Clownfish stopped eating in QT.

[Sixty7x]

I'm very new to this, but I just recently read (did not stay in a holiday inn) HotRocks 56 page QT thread and if I recall the flashing could be flukes which might be suppressed in copper. Maybe check into it. There's talk in that thread about a freshwater dip to confirm. Good luck.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

I'm very new to this, but I just recently read (did not stay in a holiday inn) HotRocks 56 page QT thread and if I recall the flashing could be flukes which might be suppressed in copper. Maybe check into it. There's talk in that thread about a freshwater dip to confirm. Good luck.

The only thing that makes me doubt flukes is the fact that the lack of appetite and then flashing did not start until AFTER two rounds of General Cure being added to the water column. This was ~10 days out of copper.

Maybe @Big G @HotRocks @Humblefish @4FordFamily can chime in.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

So... 2 hours in the new tank @1.0 copper, after 90min in Rally..... And they're both going crazy after TDO pellets.

I'm lost.....

At this point I'm planning on continuing copper treatment for 14 days, unless you guys think differently.

Awesome! I was gonna check on how they were doing. Same thing happened to me with a clown recently. Was breathing rapidly and as soon as I got him in copper started behaving normally within hours. I suspected velvet in my case. I ramped up to 2 ppm and I kept them at 1.75-2 ppm for 4 weeks. Then did 90% water change and they’ve been fine ever since. Good luck! Sounds like you made the correct moves.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Awesome! I was gonna check on how they were doing. Same thing happened to me with a clown recently. Was breathing rapidly and as soon as I got him in copper started behaving normally within hours. I suspected velvet in my case. I ramped up to 2 ppm and I kept them at 1.75-2 ppm for 4 weeks. Then did 90% water change and they’ve been fine ever since. Good luck! Sounds like you made the correct moves.

Yeah it's definitely weird, but at this point I'm just going to repeat the process of 14 days copper + GC food. Then back in QT2 for observation and evaluate from there. Though I may continue medicated food past 14 days because of the stringy poop I saw from both of them today.

Another thing that crossed my mind... Maybe the thawed frozen food had turned? I was at about day 5 when they started to slow down feeding.. Upset stomach? Wouldn't really explain flashing though.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

Yeah it's definitely weird, but at this point I'm just going to repeat the process of 14 days copper + GC food. Then back in QT2 for observation and evaluate from there. Though I may continue medicated food past 14 days because of the stringy poop I saw from both of them today.

Another thing that crossed my mind... Maybe the thawed frozen food had turned? I was at about day 5 when they started to slow down feeding.. Upset stomach? Wouldn't really explain flashing though.

Make sure you do at least 14 days at full 2.0ppm. Doubt it was the food.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Another day, both still very active and hungry. No more flashing that I have seen and no more stringy poop since yesterday.

Sucks they have to do this again but I suppose it's better than the alternative.

No other signs of infection or illness... Honestly, they're about as perky as I've ever seen them. Still unsure of what happened a few days ago.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Day 3 (last day of ramp up). Both are still very active and eating the medicated food like mad. Unfortunately, I've caught a glimpse of the female flashing (scratching fer head against the PVC).

I'm thinking of doing a FW dip to confirm/deny flukes. Would you guys suggest doing it before doing 7/14 days in copper? After 7 days? After 14 days? Just dose GC into the water column while in copper (really trying to avoid this as to not overload the poor guys, but they're pretty hardy).

Paging the experts #reefsquad @HotRocks @Big G @Humblefish @4FordFamily

 

[PSU4ME]

Sorry to hear. Where did you get the fish from? Have you seen them poop “good” at all?

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Sorry to hear. Where did you get the fish from? Have you seen them poop “good” at all?

Poop has been good today. The only abnormality is occasional flashing.

 

[PSU4ME]

5 min in FW can help to see if anything drops out. Use a dark bucket!

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Well, figured I would update things.

We are on day 5 of copper. Over the last 2 days their appetite slowed again, male once again avoiding food. Yesterday I did a FW dip on both, did not see anything. Male was breathing kinda heavy, now and again opens his mouth like a yawn.

