tank. Is she sick?
<Mmm, can't say... but not necessarily>
Is there anything I can/should do as prevention in case she is sick?
<Nothing I would do that is overt... keep trying to lure out, train to feed in the open>
Or is she just really happy in her new home?
<Could be>
Should I be concerned?
<You are... but perhaps too much so>
Is there a way to make them live in a more visible spot?
<Rearrangement of the physical space, continued feeding where you want them to be...>
I'd rather not get an anemone, but if that's the only solution, with expert advice I'd consider it.
<I would not do this in this small volume>
I bought the frogspawn as a surrogate host (two day ago). They don't seem to like it, but then again it hasn't been very long. I'm not even sure the female has seen it since she hasn't ventured out.
<All takes time>
Thank you in advance!
Valerie
<Welcome. Bob Fenner, who urges patience here>

Re Clownfish/Behavior 3/17/09
YES..my lighting is good for the tank...It was set up by a professional who is a friend of mine.
THANKS for the reply regarding my question.
<Good. James (Salty Dog)>

Looked for an answer, but couldn't find an answer to my question...help!
Clownfish Coloration 3/15/09
Hi, I am in the process of purchasing a pair of false percula clownfish or a pair of Ocellaris clownfish.
<Ok>
I have been reading up on other's experience with them, and some stated that their fish were turning black. I was wondering if there were a particular kind of clownfish that never to black.
<Most will not turn black, unless specifically bred to do so. Most will darken some with age, although diet and environment plays a role here.>
<Chris>

Puzzled by my Perculas... beh. f'  03/11/09
Hey Crew,
<Mark>
I need some help determining what's going on with my tank and my Perculas. It may be nothing.....but?
<Let's see>
I've had a "pair" of False Perculas, Amphiprion ocellaris, for five years, and they decided not to eat this morning. I put quotes around the word pair because they've never laid eggs, but I believe I have a male and female.
<Mmm, if so... unusual that they have not reproduced...>
One was slightly bigger when I bought them, but they were not purchased as a known mated pair. I also believe they are tank raised. They have grown well and have always eaten well. The larger one is now approx 3.5" and the smaller is approx 2.5" long.
<I suspect these are both females (happens)... A male would very likely be smaller than the stated 2.5">
They have always gotten along well with each other and they've been with the same group of tank mates for years; Coral Beauty, 6 line Wrasse, Sail Fin Tang. It's been at least 3 years since I've purchased a new fish. I've noticed all of the normal clown behavior over the years, the flicking and vibrating, female biting your hand when cleaning the tank. She's big enough now that it hurts, and she's good at hitting you when you don't expect it. I've noticed none of the things that would indicate illness but I have noticed an increase in frequency of the normal vibrating and aggressive behavior. However, it seems to be the little guy picking on the female, not the other way around. The male seems to want to spar all the time and they were engaging each other heavily this morning. The male seemed to be facing off with the female more than I've ever noticed in the past five years. It is contrary to what I've read to have the male be the one facing off with the female.
<Is not typical... but does occur at times>
In early December, I added a tank raised Rose BTA to the tank. It took them about a month, but they did finally decide to host in it. The BTA is doing well after three months in my system and it has been interesting to watch both clowns interact with it. Last week I did notice the male not eating in the morning one day, but he took food when I got home after work. The female has never done this until today, when they both decided not to eat. I have always used a mix of dried Formula 1 & 2 daily, and I feed frozen Mysis once each week to the fish and the BTA gets a few pieces floating. I also feed the BTA a small silver side weekly. Occasionally I feed frozen Cyclop-eeze.
Tank 90 gal, setup in April 2008, 60-70 lbs LR, 20 lbs of sugar fine sand. Modified drain to 1 ½" with stand pipe.
Sump with Aqua C skimmer, integral refugium with 4" aragonite, Chaeto and 55W 10K PC, reverse cycle to tank.
Lighting: 300 W, 10K Metal Halide & 110W PC Actinic.
Only RODI water used for changes and top off.
Mag 18 closed loop, 4 (1/2") outlets around the top of the tank
Mag 7 return pump
Mag 5 running skimmer
Salinity: 1.025
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
P.H. low 8's normal
dKH is 8 to 9 consistently
Calcium 400 +
Magnesium 1400 +
Phosphates (haven't checked in awhile) need to. Recently eliminated PhosBan, added second bag of carbon to sump.
<Good>
I only dose Sea Chem Reef Complete for calcium as needed in the tank and I add Sea Chem buffer to the Auto Top Off tub.
<Fine>
I'm wondering if they might be deciding to spawn?
<Possibly>
Last night I looked at the tank and noticed it was very milky.
<?!>
I don't know where it came from and I've never seen the tank do this before. An hour later it had mostly cleared and was completely gone by this morning. If they laid eggs I can't see them, nor are they protecting them.
<You would definitely notice the change in their behavior>
There are a few small LPS frags in there as well, Hammer, Torch, and Blastomussa Wellsi. Could the introduction of the BTA 3 months ago have caused this recent behavior change in the clowns?
<Yes>
I feel that their environment is probably the best it has ever been as far as water quality and stability and that's why I'm wondering if they might be trying to spawn.
Sunday we changed to daylight saving time and I moved all the lighting timers ahead by 1 hr. This has never been a problem in the past though.
<Not one here either>
Maybe they'll eat tonight since it's feed the BTA day, I'll put some Mysis soaked in Selcon in there. Not normal for them not to eat in the morning.
As always, thanks for the great resource.
Mark
<I would not be overly concerned... if the fish resume feeding, there are no signs of overt damage. Enjoy and stay observant. Thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner>

