New Clownfish with either Ich, Brook, or Velvet Help!

[ReefingDaily]

Hello everyone,

Last week I bought my first two fish which where just plain ocellaris clowns. At the LFS they looked very happy with great coloration. I was sure to check for any signs of illness an didn’t notice anything. I took them home and acclimated them with temp first and then drip acclimation. I know, I should’ve QT’d them. They still seemed very happy although they wouldn’t eat the Omega one pellets I bought. Even when I soaked them in a garlic concentrate. The good sign was that they were actively hunting my pod population which was quite large.

Two days later, as I turn on the moon light I notice one of the clown is covered in spots, but is swimming around just fine. The other clown seemed normal with no spots what so ever. The next day I ordered some of Ruby Reefs Kick Ich which would arrive in two days. Without a hospital tank on hand I decided to bump the temp up to 78 degrees. This seemed to cause the lethargic spotted fish to become more active instead staying on the bottom. The strange thing was that in the morning the fish would be lethargic and then during the day it would almost seem fine.

Once I got the kick Ich followed the instructions and dosed. After one day it seemed like the white spots where clearing up. Unfortunately I knew something was still wrong as the fish was clearly losing color and its eyes looked like there was white stuff on it? It also was causing the fish to swim into things, rub against rocks, and swim through my hammer coral. Yesterday morning it looked pretty rough and when I returned I found him dead on the sand bed so I removed him. Now my main question is what could this be? It seems that it already found a new host as my other clown who was “healthy” is showing the same symptoms. There’s so white spots, but it looks like white is taking over if that makes sense?

If I could get some type of diagnosis and how to treat that would be helpful. I would love to be able to save this fish and am willing to get a hospital tank and treat with meds.

Tanks Parameters
Salinity 1.022
Nitrates 10 ppm
Ammonia & nitrites - undectable
Alk-9
PH-8.2

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Sorry about your loss, my guess is velvet. How does the other one look

#reefsquad

 

[4FordFamily]

That looks like brook to me, perhaps velvet also. Sorry for the loss. I'd treat in copper and metropelx ASAP as it will take care of both. Metroplex for 14 days, copper for 30 (unless you can transfer to a sterile QT after 14 days sharing no equipment or anything with the first). I'd say it's definite that brook is involved.

You'll need to run the display tank fallow for 76 days.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/brooklynella.247938/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

 

[ReefingDaily]

That looks like brook to me, perhaps velvet also. Sorry for the loss. I'd treat in copper and metropelx ASAP as it will take care of both. Metroplex for 14 days, copper for 30 (unless you can transfer to a sterile QT after 14 days sharing no equipment or anything with the first). I'd say it's definite that brook is involved.

You'll need to run the display tank fallow for 76 days.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/brooklynella.247938/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

Thank you for the fast responses! I will try to get my hands on some copper and metroplex. Would you recommend Seachems Cupramine for copper? Also, since I’m going fallow for 6 weeks now, do you think it would be wise to pick up another clown and QT it along with the fish receiving medication? That way it could remain disease free for the fallow period and once that periods over I can transfer both to the display tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I agree with brook, common on clowns for some reason. Furan or metro as soon as you can grab some. PraziPro may work/help but the aforementioned, effective for sure

 

[ReefingDaily]

Sorry about your loss, my guess is velvet. How does the other one look

#reefsquad

The other one doesn’t look as rough as the first one did, but his time is definitely limited. I performed a freshwater dip yesterday which seemed to relieve him a bit, but that’s probably only temporary.

 

[4FordFamily]

Thank you for the fast responses! I will try to get my hands on some copper and metroplex. Would you recommend Seachems Cupramine for copper? Also, since I’m going fallow for 6 weeks now, do you think it would be wise to pick up another clown and QT it along with the fish receiving medication? That way it could remain disease free for the fallow period and once that periods over I can transfer both to the display tank?

I’d treat together. I’d also leave fallow for 76 days — might as well cover all of your bases.

I’d advise copper power or chelated copper over ionic copper such as cupramine and I’d source a Hanna copper checker for testing accuracy and ease.

 

[ReefingDaily]

I’d treat together. I’d also leave fallow for 76 days — might as well cover all of your bases.

I’d advise copper power or chelated copper over ionic copper such as cupramine and I’d source a Hanna copper checker for testing accuracy and ease.

Great. I’ll more than likely pick another one up to ease the stress of the other. Is there any reason you would pick those over ionic copper?

 

[4FordFamily]

Great. I’ll more than likely pick another one up to ease the stress of the other. Is there any reason you would pick those over ionic copper?

It's more gentle, and the therapeutic range is easier to maintain.

For ionic copper your band of effectiveness with the least risk of harm is .45-.55. For chelated copper it's 1.75-2.5. I would not use cupramine less than .5. by .6 or .7 your fish are at more risk of ill effects. This is harder to maintain, particularly if you're using the normal testing methods available at your LFS. The margin of error is greater than the band variance, add human error/observation error and it's immensely difficult to administer effectively, IMO.

 

[ReefingDaily]

Just an update: The sick clown looks great! He’s gotten his color back and is actively swimming around. He’s also finally starting to build an appetite for mysis. I just wish he would eat the pellets too lol. On the other hand, the newer clown I bought which is significantly smaller, appears to be having a hard time. After 2 days I noticed white spots. This time I wasn’t too worried as I had copper treatment on hand. He’s starting to look a bit better, but still is breathing rapidly and won’t eat. The worst part is that tonight I noticed some shredded fins. Not really knowing what to do I made a separator from eggcrate to separate the two. Is this a good idea while in QT?

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Just an update: The sick clown looks great! He’s gotten his color back and is actively swimming around. He’s also finally starting to build an appetite for mysis. I just wish he would eat the pellets too lol. On the other hand, the newer clown I bought which is significantly smaller, appears to be having a hard time. After 2 days I noticed white spots. This time I wasn’t too worried as I had copper treatment on hand. He’s starting to look a bit better, but still is breathing rapidly and won’t eat. The worst part is that tonight I noticed some shredded fins. Not really knowing what to do I made a separator from eggcrate to separate the two. Is this a good idea while in QT?

Yes if the female is nipping his fins keep them separated. Copper suppresses the immune system and you could develop a secondary bacterial infection from the injuries. I did the same with a pair of Maroons I have in QT because she was nipping him. Once out of QT (copper) I’ll let them finish the pairing process.