Clownfish in trouble - HELP!

jeffberens · Mar 25, 2017

I have 2 clowns that have finished TTM and are on their 2nd day in my observation QT. I used Prazipro on days 2 and 4 of TTM and through all 12 days they seemed to be doing great.

Now, a little over a day in the larger 35G QT tank and 1 of the clowns is flashing (rubbing against the bottom), swimming a little frantic in spurts but otherwise a little lethargic compared to the past time in TTM. They seem to be breathing heavily as well.

I did run some tests and Ammonia is 0, but Nitrates and Nitrites are high.

I just did a 5 gallon water change.

What should I do next?

Humblefish · Mar 25, 2017

jeffberens said:
What should I do next?

Anything on the body? Tiny white dots, or areas where the skin is turning white or appears to be sloughing off?

jeffberens · Mar 25, 2017

Humblefish said:
Anything on the body? Tiny white dots, or areas where the skin is turning white or appears to be sloughing off?

If anything they both just seem to be a little faded, but it is really hard to tell.

jeffberens · Mar 25, 2017

Humblefish said:
Anything on the body? Tiny white dots, or areas where the skin is turning white or appears to be sloughing off?

No spots or marks that I can see

melypr1985 · Mar 25, 2017

You did prazi on day 2 and 4 or on transfers 2 and 4? Just to be clear.

jeffberens · Mar 25, 2017

melypr1985 said:
You did prazi on day 2 and 4 or on transfers 2 and 4? Just to be clear.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I did Prazi on the last 24 hours of transer 2 and transfer 4. I tried to follow the TTM method as closely as I could.

melypr1985 · Mar 25, 2017

jeffberens said:
Sorry, I should have been more clear. I did Prazi on the last 24 hours of transer 2 and transfer 4. I tried to follow the TTM method as closely as I could.

Ok. great. That's what I was hoping.

So he's breathing heavy and flashing against the bottom of the tank? Could you get a picture or video of him for us?

jeffberens · Mar 25, 2017

melypr1985 said:
Ok. great. That's what I was hoping. So he's breathing heavy and flashing against the bottom of the tank? Could you get a picture or video of him for us?

I'm uploading the video as we type. I also just noticed the other clown has some long white stringy poop.

jeffberens · Mar 25, 2017

jeffberens said:
I'm uploading the video as we type. I also just noticed the other clown has some long white stringy poop.

I did another 5 gal water change while I wait.

melypr1985 · Mar 25, 2017

jeffberens said:
I also just noticed the other clown has some long white stringy poop.

This suggests intestinal worms. You'll need to treat everybody for it by food soaking metroplex and focus.

jeffberens · Mar 25, 2017

I have metroplex on hand, but not focus

melypr1985 · Mar 25, 2017

jeffberens said:
I have metroplex on hand, but not focus

You can dose that in the water of a QT, but it's best and most effective when fed. See if you can find Focus to bind it to the food.

jeffberens · Mar 25, 2017

melypr1985 said:
You can dose that in the water of a QT, but it's best and most effective when fed. See if you can find Focus to bind it to the food.

Should I treat the tank now and try and pick up focus tomorrow, or should I soak some mysis shrimp in Metro and try and feed them?

melypr1985 · Mar 25, 2017

jeffberens said:
Should I treat the tank now and try and pick up focus tomorrow, or should I soak some mysis shrimp in Metro and try and feed them?

Either will be about the same level of effectiveness. It wouldn't hurt to do that for tonight and still try to find focus tomorrow

Humblefish · Mar 25, 2017

melypr1985 said:
This suggests intestinal worms. You'll need to treat everybody for it by food soaking metroplex and focus.

+1 More info: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/internal-parasites-intestinal-worms.267419/

jeffberens · Mar 25, 2017

Humblefish said:
+1 More info: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/internal-parasites-intestinal-worms.267419/

Thank you both so much for your help. I will pick up focus tomorrow, but I just treated the tank with Metroplex. The clowns are unfortunately not eating right now which is unusual, so I hope the tank treatment helps.

Ligershark · Mar 26, 2017

Also try hex shield Its a new life spectrum pellet food w meds already in it. It has worked on my clowns on more than one occasion

Humblefish · Mar 26, 2017

Ligershark said:
Also try hex shield Its a new life spectrum pellet food w meds already in it. It has worked on my clowns on more than one occasion

+1 Hex Shield contains metro.

jeffberens · Mar 26, 2017

Is the flashing, heavy breathing, and lethargy also indicative of intestinal worms or could they have another disease as well.
The clown with the stringy white poop is hanging out in the corner, but it is the other clown that is flashing and swimming sporadically around the tank. They both seem to be breathing heavy.

Also, how soon can I expect this behavior to change to know if the treatment is working?

Humblefish · Mar 26, 2017

jeffberens said:
Is the flashing, heavy breathing, and lethargy also indicative of intestinal worms or could they have another disease as well.
The clown with the stringy white poop is hanging out in the corner, but it is the other clown that is flashing and swimming sporadically around the tank. They both seem to be breathing heavy.

Also, how soon can I expect this behavior to change to know if the treatment is working?

Some internal parasites can cause heavy breathing & lethargy, but the flashing is unusual. Something tells me you have another problem: Velvet or brook are my prime suspects.