Re: Puzzled by my Perculas 3/11/09
Thanks Bob. They both ate a little last night. The smaller one didn't eat again this morning, too busy vibrating and generally pestering the larger one. Sounds like you believe they are both female due to their size and the fact they've never laid eggs.
<Yes... but I could easily be wrong here>
I've read they can switch sex. Is this a onetime change when they are at a certain age?
<Usually just "one way"... male to female... and timed by a few factors... Not to be or be seen as teleological, but a/the "perceived need" is utmost important here... IF there is sufficient male/s about, small, sexually undifferentiated individuals will stay such... IF there is enough female/s about, males will stay males...>
Do you believe this behavior will pass or is it likely to escalate?
<More likely pass... likely one/both would be damaged by this time if there was going to be a real tussle>
I've also been searching for what caused the sudden case of milky water and I came upon some of the feather duster reproduction FAQ's.
<Ahh!>
I didn't mention the fact that I have two Hawaiian Feather Dusters in the tank as well. Added them back in December when I put the BTA in the tank. When I saw the milky water my first thought was a reproductive event do to the sudden onset, but wasn't sure who was responsible. I had looked at the tank about an hour before and it was clear. Would the Feather Dusters be suspect here or are the corals just as likely to be the culprit?
<Can't say...>
Nothing seems affected by it.
<Good>
Thanks again!
Mark
<Welcome Mark. BobF>

Re: Puzzled by my Perculas 3/11/09
Thanks Bob,
<Welcome Mark>
Maybe my Clowns are living an "alternative" life style!
<Heeee! Could be>
I figured if they really wanted to hurt each other, they would have already done it. I'm still a little concerned about the change in appetite. We'll see what happens.
Mark
<Ah yes. B>

