Clownfish Ill?

[NicholasFaria623]

Hi everyone!

I bought this Clownfish from a LFS and he seems a little off but I’m not quite sure what the problem is. He has white kind of stringy poop but it’s not as dramatic as I’ve seen other fish on this forum have. I have a picture of it so I’ll include that as well. I saw that this might be an internal parasite so I treated him with API general cure and he still seems to have it. However after I feed him his feces seem normal. I’ve been feeding him Freeze dried brine shrimp. I’ve only had him for a week and half and he eats really well. He is the only fish in my Display tank, I also don’t have any corals or cuc yet. The parameters are all in check so I can’t seem to figure out what the problem is. I also saw these tiny specs on him which I thought was ick so I also gave him an ick treatment but it seems to come and go so I’m wondering if it’s maybe sand or if maybe it’s somethings completely different.

Thank you to whoever can help!

 

[Idoc]

Let's see some other pics of him under white lights. Also if the spot you are seeing is white, watch it closely...if it disappears in a couple of days and another shows up elsewhere, then that is a good indication of ich. If you start seeing a haze/whitish mucus sheathing on him, then that is typical of Brooklynella...which has to be treated asap since it kills in a few days.

Also, brine shrimp are some of the least nutritious foods for fish. They seem to love brine, but they aren't getting anything helpful from them unless they are gut-loaded prior to freezing them. Maybe look at some frozen mysis shrimp as a better alternative.

EDIT -- actually, I was able to increase the size of the pic. I don't like the look of that white dusting on his upper back...that is typically Brooklynella. Definitely get some more white light pics asap.

 

[NicholasFaria623]

Let's see some other pics of him under white lights. Also if the spot you are seeing is white, watch it closely...if it disappears in a couple of days and another shows up elsewhere, then that is a good indication of ich. If you start seeing a haze/whitish mucus sheathing on him, then that is typical of Brooklynella...which has to be treated asap since it kills in a few days.

Also, brine shrimp are some of the least nutritious foods for fish. They seem to love brine, but they aren't getting anything helpful from them unless they are gut-loaded prior to freezing them. Maybe look at some frozen mysis shrimp as a better alternative.

EDIT -- actually, I was able to increase the size of the pic. I don't like the look of that white dusting on his upper back...that is typically Brooklynella. Definitely get some more white light pics asap.

Thank you for your quick response!
I was afraid it might be brookynella.
Unfortunately I’m at work right now but I will try to get pics as soon as possible. For brooklynella what would you recommend for treatment?

 

[Idoc]

Thank you for your quick response!
I was afraid it might be brookynella.
Unfortunately I’m at work right now but I will try to get pics as soon as possible. For brooklynella what would you recommend for treatment?

For Brook, the best treatment is a 30-45min formulin dip (37% formaldehyde) followed by Metrodonizole in the water column every 48hrs for 10-14 days. This really needs to be done in a quarantine tank and not your display tank, though. Also during the formulin dip, you need to have plenty of oxygenation with an airstone...matching temp and salinity of your water.

 

[NicholasFaria623]

Let's see some other pics of him under white lights. Also if the spot you are seeing is white, watch it closely...if it disappears in a couple of days and another shows up elsewhere, then that is a good indication of ich. If you start seeing a haze/whitish mucus sheathing on him, then that is typical of Brooklynella...which has to be treated asap since it kills in a few days.

Also, brine shrimp are some of the least nutritious foods for fish. They seem to love brine, but they aren't getting anything helpful from them unless they are gut-loaded prior to freezing them. Maybe look at some frozen mysis shrimp as a better alternative.

EDIT -- actually, I was able to increase the size of the pic. I don't like the look of that white dusting on his upper back...that is typically Brooklynella. Definitely get some more white light pics asap.

For Brook, the best treatment is a 30-45min formulin dip (37% formaldehyde) followed by Metrodonizole in the water column every 48hrs for 10-14 days. This really needs to be done in a quarantine tank and not your display tank, though. Also during the formulin dip, you need to have plenty of oxygenation with an airstone...matching temp and salinity of your water.

Thank you! what do you think I should do to the display tank to get rid of the brook while the clownfish is in a separate tank. Also where can you purchase formaldehyde?

 

[Idoc]

Here are two sources for formaldehyde:

Parasite-S (Formalin) approved Fish Parasite and Fungus Treatment | Syndel

Amazon.com: 37% Formaldehyde 1000ml (1 Liter, Approx 1 Quart) Shipped Fast ONLY to Lower USA 48 States.: Pet Supplies

Shoot...I forget how long a tank must be fallow without fish in order to remove Brooklynella from a system. I'll have to look through some notes.

EDIT -- 6 weeks fallow to remove Brooklynella from a DT.

Another treatment option is Ruby Reef Rally, but this requires a 90min dip -- but, Acroflavine in Ruby Reef Rally is less toxic to humans as Formaldehyde is carcinogenic and should be handled with care. It is also followed by the Metrodonizole treatment as well.

 

[NicholasFaria623]

Here are two sources for formaldehyde:

Parasite-S (Formalin) approved Fish Parasite and Fungus Treatment | Syndel

Amazon.com: 37% Formaldehyde 1000ml (1 Liter, Approx 1 Quart) Shipped Fast ONLY to Lower USA 48 States.: Pet Supplies

Shoot...I forget how long a tank must be fallow without fish in order to remove Brooklynella from a system. I'll have to look through some notes.

