Dead clowns

[KingJuleigh]

Ok so I lost a seemingly healthy clown on I believe Tuesday, I did a water check and everything was spot on, I inspected the body and everything was normal, well yesterday I noticed a few white spots on my other clown and when night lights came on it showed that she was covered in white spots, which I am assuming is ich. So I wake up this morning and she is dead, I have 2 other fish and a few inverts and 12 pieces of coral in my tank, do I treat for ich if the other fish aren’t showing signs?

 

[Blutspitze]

Sorry to hear about the losses ... never fun....

That said, I had a similar issue with clowns when I first started - with the fast death and no signs on other fish it sounds like it could be Brooklynella. It's related to ich, but specifically affects the Damselfish family, including clowns. My fish were only in the tank ~2 days. Wait ~6-8 weeks for the parasites to fully cycle and die off and you'll be good.

If the timeline doesn't add up well, it's probably garden variety ich and best course would be a QT/hospital tank if you can make one. Copper treatments can be done in your main tank, but it'll kill all your inverts and the corals will become very unhappy. You can also try adding garlic to the food and/or some of the anti parasite formulas available, they can help stave it off.

 

[KingJuleigh]

Sorry to hear about the losses ... never fun....

That said, I had a similar issue with clowns when I first started - with the fast death and no signs on other fish it sounds like it could be Brooklynella. It's related to ich, but specifically affects the Damselfish family, including clowns. My fish were only in the tank ~2 days. Wait ~6-8 weeks for the parasites to fully cycle and die off and you'll be good.

If the timeline doesn't add up well, it's probably garden variety ich and best course would be a QT/hospital tank if you can make one. Copper treatments can be done in your main tank, but it'll kill all your inverts and the corals will become very unhappy. You can also try adding garlic to the food and/or some of the anti parasite formulas available, they can help stave it off.

I went to my local fish store and described the problem, he suggested that it was ich and wants me to use a parasite remedy at half dose because of my corals and inverts, is brooklynella parasitic and would the parasite remedy take care of it?

 

[Blutspitze]

I went to my local fish store and described the problem, he suggested that it was ich and wants me to use a parasite remedy at half dose because of my corals and inverts, is brooklynella parasitic and would the parasite remedy take care of it?

Yes, Brook is another parasite, but if you don't have or plan any damselfish (basically clowns and damsels) in the tank, nothing will be infected. What are you currently stocked with?

If you don't have other damselfish, it's safest to get the remedy and have it on hand, then use it if you see signs on the other fish. If you don't see anything on the others, wait 6 weeks for things to die off/make certain there's no signs on the other fish. It's always better if you can avoid using the chemicals.

 

[KingJuleigh]

Yes, Brook is another parasite, but if you don't have or plan any damselfish (basically clowns and damsels) in the tank, nothing will be infected. What are you currently stocked with?

If you don't have other damselfish, it's safest to get the remedy and have it on hand, then use it if you see signs on the other fish. If you don't see anything on the others, wait 6 weeks for things to die off/make certain there's no signs on the other fish. It's always better if you can avoid using the chemicals.

Now what I have in my tank:
1 scooter blenny
1 firefish
1 coral banded shrimp
2 turbo snails
2 red legged hermit crabs (babies)
Feather duster
4 types of zoas
Hammer
Toad stool
Duncan
Green star polyp
Kenya tree

 

[KingJuleigh]

Yes, Brook is another parasite, but if you don't have or plan any damselfish (basically clowns and damsels) in the tank, nothing will be infected. What are you currently stocked with?

If you don't have other damselfish, it's safest to get the remedy and have it on hand, then use it if you see signs on the other fish. If you don't see anything on the others, wait 6 weeks for things to die off/make certain there's no signs on the other fish. It's always better if you can avoid using the chemicals.

Am I waiting to add any fish for 6 weeks or just clowns and damsels?

 

[Blutspitze]

Am I waiting to add any fish for 6 weeks or just clowns and damsels?

Clowns and damsels for sure, but adding nothing is safest while you wait to observe if there are any issues with the other fish.

 

[absowry]

Brooklynella can affect any fish, not just damsels. Damsels are more prone to it than others.

What you're describing sounds like Brook. Brook can be treated very easily, but it uses different meds than ich. I would recommend checking out the post below about what Brook is and how to treat for it.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/brooklynella.247938/&share_tid=247938&share_fid=1020&share_type=t

**EDIT**
As with most treatment options, they should be done with the fish in qt and the tank running fallow for the designated amount of time. Most of the meds we use are NOT invert or coral safe.

 

[SandJ]

Did it look like the clown’s skin was peeling off? Or that it was covered in powdered sugar/very fine grains of salt?
With the speed it killed the fish it sounds like velvet could also be a possibility.
Any pictures?