Sick clownfish in lfs.

So I went into my lfs today and I went over the the ocellaris clown fish tank. It is a bare tank with a little hideout in it. The two clownfish in the tank are breathing heavily and laying on the bottom of the sand. One of them is shaking but that is because he is a male and trying to impress the female (I think). I asked the employee about it and she said that the clowns were," hosting the anemone" but I am not sure about that. I went to petco and saw their clowns and they were swimming around and seemed happy. Also, at petco they actually had anemone in the tank. So what I am asking is were the clowns at the lfs not healthy?

 

Go with your instinct. Breathing heavy is a bad sign. Shaking or shimmy is a form of clown fish communication.

Look for good coloration, clear bright eyes, no tattered fins and fish that are eating.

Anemones host, clown fish reside.

 

Yeah I saw them looking healthy at two different places. So I am going to spend a little more and buy the healthier ones.