EDIT -- 6 weeks fallow to remove Brooklynella from a DT.

Another treatment option is Ruby Reef Rally, but this requires a 90min dip -- but, Acroflavine in Ruby Reef Rally is less toxic to humans as Formaldehyde is carcinogenic and should be handled with care. It is also followed by the Metrodonizole treatment as well.

Thank you so much for your help! is there a way I can take out all the items out of the tank and maybe boil it or something to help get rid of it or is my best bet to just leave it alone for 6 weeks?

 

[Idoc]

Thank you so much for your help! is there a way I can take out all the items out of the tank and maybe boil it or something to help get rid of it or is my best bet to just leave it alone for 6 weeks?

Going fallow for 6 weeks is the only way to clear the system. Killing all your live rock is only one part of the tank...and the beneficial bacteria and fauna in that rock is crucial for the tank to mature.

This is a good case for quarantining and possibly prophylactically treating fish prior to adding in a tank. My clowns went through copper, Prazipro, medicated foods, and also a special treatment of just Metrodonizole for 2 weeks just in case they could be carriers for Brook (since it is so prevalent with Clowns and other damsels). It helps limit the risk for your tank to get diseases in it.

 

[NicholasFaria623]

Going fallow for 6 weeks is the only way to clear the system. Killing all your live rock is only one part of the tank...and the beneficial bacteria and fauna in that rock is crucial for the tank to mature.

This is a good case for quarantining and possibly prophylactically treating fish prior to adding in a tank. My clowns went through copper, Prazipro, medicated foods, and also a special treatment of just Metrodonizole for 2 weeks just in case they could be carriers for Brook (since it is so prevalent with Clowns and other damsels). It helps limit the risk for your tank to get diseases in it.

Thank you so much I will let it go fallow then, also here’s some more pics if it’ll help diagnose a little better but I believe it’s brook. Also it doesn’t seem like I could get any formalin within a reasonable time frame. Could I do an api general cure bath or seachem metroplex then put him in a qt tank until I could get formalin? I don’t want the little guy to die but I can only get it online and it doesn’t look like I’d get it within a week

 

[Idoc]

Thank you so much I will let it go fallow then, also here’s some more pics if it’ll help diagnose a little better but I believe it’s brook. Also it doesn’t seem like I could get any formalin within a reasonable time frame. Could I do an api general cure bath or seachem metroplex then put him in a qt tank until I could get formalin? I don’t want the little guy to die but I can only get it online and it doesn’t look like I’d get it within a week

If tend to think Brook by those pics. It's very fine, but the spots are grouped mostly on the back near the head just like Brook. I'd definitely treat for that since it's common in clowns and kills much faster than ich.

You can do a freshwater dip to give the fish some relief, but i would wait to see if it worsens or the fish shows some stress before doing that. It only buys some time. There is some research being done using a peroxide dip as well that has shown some promise. I haven't worked with peroxide for fish diseases yet, though.

I do have a LFS that carries Ruby Reef Rally which also works. Maybe a store around you will have that. But if nothing else, then Metroplex should at least help somewhat until you can get a better treatment delivered.

 

[NicholasFaria623]

If tend to think Brook by those pics. It's very fine, but the spots are grouped mostly on the back near the head just like Brook. I'd definitely treat for that since it's common in clowns and kills much faster than ich.

You can do a freshwater dip to give the fish some relief, but i would wait to see if it worsens or the fish shows some stress before doing that. It only buys some time. There is some research being done using a peroxide dip as well that has shown some promise. I haven't worked with peroxide for fish diseases yet, though.

I do have a LFS that carries Ruby Reef Rally which also works. Maybe a store around you will have that. But if nothing else, then Metroplex should at least help somewhat until you can get a better treatment delivered.

I ended up finding some ruby reef rally not too far from me and just did a 90 minute dip. The little guy is now in quarantine in a completely new inclosure with new clean saltwater. I see that you mentioned following up with Metronidazole every 48 hours. On the bottle of rally reef it’s says to “use rally pro once per day for 3 days. Longer treatment periods may be required for heavy or persistent infections.” Would I be better off following these instruction or using Metro instead. The only metro I have available is General cure from api which has 250mg Metro and 75 Prazi
Thanks!

 

[Idoc]

I ended up finding some ruby reef rally not too far from me and just did a 90 minute dip. The little guy is now in quarantine in a completely new inclosure with new clean saltwater. I see that you mentioned following up with Metronidazole every 48 hours. On the bottle of rally reef it’s says to “use rally pro once per day for 3 days. Longer treatment periods may be required for heavy or persistent infections.” Would I be better off following these instruction or using Metro instead. The only metro I have available is General cure from api which has 250mg Metro and 75 Prazi
Thanks!

Hmmm...I've only heard of using Ruby Reef Rally one time in a 90 min dip...interesting.

I think I would do the single dip...but you could do all three dips over the next several days as well. I don't know if that will knock all the Brook out, though. I think I would still run through the Metrodonizole every 2 days for at least 10 days to be sure. I think you can use the General Cure without issues...you'll get the added protection against any possible external flukes as well with the Prazi included in that med.