Clownfish with Fin Rot

[Aaron Soliz]

Hi everyone,

Asking this question for a friend of mine that is not on this website.

My question is... his clownfish is at the very early stages of fin rot. He has a few other fish in the tank. He is going to QT the clown that has fin rot but what about the other few fish he has along with his aquarium?

Will other fish catch it?

Is there a way to cure his aquarium from the infection staying in the tank?

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[Uncle99]

Yes, others can catch, it’s an infection.
Usually coincides with poor water quality and/or stress.

Erythromycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective against fin rot, should be the first medication administered.

If a secondary fungal infection has developed, chemically-based antifungals such as methylene blue can be employed.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi everyone,

Asking this question for a friend of mine that is not on this website.

My question is... his clownfish is at the very early stages of fin rot. He has a few other fish in the tank. He is going to QT the clown that has fin rot but what about the other few fish he has along with his aquarium?

Will other fish catch it?

Is there a way to cure his aquarium from the infection staying in the tank?

Thanks,
Aaron

Can you post a pic or two of the fish to verify what you have ?
Additionally, ethromyacin is for eye infections, not fin rot, however Maracyn 2 would address this although preferred is seachem neoplex in a quarantine setting

 

[Aaron Soliz]

Can you post a pic or two of the fish to verify what you have ?
Additionally, ethromyacin is for eye infections, not fin rot, however Maracyn 2 would address this although preferred is seachem neoplex in a quarantine setting

I have no photos of the little guy. I would have to get some from my buddy of mine. i can tell the tail is shorter than normal. Has white at the tip. I am 100% though it is fin rot.

 

[Aaron Soliz]

Yes, others can catch, it’s an infection.
Usually coincides with poor water quality and/or stress.

Erythromycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective against fin rot, should be the first medication administered.

If a secondary fungal infection has developed, chemically-based antifungals such as methylene blue can be employed.

Would he need to treat the aquarium? besides pulling out the infected fish?

If so, how does he go about it since has has corals in there.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have no photos of the little guy. I would have to get some from my buddy of mine. i can tell the tail is shorter than normal. Has white at the tip. I am 100% though it is fin rot.

If another clown is present, can be aggression. You dont want to treat if a condition is not present. If you have a cell phone, you can capture pics on the spot

 

[Aaron Soliz]

If another clown is present, can be aggression. You dont want to treat if a condition is not present. If you have a cell phone, you can capture pics on the spot

No aggression on the smaller clown.
Not the best photo but i can tell his tail is shorter than when he did get it 3 days back

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have no photos of the little guy. I would have to get some from my buddy of mine. i can tell the tail is shorter than normal. Has white at the tip. I am 100% though it is fin rot.

Fin rot, as a primary infection is virtually unheard of. It is almost always a secondary infection to some injury. Most often, that injury is from other fish attacking it. You may not see it happen, but a few well placed bites by another fish can start this sort of damage.
The best thing to do is separate this fish in a treatment tank and dose with a broad spectrum gram negative antibiotic.
If the tail bone becomes infected, the fish may not be able to be saved though.
Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

No aggression on the smaller clown.
Not the best photo but i can tell his tail is shorter than when he did get it 3 days back

Sorry but pic extremely dark and fuzzy to determine anything

 

[Aaron Soliz]

Fin rot, as a primary infection is virtually unheard of. It is almost always a secondary infection to some injury. Most often, that injury is from other fish attacking it. You may not see it happen, but a few well placed bites by another fish can start this sort of damage.
The best thing to do is separate this fish in a treatment tank and dose with a broad spectrum gram negative antibiotic.
If the tail bone becomes infected, the fish may not be able to be saved though.
Jay

Hi Jay,

Thank you for sharing. I felt that it was too. He is moving the fish to a QT tank right now. With his current set up... what advise can I share with him on that? Since he has corals and a few other fish... should he do a big water change or add some type of chemical so it kills it if the infection is in the water now.

 

[Aaron Soliz]

Sorry but pic extremely dark and fuzzy to determine anything

No worries. Question I have is if it is fin rot... what is the necessary thing to do to treat the display aquarium and how long to wait to add more fish down the road.

 

[vetteguy53081]

No worries. Question I have is if it is fin rot... what is the necessary thing to do to treat the display aquarium and how long to wait to add more fish down the road.

Best treatment is alwys a quarantine tank which is as simple as a starter kit from walmart which has all the essentials to get started.
If it is Not an option, you can use Ruby Rally Pro which will take longer with treatment but make it a last resort.

 

[Aaron Soliz]

Best treatment is alwys a quarantine tank which is as simple as a starter kit from walmart which has all the essentials to get started.
If it is Not an option, you can use Ruby Rally Pro which will take longer with treatment but make it a last resort.

He is currently doing the QT tank. Setting it up and what not. He just isn’t sure what to do with his tank. His question and mine would be if he adds future fish… will they catch it. If so, is there a procedure to kill it off in his tank without affecting other corals, water, rock or whatever else is in there.

 

[vetteguy53081]

He is currently doing the QT tank. Setting it up and what not. He just isn’t sure what to do with his tank. His question and mine would be if he adds future fish… will they catch it. If so, is there a procedure to kill it off in his tank without affecting other corals, water, rock or whatever else is in there.

Keep an eye on them and move to quarantine if needed ( The value of a QT tank )

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi Jay,

Thank you for sharing. I felt that it was too. He is moving the fish to a QT tank right now. With his current set up... what advise can I share with him on that? Since he has corals and a few other fish... should he do a big water change or add some type of chemical so it kills it if the infection is in the water now.

Fin rot is not contagious, the bacteria that causes it is in every aquarium. You just need to treat the affected fish by separating it and dosing with antibiotics, you don’t have to do anything to the main tank.
Jay