Clownfish emergency- rapid health decline...

[Jdavenp3]

I have had this clownfish established in my tank from Coral Reef TN (Sustainable Aquatics).

I came home around lunch and fed. Everything was fine, he ate great, and was swimming around normally. I look in my tank about 15 minutes ago to do a second feeding and noticed he was up near my overflow not swimming as normal.

The only super noticeable thing I can find different from him is his right eye is swollen.

He is still swimming towards the top of the water column but did not eat anything. Here are some pictures of him. I really hope he can pull through...

 

[hdsoftail1065]

@ngoodermuth @HotRocks @4FordFamily

 

[ngoodermuth]

That looks like a nasty infection, I’d transfer to QT with antibiotics. I’d try Triple Sulfa personally, first. Antiseptic bath en route to QT could be beneficial.

 

[HotRocks]

Neoplex works really well for eye infections.

I would combine the neoplex with Kanaplex and Furan-2 for 10-14 days in a QT.

I would also recommend a FW dip for 5 min to make sure it's not flukes irritating the eye.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

 

[4FordFamily]

That looks like a nasty infection, I’d transfer to QT with antibiotics. I’d try Triple Sulfa personally, first. Antiseptic bath en route to QT could be beneficial.

Neoplex works really well for eye infections.

I would combine the neoplex with Kanaplex and Furan-2 for 10-14 days in a QT.

I would also recommend a FW dip for 5 min to make sure it's not flukes irritating the eye.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

I have nothing to add! I also agree with the infection.

 

[Jdavenp3]

Thanks fellas. I’m going to start with a freshwater dip and QT him. How worried do I have to be for my other clown?

Insane how quickly this developed over a couple hours.

 

[MTBake]

What's the pink spot on top of the head from? Is that a symptom of infection related to the eye issue? Or did the fish hit something, or vice versa?

Just wondering to be honest.

 

[Jdavenp3]

I’m going to be honest, I think it hit something. I’ve never seen it before until I noticed what was happening tonight with the erratic behavior and eye swelling.

I hope it pulls through, it was quite the character in the tank and always was swimming around

 

[MTBake]

I’m going to be honest, I think it hit something. I’ve never seen it before until I noticed what was happening tonight with the erratic behavior and eye swelling.

I hope it pulls through, it was quite the character in the tank and always was swimming around

I've had this happen before. That's why I asked. It's a raw spot from some kind of abrasion. I'm pretty sure, in my case anyway, that the fish swam into a pump and got hit by the propeller. I've also heard of fish jumping out of the tank and hitting lights or lids or ect...

 

[MTBake]

I do hope it pulls through for you. Good advice above for treating it.

 

[NewGoby]

Check your tank temp aswell, I found that eye infections in fish are more common in warmer tanks, a healthy fish should pull through without the use of antibiotics (in my personal experience)

if you can catch him easily without stressing the tank / the fish out a lot, i'd treat her

 

[ngoodermuth]

If you are unable to remove the fish, could try feeding it Kanaplex+focus soaked frozen foods... but even if it is an injury vs. infection you definitely want a QT / meds on hand and ready, just in case.

If the fish stops eating, is lethargic, not swimming like it usually does, breathing rapidly, or the discoloration becomes worse rather than better... will need to be able to act quickly.

I’ve let some pretty significant injuries heal on their own in my tank, feeding vitamin-enriched foods etc, but you need to be extra careful with eye/head injuries.

 

[Jdavenp3]

I have had him quarantined since last night. Unfortunately he has turned more lethargic and eyes have swollen much more. I’ve tried feeding (non medicated) and he just doesn’t seem like he can eat with the way it’s swollen.

I am an educator so I had to leave him this morning unfortunately. We should be released at lunch so I can get medication and hope for the best.

Thanks for the temp suggestion as well. It has been steady 76.6-77.5.

 

[ngoodermuth]

I have had him quarantined since last night. Unfortunately he has turned more lethargic and eyes have swollen much more. I’ve tried feeding (non medicated) and he just doesn’t seem like he can eat with the way it’s swollen.

I am an educator so I had to leave him this morning unfortunately. We should be released at lunch so I can get medication and hope for the best.

Thanks for the temp suggestion as well. It has been steady 76.6-77.5.

If he’s that bad, I would grab methylene blue and give him a 30-minute bath. Then dose Furan-2 and Triple Sulfa (or sulfaplex) in the QT. These are hard-hitters, so you’ll need some bio-spira too, and prime (as long as you aren’t using copper) to help manage ammonia between scheduled water-changes.

 

[Dom]

I wonder if it is an injury. If it was infection, wouldn't it effect BOTH eyes?

 

[Jdavenp3]

Thanks for everyone’s help but once I got home today the poor guy was dead at the bottom of the tank

I’m not sure whether injury or infection because both eyes were effected at the end (swollen and such). His mouth almost seemed broken in the sense that he never could close it.

I am definitely not an expert on various marine illnesses but it did not exhibit the signs of Brook or Velvet. There was no sliming, no spots or coating on him, and the quickness that it happened was kind of startling to me.

I appreciate the support and ideas of what to do to attempt to save him.

 

[Mariette]

Sorry for your loss

 

[Jdavenp3]

Thank you. I definitely don’t take it lightly. I had been out of the hobby a few years after keeping reef aquariums for about 10 years prior. This is a head scratcher for sure.