Petrichor
Community Member
I have a four-ish year old clownfish in a Fluval Evo 13.5 that started spinning late Friday and has not stopped since. I'm not sure if he is having a swim bladder issue or perhaps something neurological? He has been careening around the tank like an out of control rocket, spinning constantly. Physically he looks fine: no spots, no bulging sections, clear eyes, and fins and coloration are normal. He is attentive and hungry, although he can't eat as he can't get himself to the food. He appears to have enough control to keep from battering himself, and even has enough control to attempt to nip at me when I was feeding his tankmate (a clown goby). Speaking of which, all tankmates and CUC appear healthy and active. I've never seen any bullying from anyone.
I did a water test and nitrate was higher than usual, so I did two large water changes, one in the morning then one in the evening and added some Seachem Stability.
Before WC
Salinity 1.021 (heatwave currently so learning to deal with more evaporation than normal)
pH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40-80
After WC
Salinity 1.024
pH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
There was improvement Saturday night as he was able to hang around his cove for most of the evening. He was still spinning, but was able to stay in a general area. The nest morning he was back to rocketing around the tank and still spinning. I set up a quarantine tank using fresh mixed water and tank water and media from my main tank. I moved my clownfish into it this morning and he seems more at ease with less of a threat of running into something. He's still spinning, but isn't darting around as much.
Video direct link
I live in Canada and do not have access to fish antibiotics at my LFS. I have some Jungle brand Fungus Clear fizz tabs from several years ago which I used in the vain hope it is still a little effective, hence the greenish water. It's active ingredients are nitrofurazone, furazolidone, and potassium dichromate.
The only remedy I saw at my LFS was something called Fritz Bactershield Bio-Adhesive supplement which has "natural oils and extracts," and seems to mostly target outer physical ailments. I did not purchase it as reviews weren't great/non-existant for saltwater. The only antibiotic I have access to is fluconazole for womans' health issues.
So any ideas what's wrong with my little guy?
I did a water test and nitrate was higher than usual, so I did two large water changes, one in the morning then one in the evening and added some Seachem Stability.
Before WC
Salinity 1.021 (heatwave currently so learning to deal with more evaporation than normal)
pH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40-80
After WC
Salinity 1.024
pH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
There was improvement Saturday night as he was able to hang around his cove for most of the evening. He was still spinning, but was able to stay in a general area. The nest morning he was back to rocketing around the tank and still spinning. I set up a quarantine tank using fresh mixed water and tank water and media from my main tank. I moved my clownfish into it this morning and he seems more at ease with less of a threat of running into something. He's still spinning, but isn't darting around as much.
Video direct link
I live in Canada and do not have access to fish antibiotics at my LFS. I have some Jungle brand Fungus Clear fizz tabs from several years ago which I used in the vain hope it is still a little effective, hence the greenish water. It's active ingredients are nitrofurazone, furazolidone, and potassium dichromate.
The only remedy I saw at my LFS was something called Fritz Bactershield Bio-Adhesive supplement which has "natural oils and extracts," and seems to mostly target outer physical ailments. I did not purchase it as reviews weren't great/non-existant for saltwater. The only antibiotic I have access to is fluconazole for womans' health issues.
So any ideas what's wrong with my little guy?
Thank you both for the verification. I had a feeling it might be neurological, but I was really hoping it wasn't.
