Clown fish look like they are shedding

[ngoodermuth]

I don't believe metroplex is a waste of money at all, it's useful in treating and preventing several ailments.

I do agree though, as a preventative... metro is fine on it's own, but with an active infestation you might have better luck if you use it in conjunction with a pre-treatment via freshwater dip, formalin bath, or acriflavine bath (ruby reef rally). Also, food-soaking along with treating the water itself.

Formalin was always the traditional brook treatment, but is very harsh... especially on fish with open sores or wounds. It's also a known carcinogen.

And I don't think brook or uronema is in every tank or is purely opportunistic. There are so many stories presented that tell us otherwise... when whole, healthy communities of fish are wiped out after the parasite hitches a ride in on a newcomer. It doesn't only target the sick or weak, or tank wipe-outs wouldn't happen from these things like they do.

I'm sorry for your losses, brook is one of the tough ones. Just like velvet- often, the symptoms we see (by the time we see them) are only the tip of the iceberg, and the damage has already been done.

 

[Wildreefs]

Metroplex added to a rank of clownfish and damsels, every other day for 14 days, did not stop the lesions from forming.

And as stated, my lfs has 1 fish with brook in his system, with about 100 fish, and no other fish is exhibiting symptoms ,
Not even clownfish.

He brings in about 200 fish a week, and other than copper and prazi, no active treatment against brook or uro.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Copper can suppress brook, but not cure it. Could explain why the symptoms are not more wide-spread.

Also, have to keep in mind the relatively short time-frame than an LFS will actually have the fish. Mine sees stock come and go within a few days to a week or two tops. Not always long enough to observe symptoms. Just doing a search here on Brooklynella will bring up many stories of healthy established fish contracting the parasites.

Again, I’m sorry that your experience did not end well, they don’t always. It’s an uphill battle. These suggestions given are meant to be helpful, with methods and treatments that many have used successfully.

But like anything reef, it’s not a guarantee unfortunately... I’ve lost fish, too, after doing everything right. It sucks. But, I’ve also saved a few, and have had much more success overall than I did before I’d adopted my current QT processes.

There’s folks here that are firmly no-QT and that’s fine too. I just know that personally, it did not work for me. But, you might find more tips there on how to mitigate risks without using a QT, if that’s what you want to do.

 

[|sCRIBe|]

If my one clown pulls through in the qt it will be returning to the dt. I don’t think this clown has brook though but it’s def got something going on that many day resembles uronema. It will be a interesting test if and when it returns to the tank to see if the infection returns. So far all other fish are fine.

 

[|sCRIBe|]

The clown that was in qt has died. This morn it was swimming and healing up nice. Even the pics show how well it was healing. I went in at lunch to check and it was upside down motionless, this is so strange.

 

[|sCRIBe|]

The last remaining clown is not eating. I’ve tried various foods and it’s just not interested. Physically it looks normal. Could it be sad there are no more mates?

 

[ngoodermuth]

No, clowns are fine being the only clown in the tank. I would get proactive with this one, quickly. Freshwater dip or formalin, then QT with metroplex.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I have never seen that behavior in the fish we keep. From clowns to cichlids when a part of a pair is removed they still keep their basic survival tendencies.

Only true schooling fish have i seen a lack of feeding behavior kept alone. And that was piranha, which are skittish with.

 

[|sCRIBe|]

What about trading corals from my tank is this a problem now?

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

What about trading corals from my tank is this a problem now?

It could be but I would think maybe a multiple bucket transfer could tremendously lower the risk. Let’s see what the Uronema experts think.
@HotRocks @4FordFamily

 

[4FordFamily]

Uronema can kill internally, bacterial infections can do the same. Brook can be hard to spot on a predominantly white fish as well.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Uronema can kill internally, bacterial infections can do the same. Brook can be hard to spot on a predominantly white fish as well.

Any advice on him trading corals out of his tank if this turns out to be Uronema?

 

[4FordFamily]

Any advice on him trading corals out of his tank if this turns out to be Uronema?

Not advised but honestly I still believe healthy established fish are largely unaffected by uronema.

It’s one of the most deadly diseases for new dish, quarantines, cramped tanks, chromis, butterflies, anthias, dwarf angels, etc