Midnight clownfish lost all its color....

Hi All,

Kind of new to all of this so first let me apologize for my newb-ness.

Anyways, I turned my 7 gallon tank into a saltwater tank, got it cycled just right with some live rock, bacteria additives from the fish store, and tested my water for pH, Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates. Everything seems pretty stable, very low Ammonia, and Nitrites, with water changes (approx. 1 gal) per week.

Fish that I have are 1 clown, 1 midnight clown, and 1 firefish, turbo snail, and a couple hermits. The firefish eats like a pig, the other 2 are really picky.

Ive tried flake (the 2 clowns seem to eat them spit out), brine (clowns like it living, but I hear its not nutritious enough for daily) and mysis (clows are also picky about it but nibble one or 2).

My question is, when i first got the midnight clown, it was really black. Now its litterally grey on the body, but the fins are solid black. He seems happy, other than being really picky with food. It likes to chase around the other small one, but they end up sleeping at night in the corner together. Is this normal of its color? Ive had them about 3 weeks so far.

Thanks for your input.

 

Welcome to 3reef.

Clown coloration will change when they're sleeping, stressed, startled.

You need a larger tank to keep those fish in. A thirty gallon is more appropriate.

 

massive +1

clowns like many other fish change colour during sleeping hours to stand out less and avoid predation.

 

Id remove the clowns quickly, 7 gallons is not near enough for what you have.

 

it's safe to add fish after ammonia and nitrite both read 0. They probably are stressed. I agree with others as well in the tank is too small for them

 

Thanks guys for the advice. I planned on getting a bigger tank, just had to figure out what I wanted. They seem to be getting better with some better food my LFS recommended, but I'm sure they will enjoy the new IM Nuvo SR120 that I bought earlier this week. They have been kicking around and eating for a month or so now...I hope they make it to the new tank. Fingers crossed.

 

As everyone has already said, the tank is too small; A) for a clownfish B) for 3 fish. On a second note, if the LFS advised you it would be ok, I'd find another LFS.