Ick or ?

[FollowTheBubbles]

Hello-
I bought 3 fish (a pair of TR clowns and a TR neon cleaner goby) and put them in a 20L QT for observation and am setting up for a TT method. I’ve had them a few weeks and they are eating well. The goby is tiny and separated from clowns with tank divider for social acclimation.
The goby has developed white spots on fins and body. His gills are flared. He isn’t itching/flashing or anything but definitely struggling. I think most of the spots are on his fins but they are also easier
to see there.
No signs of anything on the clowns. I keep thinking there’s something wrong with them but I think they are just goofballs.
I really appreciate any help!

 

[jsker]

Pretty hard to tell, I would suggest to start treatment with metroplex with focus to bind the med to frozen food along with vitamin c for stress. See if you can get some better pictures

 

[melypr1985]

Depending on his size (guessing pretty darn small), that could very well be ich. I agree with jsker though, a good clear picture would do a lot of good here.

 

[FollowTheBubbles]

Thank you guys. I’ll give the pics another go. The little dude is hard to photograph!

 

[FollowTheBubbles]

Do you think I should move them to the TTM tank as well as doing the medicated food? Also, is there any reason to separate him from the pair of clowns, who are (I assume) exposed but not symptomatic?

 

[ihavecrabs]

Do you think I should move them to the TTM tank as well as doing the medicated food? Also, is there any reason to separate him from the pair of clowns, who are (I assume) exposed but not symptomatic?

Hey there,

Yes, if it is ich, they are all exposed. I would suggest the same as above. You can certainly start TTM, feed high quality foods with metro and focus + VitC.

I would only separate if you see aggression. How small are the clowns?

 

[ihavecrabs]

@melypr1985 @4FordFamily

Would you also dose some Epsom salt to reduce swelling. If anything, I was thinking this guy will perish from swelling in the gills due to his size if that is truly Ich

 

[4FordFamily]

@melypr1985 @4FordFamily

Would you also dose some Epsom salt to reduce swelling. If anything, I was thinking this guy will perish from swelling in the gills due to his size if that is truly Ich

I probably wouldn’t as I don’t see it helping much here and any unnecessary change to water chemistry may stress it further in this case that’s a pretty bad case of ich.

 

[Humblefish]

Are these spots protruding outward? Like hanging off him? If so, I would consider Lympho (or some other viral growth) as a possibility: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lymphocystis.257461/

One way to tell is this: Do the white spots dangle when he swims into the flow of a pump?

 

[FollowTheBubbles]

Yes, the ones on his sides do stick out a fair bit. I’m not sure that they dangle though. I was having a hard time matching him to the disease guide pictures. Was looking at Lympho and Ick... and really hoping it wasn’t early stage Velvet. I was hoping my 2nd picture would show how much they protrude, but the photo quality isn’t good. The big white spots on the top side are attached. The filter/flow is on the clown side of the barrier so he doesn’t have much to swim into. He mostly stays in or on top of his tube “cave”. Not sure if it helps but some of the same type of fish from the same batch at the LFS are now displaying the same symptoms.
How do I add Vit C? How much do I use?
Thank You SO much for all of your help!!!

Are these spots protruding outward? Like hanging off him? If so, I would consider Lympho (or some other viral growth) as a possibility: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lymphocystis.257461/

One way to tell is this: Do the white spots dangle when he swims into the flow of a pump?

 

[FollowTheBubbles]

The female clown is pretty big. Not huge but adult. I don’t think she could actually eat him (I hope) but she definitely could harass him. I thought the whole situation was iffy which is why they have the divider. I was thinking I might put him in one of those freshwater breeding boxes inside the transfer tank. Does that sound reasonable?
Thank you!



QUOTE="ihavecrabs, post: 4694785, member: 48142"]Hey there,

Yes, if it is ich, they are all exposed. I would suggest the same as above. You can certainly start TTM, feed high quality foods with metro and focus + VitC.

I would only separate if you see aggression. How small are the clowns?[/QUOTE]

 

[ihavecrabs]

Probably a good idea, but you would need two go one can dry fully between transfers

 

[Humblefish]

How do I add Vit C? How much do I use?

Easiest thing to do would be to soak one of the vitamin products listed here in his food: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/vitamins-herbal-remedies.304287/

 

[FollowTheBubbles]

That’s no problem. I’ve got years worth of freshwater stuff in my garage... and salt stuff and horse stuff. Lol. I went with a floating hard plastic one that seems to be working well. The clowns look a bit like Jaws circling beneath so a good call I’m sure!

Probably a good idea, but you would need two go one can dry fully between transfers

 

[FollowTheBubbles]

Awesome! Thank you! I’ll see what I can get started.

Easiest thing to do would be to soak one of the vitamin products listed here in his food: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/vitamins-herbal-remedies.304287/

 

[FollowTheBubbles]

Second shot at better picture quality! Not sure if it’s any more helpful.

 

[Brian1f1]

It looks a lot like ick to me.

 

[Humblefish]

It looks a lot like ick to me.

^^ Agreed; I would probably treat for ich just to be on the safe side: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-cryptocaryon-irritans.191226/

 

[FollowTheBubbles]

That’s good! Well, better than some other things anyway. I’m on day 2 of Tank Transfer Method so hopefully we’ll be able to kick it. At the very least it sounds like the clowns (no spots and looking good) should be ok. Fingers crossed. The goby is hanging in there like a little tiny boss.

Do you guys think I need to medicate/treat beyond the food and tank transfer? I was planning to do PraziPro anyway. Should I be adding anything?

I was sad to read that the fish treated with Formalin often don’t live that long. I know at least the clowns, not sure on the goby, were treated with the strongest prescription strength stuff at the LFS. I wasn’t sure about having clowns as my primary fish because they seemed like such an “obvious choice” but they have so much personality and are turning into total pets. I may think differently about it when they own the display tank and bite me though. Lol.

Thanks SO much for all of the help and the wonderful resources! I’m learning tons!

Also, I didn’t know I was supposed to QT coral and snails, everyone told me that playing it safe was dipping the coral.

 

[Brian1f1]

That’s good! Well, better than some other things anyway. I’m on day 2 of Tank Transfer Method so hopefully we’ll be able to kick it. At the very least it sounds like the clowns (no spots and looking good) should be ok. Fingers crossed. The goby is hanging in there like a little tiny boss.

Do you guys think I need to medicate/treat beyond the food and tank transfer? I was planning to do PraziPro anyway. Should I be adding anything?

I was sad to read that the fish treated with Formalin often don’t live that long. I know at least the clowns, not sure on the goby, were treated with the strongest prescription strength stuff at the LFS. I wasn’t sure about having clowns as my primary fish because they seemed like such an “obvious choice” but they have so much personality and are turning into total pets. I may think differently about it when they own the display tank and bite me though. Lol.

Thanks SO much for all of the help and the wonderful resources! I’m learning tons!

Also, I didn’t know I was supposed to QT coral and snails, everyone told me that playing it safe was dipping the coral.

I wouldn’t worry about past treatments, clowns are cool, I love them. Glad your learning!

As far as medicating I would. My experience is Neon gobies are only moderately hardy, when they die, they die quickly.