Clown Fish Not Well

[dbaulch83]

Hey. Anyone able to help on this, dosed antibacterial as assumed fin nipping then fin rot but it’s deteriorating. Any ideas? Setting up a QT now

 

[littlefoxx]

Medics will want parameters and pictures under white light to help you out. @vetteguy53081 @Jay Hemdal @MnFish1

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey. Anyone able to help on this, dosed antibacterial as assumed fin nipping then fin rot but it’s deteriorating. Any ideas? Setting up a QT now

A couple of things-
Don’t add any meds until you clearly identify an issue as you will find yourself having to remove it and possibly reset the treatment tank
Pics are extremely dark and nearly impossible to see anything
Will need new pics taken in bright white lighting
Preliminarily looks like secondary bacterial lesions

 

[dbaulch83]

Thank for the replies, better pictures attached. My assumption was the same as yours re secondary bacterial infection so edged by bets and acted fast. Sadly no improvement.
Params are unremarkable and stable
pH 8.2
KH 7.5
Nitrate 2
Phos undetectable (but clearly available)
Temp 25.5
Salinity 1.025
Hope this helps

 

[dbaulch83]

Think I can see some white spots too but the treatment I used should be affective

 

[MnFish1]

I agree with you there are some white spots - however it's difficult to see if those are part of the same disease process. To me this seems like aggression between the clowns, with secondary infection in the tail/fins. Your choice seems similar to Ruby Rally Pro - though I don't know this brand. I do not think acriflavine is as effective against bacteria as a different antibiotic such as neoplex/kanaplex - but agree with trying it. Would you be able to list the name of the medication and the planned dose? Additionally, remember to follow whatever recommendations regarding filtration/skimmer/etc. Also what are the directions for use. When you set up your quarantine tank, provide plenty of oxygenation, and Its often a good idea to measure the exact volume of water you're putting in (not relying on the supposed tank volume) - which will make dosing safer and easier.

 

[stewy14]

Can we get some history of the tank please, when this fish was added, when the other was added, if the tank crashed and blah...

 

[MnFish1]

Can we get some history of the tank please, when this fish was added, when the other was added, if the tank crashed and blah...

More history is always helpful

 

[dbaulch83]

Tank is 18 months, been pretty stable now for a while. Latest addition before clowns was berghia a month ago for aip problem. Clown fish were introduced together from the same pool of very small clowns at the LFS 2 weeks ago. This damage was seen over the course of the last 3 days max and progressed this far that quick. They both ‘share’ the same anemone and it’s evident the healthier one doesn’t like it hence me assuming aggression gone bad. I do have another tricolour I could nudge the poorly one on to on the opposite end of the tank…

 

[MnFish1]

Tank is 18 months, been pretty stable now for a while. Latest addition before clowns was berghia a month ago for aip problem. Clown fish were introduced together from the same pool of very small clowns at the LFS 2 weeks ago. This damage was seen over the course of the last 3 days max and progressed this far that quick. They both ‘share’ the same anemone and it’s evident the healthier one doesn’t like it hence me assuming aggression gone bad. I do have another tricolour I could nudge the poorly one on to on the opposite end of the tank…

Thanks for the information - I don't understand your last sentence, But agree aggression is extremely likely

 

[stewy14]

Thanks for the information - I don't understand your last sentence, But agree aggression is extremely likely

probably the same sex? very rare but still

 

[dbaulch83]

Thanks for the information - I don't understand your last sentence, But agree aggression is extremely likely

I have another anemone I could move the ill fish on to (on the other side of the tank) to avoid the aggression and help recovery. Hopefully they’ll take to it

 

[dbaulch83]

probably the same sex? very rare but still

I thought they adapted to their environment… but unsure of time frames. Also these are very small so assumed (rightly or wrongly) they were not mature yet - no aggression seen in LFS but they were in a group of about 20

 

[littlefoxx]

probably the same sex? very rare but still

If youre referring to the clowns then yeah the are likely both still male. As for rare I have no idea where you are getting that from, if you research clowns they all start male when small and when put together in the same tank one will become dominant and become female.

 

[stewy14]

If youre referring to the clowns then yeah the are likely both still male. As for rare I have no idea where you are getting that from, if you research clowns they all start male when small and when put together in the same tank one will become dominant and become female.

he said they got them when they were very small

 

[littlefoxx]

I thought they adapted to their environment… but unsure of time frames. Also these are very small so assumed (rightly or wrongly) they were not mature yet - no aggression seen in LFS but they were in a group of about 20

Yeah your pair when they become older (or its already starting) will compete to be the dominant clown and continue until one submits (or gets killed). The dominant one then becomes female. As for the sick one it could be that the other is beating on it because it knows its weak. I would pull the sick clown and work with @vetteguy53081 and the other medics to treat it before worrying about their bonding process

 

[CocoReef]

I thought they adapted to their environment… but unsure of time frames. Also these are very small so assumed (rightly or wrongly) they were not mature yet - no aggression seen in LFS but they were in a group of about 20

They will adapt. The larger of the two will usually become the female.
I agree with thinking it's aggression. Keep an eye out to see if you can catch it in the act.
Might want to look into a small breeder box to give him some time to recover in if you cant separate the two.

 

[littlefoxx]

he said they got them when they were very small

Yeah, meaning they were both likely male when OP got them… but thats not the main issue in the thread its treating OP’s sick clown.

 

[stewy14]

Yeah, meaning they were both likely male when OP got them… but thats not the main issue in the thread its treating OP’s sick clown.

well, if they are both male, then giving one away is a very good solution.

 

[CocoReef]

well, if they are both male, then giving one away is a very good solution.

Clownfish are hermaphrodites. They all start as males