Weird Acting Clown, reading  3/2/09
First I ill fill you in on my tank details.
Running for 3.5 months now. 120 Gallons, 65 gallon sump with refugium (Chaeto).
220 lbs Live Rock - 150 lbs of it came from a tank that had been running 1.5 years and was brought in buckets of water and put in my tank right away150 Watt Coralife MH Light EuroReef Copy Skimmer (not sure of size but
the guy I bought it and the sump from had it custom made with the sump and worked great for him. He also had a 120 gallon tank)2 - 2 little fishes reactors - one carbon, one Phosban Tunze ATO Always use RO WaterLiveStock: 2 clowns, 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Regal Tang, 1 Powder Blue Tang, Dragon Goby, 1 Blood Shrimp, 1 Cleaner Shrimp, various snails and hermit crabs (about 15 of each), 1 green tipped anemone
The water parameters are as follows:
Parameters = Calcium400Parameters = ALK2.0Parameters =
Salinity1.024Parameters = Nitrate5Parameters = Nitrite0Parameters =
Ammonia0Sandbed Depth4-5 We lost a clown fish about 10 days ago. Being new we didn't catch it early enough and the LFS was not helpful at all. We found her in the bottom corner of the tank straight up and down breathing heavily. We tried all we could be she died over night. We introduced a new clown 5 days ago(drip acclimated for 1 hour) lights out at night. The typical old one chasing the new one around even with the lights out. In morning they had determined their place and they were swimming together in the corner with the new one under the old one. The anemone had been in the tank for a month before the death and neither of the older clowns had anything to do with it. The new one found the anemone that next day and the more dominant older one pushed her out and now wont leave it. The newer clown found refuge in a leather as if it was an anemone. Yesterday the new one went missing and I found her later that night behind a rock at the back, near the top, just sitting there breathing a little fast and heavy. She wont come out for food. This is worrying me as I just lost one a little over a week ago. Should I get her out into a hospital tank and if so what medications do I use?
James
<... too early, too little signs to move this fish... But I would not have placed it thus. You may well have introduced a protozoan parasite going sans quarantine, or at least dip/bath. Too late now. Read:
http://wetwebmedia.com/clnfshdisart.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Female Percula help please   2/22/09
Hello. I have a mature pair of Percula clownfish in my 60 gallon tank.
Before I bought them, they were at my local fish store in a 200 gallon tank for about 3 years. I have had them for about 3 weeks now, and have had no issues until today. It seems as though the female of the pair is really tired, and lies down on the sand bed, next to the glass. However, she does not lie on her side, but rather between her middle stripe, and her mouth.
What really puzzles me is that when she is lying on the sand bed, and I approach the tank, she gets up and stays in the water column. When I leave though, she returns to the exact same spot where she was before I approached!
<Not atypical behavior... are called "clowns" for more than their color, markings>
She is a pig when it comes to food. I feed about 3 cubes of frozen brine shrimp and 3 cubes of frozen mysis shrimp every week. Throughout the week, for my Vlamingi tang, I hand feed Spirulina flakes, which the female percula also devours.
I have two anemones in the tank, which she used to go into. One is a long tentacle anemone, and the other is some species of carpet anemone. All day and night, the male percula lounges in the comfort of the long tentacle anemone.
All of the other fish in the tank are acting normal. They are all breathing normally too, including the female percula.
I have checked my water parameters, and they are excellent. I have the chiller set to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. All of the corals are flourishing.
There are no signs of disease on her either.
Could you please help me out here? I was getting ready to move the pair to a new broodstock tank that I have had cycling for 2 weeks so far, so I kinda need her to live. Thanks in advance.
--
Austin Rice
www.aliveaquaria.com
<I would move this fish, and not be concerned re the apparently lethargic behavior in the present circumstances... This fish may simply be "bummed" with the recent move, setting. Bob Fenner>

Re: Female Percula help please   2/22/09
This morning, I woke up and checked to see if she was still alive, and she is rustling around with the male Percula in the long tentacle anemone. She seems happy.
<Ahh!>
Oh by the way...How long should I wait to put the pair of Perculas into the new Solana, which has been cycling for 2 weeks now? It has a 30 pound Marshall Island live rock in it, and I mixed the water using Instant Ocean
sea salt and sink tap water(I did research, and found that anemone keepers had their anemones survive longer when they topped off the tank with tap water from the sink. They believe that the anemones prefer the amount of trace elements in the tap water over RO water).
Thanks again!
<Maybe another two weeks. BTW, I took a look at your website... you can re-size your digital pix... to aid in reducing pixilation. BobF>

