Clown Fish with white dusty stuff

[Bougie]

Hi guys,

I've had my 32 gal tank for about 9 months now. 2 clowns, diamond goby. Recently added 3 firefish that have since disappeared for the past week (not sure if relevant).

Close have looked perfect the entire time. This morning, the bigger one looks like he's got white dust on him. Is he sick? And if so how can I treat?

I don't have a hospital tank or anything set up and everything is closed today, so at best I'll have to get things set up tomorrow or the weekend.

Thank you!

 

[MnFish1]

It would be great if you could post a picture under white light. How old are the clowns? When did the dusty areas start - before or after adding the other fish? Clowns are common to get broolynella however, the 3 firefish (which may be dead or hiding) suggests something different (If they are dead) - like velvet. Are the clowns showing any other symptoms - breathing, scratching, etc?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi guys,

I've had my 32 gal tank for about 9 months now. 2 clowns, diamond goby. Recently added 3 firefish that have since disappeared for the past week (not sure if relevant).

Close have looked perfect the entire time. This morning, the bigger one looks like he's got white dust on him. Is he sick? And if so how can I treat?

I don't have a hospital tank or anything set up and everything is closed today, so at best I'll have to get things set up tomorrow or the weekend.

Thank you!

This is excess mucus associated with Brooklynella AKA clown disease and often fish will have a weird swim pattern, breathing more elevated, loss of color and loss of appetite. Best treatment is formalin based which is impossible to find and would be ruby rally pro. Ruby can be used in-tank with coral but first give the fish a ruby rally bath for 45-60 minutes with added aeration.

 

[Bougie]

Here's some more pictures under white light. He's definitely swimming around more crazily than normal

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Here's some more pictures under white light. He's definitely swimming around more crazily than normal

That sure looks like brooklynella to me as well. The missing fire fish are also an issue, if they didn’t jump out, they are still in the tank and may well be dead and decomposing. Have you tried gently moving the rocks to look for them?

 

[MnFish1]

Here's some more pictures under white light. He's definitely swimming around more crazily than normal

Looks like brooklynella - and I would look for your firefish - since they often hide and aren't seen for a while.

 

[Bougie]

Thank you guys for your wisdom . Was able to get some ruby rally pro today but unfortunately it was too late and the fish died. In the process of treating the other fish. So I need to put them all in a separate hospital tank? Or should I just add the ruby rally pronto the display tank and do the full treatment listed on the bottle. Online it says to keep your display tank fallow for 6 weeks. But if I'm adding the medicine directly into the main tank wondering if that is necessary. The other fish don't have symptoms yet but I assume they may be infected as well

 

[MnFish1]

Thank you guys for your wisdom . Was able to get some ruby rally pro today but unfortunately it was too late and the fish died. In the process of treating the other fish. So I need to put them all in a separate hospital tank? Or should I just add the ruby rally pronto the display tank and do the full treatment listed on the bottle. Online it says to keep your display tank fallow for 6 weeks. But if I'm adding the medicine directly into the main tank wondering if that is necessary. The other fish don't have symptoms yet but I assume they may be infected as well

You can treat with ruby rally in the display tank - as to the fallow period, you just do the treatment in the display per the directions.

 

[Bougie]

Ok great so no fallow period in the display tank. Just add the ruby rally to display tank per instructions and be done with it. Assuming I will have to hold off on water changes for the 3 day treatment duration? I'm due for one.