Brook, velvet, ich, or something else? Please help!

[crazyclownlady]

Ruby Reef has worked for folks (I prefer formalin) - the dose is 1 teaspoon per gallon of tank water in a dip container for 3 hours, with aeration and temperature control. Here is the BIG issue - moving the affected fish back to the tank it came from just re-infects the fish. You'll need to do this dip daily, but eliminating the Brooklynella from the tank itself is going to be a challenge. All I can suggest to try there is to dose the whole tank according to the label instructions (lower dose) and hope that helps clear it from the tank.

jay

Thank you, Jay. I just received the ruby reef rally. I will start doing the dips and also dose to the display tank.

the formalin and quarantine tank will be here next week.

 

[crazyclownlady]

The bath is in progress. Heres a pic of the fish under normal(?) lighting. The tail is sad

 

[crazyclownlady]

Ruby Reef has worked for folks (I prefer formalin) - the dose is 1 teaspoon per gallon of tank water in a dip container for 3 hours, with aeration and temperature control. Here is the BIG issue - moving the affected fish back to the tank it came from just re-infects the fish. You'll need to do this dip daily, but eliminating the Brooklynella from the tank itself is going to be a challenge. All I can suggest to try there is to dose the whole tank according to the label instructions (lower dose) and hope that helps clear it from the tank.

jay

how many days do you suggest i continue with the daily dip?

for the DT dosing, the bottle instructions says 3 days. Should that be sufficient?

i read that Rally has a one year shelf life. I don’t see an expiry date on the bottle

 

[crazyclownlady]

Here’s some updated photos. The orange clown’s tail is starting to deteriorate. The white fish is losing more tail but overall seems more energetic than yesterday.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Here’s some updated photos. The orange clown’s tail is starting to deteriorate. The white fish is losing more tail but overall seems more energetic than yesterday.

The orange clown losing its fin was unexpected. The white clown has lost enough of its tail that the bone has become involved. I'm sorry, but that is unlikely to heal, and if it does, it won't grow back (like if you lose finger).
I don't know about the expiry if there is no date on the bottle.

Given the severity of the infection, I would dip for five days. The trouble is, there seems to be a secondary bacterial infection here. The dip only has limited effect against that. Do you have ANY antibiotics?


Jay

 

[crazyclownlady]

The orange clown losing its fin was unexpected. The white clown has lost enough of its tail that the bone has become involved. I'm sorry, but that is unlikely to heal, and if it does, it won't grow back (like if you lose finger).
I don't know about the expiry if there is no date on the bottle.

Given the severity of the infection, I would dip for five days. The trouble is, there seems to be a secondary bacterial infection here. The dip only has limited effect against that. Do you have ANY antibiotics?


Jay

i think i have Erythromycin. It is probably old. I’ll take a look. Would that help?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

i think i have Erythromycin. It is probably old. I’ll take a look. Would that help?

It wouldn't be my first choice, that has more activity for gram positive bacteria and this is more likely gram negative.

Jay

 

[crazyclownlady]

It wouldn't be my first choice, that has more activity for gram positive bacteria and this is more likely gram negative.

Jay

I also have pimafix, bettafix, paraguard, stressguard... I have a bunch of medications coming next week (metroplex, kordon rid ich plus, prazipro, cupramine).. i bought everything i could find that would ship to my country

Do you recommend an erythromycin bath or just continue with the rally? I understand these fish are probably not going to make it, but I want to at least try...

There is a third clown fish (i only have 3 fish) that was exposed to these two but has been living in a separate tank. The 3rd fish is now showing white spots. Hopefully the medication comes before the 3rd fish deteriorates. I am treating both tanks with Rally.

i have created quite the mess here by not doing my research before adding fish, and not having the right medications on hand

I appreciate everyones help

 

[crazyclownlady]

Heres the third fish, now showing white spots on the tail and fins. No slime yet

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Heres the third fish, now showing white spots on the tail and fins. No slime yet

I wonder if this is going to develop into brooklynella eventually also?
I wouldn’t dose your main display with erythromycin. The bone damage has already happened.
Are you dipping all three fish then?
Jay

 

[crazyclownlady]

I wonder if this is going to develop into brooklynella eventually also?
I wouldn’t dose your main display with erythromycin. The bone damage has already happened.
Are you dipping all three fish then?
Jay

Yes i have dipped all fish and dosed Rally into both tanks.
Are dips effective with the eryhromycin?

 

[crazyclownlady]

This is a really bad photo but one of the eyes is really swollen and cloudy

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes i have dipped all fish and dosed Rally into both tanks.
Are dips effective with the eryhromycin?

Erythromycin can be used as a dip, but the dose is a bit of a guess. I would opt for 3 times the in-tank dose, for one hour, once a day.

Jay

 

[crazyclownlady]

Erythromycin can be used as a dip, but the dose is a bit of a guess. I would opt for 3 times the in-tank dose, for one hour, once a day.

Jay

the metroplex, cupramine, and prazipro are arriving tomorrow. The kordon rid ich plus is arriving on Tuesday.

I’m wondering if I should wait, instead of dipping in the erythromycin which expired almost 2 years ago

 

[crazyclownlady]

Update on my fish:
They are eating and swimming around alot today. They are also doing that twitching thing at eachother which they haven’t done in over a week.


the white dots appear to be gone on fish #3. No damage to the tail on fish #3 yet.

 

[moz71]

Update on my fish:
They are eating and swimming around alot today. They are also doing that twitching thing at eachother which they haven’t done in over a week.


the white dots appear to be gone on fish #3. No damage to the tail on fish #3 yet.

Just want to say I’m super impressed you kept them alive this long and seem to improving on what you have been doing! Keep it going! Hope you succeed!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

the metroplex, cupramine, and prazipro are arriving tomorrow. The kordon rid ich plus is arriving on Tuesday.

I’m wondering if I should wait, instead of dipping in the erythromycin which expired almost 2 years ago

I've used expired erythromycin to control cyanobacteria in fish tanks with no issues. That said, it may be that the infection has stabilized, so antibiotics won't be of much benefit then.

What point are you at with the ruby reef dips?

Jay

 

[crazyclownlady]

I've used expired erythromycin to control cyanobacteria in fish tanks with no issues. That said, it may be that the infection has stabilized, so antibiotics won't be of much benefit then.

What point are you at with the ruby reef dips?

Jay

I'm on day 3 of the ruby reef dips and tank dosing. I don't mind doing additional dips if folks think it will be of help

 

[crazyclownlady]

Just want to say I’m super impressed you kept them alive this long and seem to improving on what you have been doing! Keep it going! Hope you succeed!

Thank you so much for the kind words.. I know how this is likely to end, but I am trying my best (and also learning alot in the process).

 

[vetteguy53081]

Im a user of ruby Rally Pro. It works- just takes a little longer than formalin based treatment and is reef safe. It does address and treat Tail & Fin Rot, and also Secondary Infections