Clown Issue

[reefnewb70]

Last week we lost three fish very quickly to what LFS thinks is ICH. The remain five fish have been fine until last night, I noticed the clowns swimming erratically against stream. This morning I woke up to find, none of the fish will eat. This on one of my clowns. He has strings from his fins. Gah…. We are in Canada! So medicine is basically banned here.

 

[fishguy242]

@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081

 

[vetteguy53081]

Video not playing. The strings you mention may be mucus and there is a possibility of viral or brooklynella issue. viral is more pronounced with detailed symptoms whereas brook is various symptom. Before describing brook, you can give remaining fish a freshwater dip for 5 minutes using the same temperature as display tank and adding a pinch of baking soda.
At times confused with ich,
At the onset, fish may scrape up against objects, rapid respiration develops, and fish often gasp for air at the surface as the gills become clogged with mucus. Very quickly the fish will become lethargic, refuse to eat, and its colors will fade. The most noticeable symptom of Brooklynella is the heavy amount of slime that is produced by a fish that has contracted this parasite. As the disease progresses, a thick whitish mucus covers the body. This will usually start at the head and spread outward across the entire body. Skin lesions appear and it is not uncommon for signs of secondary bacterial infections.
Typical treatment is a standard formalin solution is mixed with either fresh or saltwater in a separate treatment container. Initially, all fish are given a quick dip in the formalin at a higher concentration, followed by continued treatment in a prolonged bath of formalin at a lower concentration in a quarantine tank (QT). Of course, the longer the fish are exposed to the formalin treatment, the more effective it will be at eliminating this disease.
If a formalin solution is not available for immediate use, temporary relief may be provided by giving fish a FW bath or dip. Even though this treatment will not cure the disease, it can help to remove some of the parasites, as well as reduce the amount of mucus in the gills to assist with respiration problems.
Treatment is best done in a QT tank.

 

[reefnewb70]

Hope this attachment works.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hope this attachment works.

Sorry, I won't be able to see videos until I get home from work tonight. From the still picture, I'd say it is Brookynella, so you should follow @vetteguy53081 instructions, but that is going to be tough, based on the fish's condition already, and being in Canada.....

Jay

 

[ChaosAquaculture]

I would try a fw dip to see if anything physically falls off of the fish, it seems like marine velvet or brookynella - kali

 

[reefnewb70]

Sorry, I won't be able to see videos until I get home from work tonight. From the still picture, I'd say it is Brookynella, so you should follow @vetteguy53081 instructions, but that is going to be tough, based on the fish's condition already, and being in Canada.....

Jay

Hi Jay. Would that be what killed my first three then? Would Brook have come in with the fish originally or is this something that just happens.

 

[Uncle99]

What about Cupramine?
Not the most advanced, but is on the list for treatment and available in Canada.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi Jay. Would that be what killed my first three then? Would Brook have come in with the fish originally or is this something that just happens.

Seeing brooklynella or ich on white clowns can be tricky. What other fish are in the tank?
Jay

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

What about Cupramine?
Not the most advanced, but is on the list for treatment and available in Canada.

That probably won’t work for brooklynella. I still haven’t figured out if this is Brook or a really advanced case of ich…
Jay

 

[Uncle99]

That probably won’t work for brooklynella. I still haven’t figured out if this is Brook or a really advanced case of ich…
Jay

Sorry, you are completely right, doesnt a work on this disease.
My bad.

 

[reefnewb70]

I would try a fw dip to see if anything physically falls off of the fish, it seems like marine velvet or brookynella - kali

 

[reefnewb70]

Dipped them and this came off

 

[reefnewb70]

Seeing brooklynella or ich on white clowns can be tricky. What other fish are in the tank?
Jay

We lost a cow, Japanese swallow tail and blue tang suddenly Friday Saturday. We have 2 PJ fish, 2 clowns and a Gobby left. Two shrimp(cleaner and pistol), hermit crabs and snails.

 

[reefnewb70]

We lost a cow, Japanese swallow tail and blue tang suddenly Friday Saturday. We have 2 PJ fish, 2 clowns and a Gobby left. Two shrimp(cleaner and pistol), hermit crabs and snails.

 

[reefnewb70]

Dipped them in fw this came off.

 

[fishguy242]

how are they swimming now? following, experts will be back asap..best wishes

 

[reefnewb70]

how are they swimming now? following, experts will be back asap..best wishes

They are in “death corner” swimming erratically

 

[fishguy242]

i'm not expert,but maybe darken tank,lights off,card board? on sides front,let them calm down,just don't cover top.
@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081 TIA Guys.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Dipped them in fw this came off.

Makes sense with mucus separating from FW dip. Realize this step only provided Temporary relief. Im aware of canada issue with meds making it difficult. Other than Formalin, are you able to get a hold of ruby rally reef pro? This will take longer but work.
Another although not the actual treatment would be PraziPro. Note that prazi will reduce both appetite and oxygen.
You can increase oxygen with an airstone now which may be part of their distress right now. ASSURE ALSO THAT AMMONIA LEVEL IS NOT HIGH (above .03)
Lastly, do note also that as cute as they are, COWFISH is very difficult to keep in captivity and rarely are long lived in an aquarium. When they perish, they can release toxins that may have caused the death of the other two fish. Adding chemipure blue will prevent effects of toxins in your tank and improve water quality. Lights out will likely do nothing for the fish but you can