Clownfish with ich and fungus?

[Deej1534]

This is a follow-up post from an earlier one where I thought my clown had ich so I moved it to a quarantine tank with the clown it’s paired with. The second seems fine no bumps or anything however the first one only seems to be only getting worse. It’s been in qt for about 2-2 1/2 weeks and I am seeing the parasites now developing over my clowns eyes. I took them out together because they’re mated and figured both would have it. Also they can be aggressive when I add new fish so when I added a few new clowns I wanted them to be out of the tank. Is this ich? I am using fritz copper safe, doing peroxide bathes 1-2 times a week and also have rid-ich which was just a secondary treatment. Any help would be great. She really isn’t looking too good. I also have an an api fungus cure I could use if this looks more like a fungus.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is a follow-up post from an earlier one where I thought my clown had ich so I moved it to a quarantine tank with the clown it’s paired with. The second seems fine no bumps or anything however the first one only seems to be only getting worse. It’s been in qt for about 2-2 1/2 weeks and I am seeing the parasites now developing over my clowns eyes. I took them out together because they’re mated and figured both would have it. Also they can be aggressive when I add new fish so when I added a few new clowns I wanted them to be out of the tank. Is this ich? I am using fritz copper safe, doing peroxide bathes 1-2 times a week and also have rid-ich which was just a secondary treatment. Any help would be great. She really isn’t looking too good. I also have an an api fungus cure I could use if this looks more like a fungus.

Not ich or fungus but common clown ailment known as Brooklynella (Brook for short).
The most significant sign is the amount of slime on its body. The thick mucus on its body is a second sign which is noticeable on the fish. This mucus generally starts at the facial area as well as gills and spreads across the body producing lesions as it progresses often confused with ich and can turn into secondary bacteria. Other symptoms will be lethargic behavior, refusing to eat and heavy breathing from the mucus.
Typical treatment is a formalin solution is mixed with in a separate container with either fresh or saltwater. Start with a quick dip in the formalin at a higher concentration then performing treatment in a prolonged bath of formalin base at a lower concentration in a quarantine tank. The longer the fish are exposed to the formalin treatment the more effective it will be at eliminating this issue.
If a formalin solution is not available for immediate use, temporary relief can be achieved by giving the fish a FW bath or dip in water same temperature as display tank. Even though this treatment will not cure the disease, it can help to remove some of the parasites, as well as reduce the amount of mucus in the gills to assist with respiration problems.
Treatment is best done in a QT tank using either quick cure (more effective) or Ruby Rally Pro. Ruby takes a little longer and initial treatment generally takes 2-3 days to really start going to work.

 

[Deej1534]

Will the copper safe I have not work?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Will the copper safe I have not work?

No - Thats for ich parasite. Quick cure is best , otherwise ruby Rally Pro

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Will the copper safe I have not work?

Has this fish been in full copper for 2 /12 weeks?

The eye seems to be mucus, not directly a parasite.

Jay

 

[Cal]

throw it in the toilet. let it sit there for about 15 sec or less. put it back in the tank and see if it works

 

[Deej1534]

throw it in the toilet. let it sit there for about 15 sec or less. put it back in the tank and see if it works

Huh lol?

 

[Deej1534]

Has this fish been in full copper for 2 /12 weeks?

The eye seems to be mucus, not directly a parasite.

Jay

Yeah it has been in the coppersafe for the whole qt time

 

[LeftyReefer]

throw it in the toilet. let it sit there for about 15 sec or less. put it back in the tank and see if it works

Huh lol?

I think he's suggesting you can do a freshwater dip on it, but doing it in a toilet isn't necessary. a bucket, bowl, or any container will suffice.

 

[Frank SM]

Wilkerson (Clownfishes: A Guide to Their Captive Care, Breeding & Natural History) recommends a 15 min fresh water dip for Brook. I've only lost 1 pair of clowns to disease but they were barely alive when they arrived and were dead within 24 hours, not really enough time to effectively treat the various diseases they were riddled with. The fact that yours has survived 2 1/2 weeks is a good sign but you should move towards more broad based treatment, not just ich.

Ignore Cal's comment. It was not helpful.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I think he's suggesting you can do a freshwater dip on it, but doing it in a toilet isn't necessary. a bucket, bowl, or any container will suffice.

But 15 seconds is a ridiculous recommendation - serves no purpose, but with all the stress associated with capturing the fish. 5 minutes is the standard time for a FW dip.
Jay

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Wilkerson (Clownfishes: A Guide to Their Captive Care, Breeding & Natural History) recommends a 15 min fresh water dip for Brook. I've only lost 1 pair of clowns to disease but they were barely alive when they arrived and were dead within 24 hours, not really enough time to effectively treat the various diseases they were riddled with. The fact that yours has survived 2 1/2 weeks is a good sign but you should move towards more broad based treatment, not just ich.

Ignore Cal's comment. It was not helpful.

Joyce was pretty old school (like me!) but 15 minutes is too long for a pure FW dip. Five minutes is standard. You can usually do 15 minutes in 10% seawater, but I find shorter, pure FW dips are easier to manage.
Jay

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yeah it has been in the coppersafe for the whole qt time

O.K., that helps rule out uncontrolled ich. Brook isn’t cured by copper, so although it doesn’t look like classic Brook, that may be it.
Jay

 

[Frank SM]

In the case of any dip, I never leave the fish. If they start to show signs of excessive stress, I stop.

 

[Frank SM]

Joyce was pretty old school (like me!) but 15 minutes is too long for a pure FW dip. Five minutes is standard. You can usually do 15 minutes in 10% seawater, but I find shorter, pure FW dips are easier to manage.
Jay

I'm old school as well...maybe. After taking 3 years off and getting back into the hobby, I've learned a lot has changed in 36 short months!

 

[Frank SM]

O.K., that helps rule out uncontrolled ich. Brook isn’t cured by copper, so although it doesn’t look like classic Brook, that may be it.
Jay

From what I understand, most fish wouldn't survive 2 1/2 weeks with Brook. That's why I'm wondering if a more broad spectrum treatment plan makes more sense?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

From what I understand, most fish wouldn't survive 2 1/2 weeks with Brook. That's why I'm wondering if a more broad spectrum treatment plan makes more sense?

What treatment are you considering?
It could be bacterial…..but I keep coming back to it being protozoan….just from how it looks.
Jay

 

[Frank SM]

After 2 1/2 weeks in copper, I would do a freshwater dip at least 5 min then go with @vetteguy53081 with Ruby Rally Pro. I've never tried it and I can't seem to find the ingredients in their "proprietary blend" but it seems to be easier than dosing metronidazole and kanamycin separately.

 

[LeftyReefer]

After 2 1/2 weeks in copper, I would do a freshwater dip at least 5 min then go with @vetteguy53081 with Ruby Rally Pro. I've never tried it and I can't seem to find the ingredients in their "proprietary blend" but it seems to be easier than dosing metronidazole and kanamycin separately.

Rally Pro contains a proprietary mixture of effective antiprotazoan and antibacterial medications including acriflavine, aminoacridine, and formalin.

 

[Deej1534]

I am going to do a freshwater and hydrogen peroxide bath today and see how that helps. I mean he did have ich to beging with see photo and the copper safe says it will help kill all parasites including brook. Is this not true? When I did a freshwater dip before he last like 1 min and stopped moving so I quickly grabbed him and put him back in the qt