Re: Female Percula help please   2/22/09
<re-size your digital pix... to aid in reducing pixilation. Bob F>
Now why would I do that?
<Mmm, so they look better resolved, clearer... more visually acute>
:DI would be having people save the high res picture and printing it themselves, resulting in me not making any money.
:D
<Mmm, okay... I send higher resolution sizes via Pando, CD/DVD or ext. HDs>
Thanks for looking though!
So you would name the female Percula's "disease" "home-sick"?
<Heeee! Sounds good. BobF>

New and have a question
Marine Set-Up/Idle Clownfish And Not Enough Info 2/9/09
New saltwater tank. Made it through the cycle. Added 2 peppermint shrimp, 3 emerald crabs, and 2 tank raised common clownfish 1 week ago today. The clownfish came from the same tank. They ate and swam together for a week.
Today they are hovering near the bottom on the tank at opposite ends and not moving from their respective corners. I checked the water and everything is in line. Everything else in the tank appears to be being well. Anything else I should be checking?
<Not enough info for me to go on. Everything in line doesn't tell me much.
What are the actual test results of ammonia, nitrite, etc. You also state, made it through the cycle. What was your ammonia source needed for cycling?>
Thanks.
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>

Hovering true percula clowns please help 02/03/09
Hi,
Not sure if the first email made it to you, sorry if this is a repeat.. this is a much more detailed email than the first.
I have two true percula clowns, They have been in my tank for a week now and the male got Ich (I think) None of the other fish have any signs of ich and look well and lively :) I have a 14 gallon tank with live rock and sand with a tube anemone and two other anemone's.
<This is too much for a 14g tank.>
The other fish are a flame goby and 6 line.
<Oy, the tank is overstocked.>
My water levels are fine and clear. My question is the clowns used to swim all over tank, now in the past day and a half they just hover at the bottom of the tank almost touching the sand with their belly's. Yesterday the male did swim to the other side and stay on the bottom on that side for a while and when I turned the light off for the night he swam back to the female and they both remain in that same spot hovering... I don't know what to do.
<This is fairly normal behavior for clownfish. They tend to stay in one spot and hover. So long as they are still coming up for food, I wouldn't think there's necessarily anything wrong with them (yet).>
Also how do I find your response on your webpage?
<It will be posted here tomorrow, then moved to an appropriate FAQs page:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/daily_faqs3.htm>
Thanks,
Alan C Conley
<De nada,
Sara M.>

Ocellaris behavior, 1/31/09
Good evening.
<Hello>
I have a 20 gallon FOWLR tank that has been set up for about a year now. Ph 8.2, SG 1.022, temp 77F, Ammonia and Nitrite 0, Nitrate less than ~5.
I recently purchased two Ocellaris clownfish and am wondering about their behavior. In the QT tank they were great, no disease, ate well, nothing really weird.
<Good>
After I added them to my main tank they started rubbing/scratching up against the aquarium glass (but always the same patch of aquarium glass, sometimes a bit hard in my opinion) after they were in there a few days.
<A common behavior for clowns.>
The other occupant in the tank is a Royal Gramma and he has never shown any signs of distress and still doesn't. I have used a magnifying glass and have not seen any thing as far as spots or flukes or gill inflammation....nothing. In the meantime I bought a cleaner shrimp but so far he has spent more time on my heater and filter tube.
<I have never seen a clown or gramma allow a cleaner to clean them, but the shrimp are cool anyway.>
The scratching/rubbing is always in the same area of the tank no matter where they start out at.. They will swim to that spot and do that even if they are on the other side of the tank. They eat great, their color is great and greet me when I come into the room.
<Good sign.>
I've dealt with parasite/ flukes before in freshwater tanks but it always seemed when a fish was going to scratch it would just do it wherever it was in the tank when it needed to itch...it looked uncomfortable all the time so to speak. I have 10 lbs of LR, a BioWheel 200 and a Coralife super skimmer for filtration. Is there anything I should/can do to be on the safe side that isn't a toxic solution or is this possibly normal clown behavior?
<I would not worry about it, watch for symptoms, but I would chalk this up to clowns being clowns.>
<Chris>