Tested the water 0 ammonia on thr badge and red sea kit. No signs of bacterial infection that I can see, externally fish looked grrat. Saw some clear-ish/white ish poop... Not sure if it's internal or because he really hasn't eaten much. Im kinda at my wits end here a bit, I decided to do a GC dose to thr water column (1.5 packets for the 15/16g of water) and added an air stone. Female kind of eats, small pieces of frozen mysis and lrs with selcon garlic and focus/GC.

It just blows my mind. When the original issue happened and I did a Rally bath and out them back in thr fresh tank at 1.0 copper, even ramping to 2.0 for a few days, they were super active...destroying food and now we're here again.

I'm honestly considering just taking them out of copper and GC, maybe do a rally bath and just put them in an observation tank with no meds......

I just don't know anymore... I'd hate to see these two waste away.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

That’s too bad. Because they haven’t responded to copper your idea to remove them might be a good one. Consider keeping GC on board, clownfish are very susceptible to brook. The ruby dip seemed to help so I would try to find out what diseases ruby works for and any that may not have been fully treated with past treatment. I don’t think GC or most antibiotics suppress appetite. Tough call, sorry.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

That’s too bad. Because they haven’t responded to copper your idea to remove them might be a good one. Consider keeping GC on board, clownfish are very susceptible to brook. The ruby dip seemed to help so I would try to find out what diseases ruby works for and any that may not have been fully treated with past treatment. I don’t think GC or most antibiotics suppress appetite. Tough call, sorry.

At this point trying to prioritize, my thought is, if they're not eating, all the medicine in the world isn't going to do squat if they starve to death.

With GC added yesterday, I may try this from Hublefish a while back:

"If using API General Cure with copper, just substitute your first & last metro treatment for GC. (Since GC already contains metro, you want to avoid overdosing by only using Metroplex or straight metronidazole powder 48 hrs before or after GC.) Treatment regimen would go like this:

Day 1 - Dose General Cure
Day 3 - Dose metro
Day 5 - Dose metro
Day 7 - Dose General Cure
Day 9 - Dose metro (probably optional at this point)"

 

[Reef AquaCult]

You might right. It’s difficult to determine the diagnosis without more evidence of specific disease. Have you done a complete testing of all parameters? Since the ruby bath seemed to help so much you could try that again and consider daily or frequent dips while you observe. The FW dips IME are super stressful on the fish and I always see them breathing rapidly afterwards. You can try hyposalinity too, that can seem to ease metabolic demand and might help the breathing rate while they’re fighting whatever it is off.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

You might right. It’s difficult to determine the diagnosis without more evidence of specific disease. Have you done a complete testing of all parameters? Since the ruby bath seemed to help so much you could try that again and consider daily or frequent dips while you observe. The FW dips IME are super stressful on the fish and I always see them breathing rapidly afterwards. You can try hyposalinity too, that can seem to ease metabolic demand and might help the breathing rate while they’re fighting whatever it is off.

Ammonia 0 (badge Safe) , 1.025SG, 76F, 8.2PH.

Nitrites are high! 1 on red sea.... Does copper or GC effect this? Or is it a legit reading? I haven't been testing nitrites, just doing a weekly WC (25%) and dosing prime inbetween.

Dosed prime (1.6ml for 16 gal).

Will be doing a WC when I get home or just straight do a transfer to another tank.... Leaning to straight transfer to to clean QT

 

[Reef AquaCult]

Definitely agree w large water change. Nitrites very high. Don’t think meds affect nitrite but would have to research it to be sure.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Definitely agree w large water change. Nitrites very high. Don’t think meds affect nitrite but would have to research it to be sure.

We're out right now as rodi coming to temp.

When I get back, plan on doing a 90 rally bath or maybe methelyn blue.

Then either 75-100% water chnage on copper tank back to 2.0 or fresh QT no copper.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

30 min methylene Blue bath then fresh QT no meds. 6 hours later they are eating.

So I guess that's something. At this point going to observe and see if there are any signs of..... Something? Or nothing....

 

[Sixty7x]

It's nice to hear some good news. Let's hope this continues. my fingers are crossed for your clowns

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

It's nice to hear some good news. Let's hope this continues. my fingers are crossed for your clowns

Thank you. I'm just happy to see them eager to eat... And then actually eat.

Now it's a waiting game.