Clownfish with Fin Rot

[John Minnix]

All,

I'm pretty new to the hobby. I purchased a clownfish two weeks ago. The little guy was doing great for a week or so, but then is tail turned white and part of it rotted off. I took pics into the LFS where I bought it and they determined it was likely fin rot. I moved it into my hospital tank and have been dosing with Furan-2 per their instructions with water changes, etc.

I am now at the end of the four day cycle. The Furan-2 instructions say "Treatment may be repeated, if necessary." How do I know if it is necessary?

The fish seems to be doing pretty well. It has always been eating. It was less active for the first few days of the Furan-2 treatment, but is active again the last few days. His tail is mostly gone but doesn't seems to be spreading to other parts of the body.

I'm including pics. The first is the day I noticed the fin rot before I moved him to the hospital tank. The second is today after four days of Furan-2 which represents one full cycle of the meds per the instructions.

Any input on what I should do next would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your input!

John

 

[HotRocks]

Furan-2 Should be used for 10-14 Consecutive days, even if you see improvement.

 

[melypr1985]

Generally the instructions should be ignored when using antibiotics. You'll follow the dosing amounts per gallon, but you'll dose it every other day after a water change and do that for a minimum of 10 days. Longer is possible, but never cut it off before the ten days.

 

[Big G]

+ 1 to all above ^^^ plus feed the clown some excellent quality food with some Selcon to help its immune system. Check out this link to @jsker his food smoothie is awesome for your fish. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/preparing-frozen-foods-for-my-fish-and-corals.300448/#post-3677350

And welcome to R2R! Lots of very kind and helpful people here.

 

[John Minnix]

Thanks. So you recommend dosing every other day vs. every day then? I've been dosing every day for four days per the instructions on the box.

 

[HotRocks]

I thought Furan-2 was daily, then if you were to add metroplex and kanaplex, those two would be every other day. But I could be wrong.

 

[melypr1985]

I thought Furan-2 was daily, then if you were to add metroplex and kanaplex, those two would be every other day. But I could be wrong.

I've always done every other day... especially when I'm doing the trifecta.

 

[HotRocks]

I've always done every other day... especially when I'm doing the trifecta.

You'd know better than I! You are in the business! If it works, it works!

 

[John Minnix]

I've always done every other day... especially when I'm doing the trifecta.

Thanks, Meredith. Should I be running more than just the Furan-2 then? What are the chances a fish like this gets better? The place that sold it to me said 50/50 and that they'd replace the fish if it didn't work out. Another LFS I went to wasn't as hopeful. I guess its a good sign the fish keeps eating and swimming around right? If it was about to die, I would assume it wouldn't be hungry, but I'm out of my depth here. Thanks again for your expertise!

 

[John Minnix]

Generally the instructions should be ignored when using antibiotics. You'll follow the dosing amounts per gallon, but you'll dose it every other day after a water change and do that for a minimum of 10 days. Longer is possible, but never cut it off before the ten days.

OK, so I have six packets of Furan-2 left. Your recommendation would be to go to every other day right after a water change, correct? That would stretch this out to a 16 day cycle with the original 4 days accounted for. Please let me know if I am missing anything . Thanks again!

 

[melypr1985]

OK, so I have six packets of Furan-2 left. Your recommendation would be to go to every other day right after a water change, correct? That would stretch this out to a 16 day cycle with the original 4 days accounted for. Please let me know if I am missing anything . Thanks again!

You got it. I'd say he has a decent chance since he's still eating. I've seen clowns come back from worse.

 

[John Minnix]

You got it. I'd say he has a decent chance since he's still eating. I've seen clowns come back from worse.

Meredith, thanks again for your insights. I followed your instructions and things have worked out well. The clown seems to be back to full strength and a good portion of the tail has grown back. Its back to swimming normally, as well.

Question for you: Do I need to wait for the tail to grow back fully before I move him to the main tank? Just two Chromis in the main tank as of now.

Thanks again!