Please help save clownfish

[SDReefer]

Hello everyone, please help me in diagnosing and treating this clownfish. It lives at my grandparents' house, so I don't get to see it on a daily basis. It is surprising that it is getting sick now, considering that it has been a year since it was introduced to the tank with no problems whatsoever.

Its breathing is labored and it is resting on the bottom of the quarantine bucket. I suspect Brooklynella, but am not experienced whatsoever with fish disease.

The only medication I have on hand is Cupramine, so the clownfish is currently in a 2 gallon container with a heater and airstone, treated with 1/4 mL Cupramine. The soonest I could get other medication is tomorrow afternoon.

Should I increase the dosage? Freshwater dip? Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

Pics:

@Humblefish
#ReefSquad

 

[Flippers4pups]

Fin and tall rot probably from secondary infection. How long is this clown looked like this?

 

[Amoo]

Any idea why his fins look chewed up?

 

[SDReefer]

Thankfully I was there last Friday and the clownfish looked nothing like that. I did a 40% water change on their tank. It was retreated into a corner and "hovering" by a rock very close to the sandbed. My grandfather says that the other clownfish in the tank was chasing/biting it, which is probably the cause of the torn fins.

 

[Amoo]

It's really tough to tell, and Humble may have a better answer, but it appeared to me at first glance to be bruising (the red) and the torn fins indicative of getting the crap beat out of him.

For starters, I don't want to rule out disease, but that's not really my area of expertise, so please let's make sure we don't lose sight of that possibility. In that regards, I'm sure mention of any new tank mates in the last 3-4 months may help humble out, or any major recent changes to the tank that would/could have induced stress.

In regards to the two clowns, are they both the same kind, have you had them both the same amount of time and are they both currently about equal size?

 

[SDReefer]

I bought the two ocellaris clowns last March. They were both around the same size. One was slightly larger than the other, and that one became the female. So it is possible that they were fighting to establish dominance. The other clown is significantly larger than this one now.

I am concerned since the clown is right now laying on the bottom of the tank. It looks dead, but occasionally swims to the surface and falls back down.

The only addition to the tank was a peppermint shrimp in November.

It is a 10 gallon tank, 11 lbs live rock, no corals, just the two clowns and peppermint shrimp. The large water change could have induced stress, since the tank only gets a large water change around once a month.

 

[SDReefer]

What medication should I look for? I might be able to get Melafix from the local Petsmart, but that's it until tomorrow.

 

[Amoo]

So this is only an anectdote so take that for what it is.

I lost a new addition last year (not a clown) that displayed similar traits as to what your pictures are showing here. What happened with my fish was my devils-spawn Blue Tang chased my new fish underneath a cliff in the rockwork and the fish clipped it's tail on the rock, resulting in internal bruising like yours is showing along with a spot where the scales were rubbed off towards the rear fin, also similar to what yours is showing.

Again, I can not say for certain this is what happened in your case, and I again don't want to rule out disease, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time, especially with clowns, I have seen where the female "accidently" killed the male as they got older, especially living in such a small space as a 10 gallon.

I know this doesn't necessarily help you with any solutions, but it may help explain what happened.

 

[Amoo]

What medication should I look for? I might be able to get Melafix from the local Petsmart, but that's it until tomorrow.

Melafix is probably where I would start if he makes it through the night. If you have the ability I would definitely keep him in some type of QT/RX tank even if it is that bucket, just keeping an eye on things. He for sure looks like he needs some R&R and hopefully he's able to recover from those wounds IF that is indeed what's going on here.

 

[SDReefer]

Melafix is probably where I would start if he makes it through the night. If you have the ability I would definitely keep him in some type of QT/RX tank even if it is that bucket, just keeping an eye on things. He for sure looks like he needs some R&R and hopefully he's able to recover from those wounds IF that is indeed what's going on here.

Thank you for your reply! At this point, everything is helpful.

 

[Amoo]

I should also note, as I went back and read everything a second time, if it were me I would go without the copper for the night. If Humble or one of the other disease guys get on here and think it may be more disease, you can always add it back in. Copper is rough on fish as it is, starting with one who already looks so compromised without first verifying it's compromised due to something that could be treated with copper may have unintended consequences and only make his potential road to recovery a little tough.

Good luck with your male. I've had my main pair for 4/5 years now and I'd be devastated if I lost either one of them. In a time of chaos like this, I often times remind myself to breath. It helps.

 

[Big G]

Many LFS use Nitrofuracine Green Powder to treat newly arrived fish that have been "roughed" up during shipment.

My other go to for similar condition fish is Ruby Reef Rally (acriflavine). It has both antiseptic and antibiotic qualities. RRR works best in a bath. And it is also used as a treatment for Brooklynella.

From Humblefish's treatment advisory:

Acriflavine: This is an antiseptic that is very useful for rendering “first aid” if a fish has a bacterial infection or to treat an open wound. It can also be used as part of a “three step program” for treating Marine Velvet Disease: 5 minute freshwater dip, 75-90 minute acriflavine bath, and then prolonged exposure to copper or Chloroquine phosphate in a Quarantine Tank (QT).

There is also some anecdotal evidence that a 75-90 minute acriflavine bath, followed by transfer into a sterile Quarantine Tank can clear Brooklynella aka clownfish disease. However, until more research is done it is recommended to follow up the acriflavine bath by treating with metronidazole in the Quarantine Tank.

How To Treat – At present time there are two products on the market which contain acriflavine (dosage information below). Use either in a 75-90 minute bath, temperature controlling the water and providing plenty of aeration by using an air pump & air-stone. Ensure salinity, pH and temperature of bath & QT water match perfectly.

Acriflavine-MS: Add 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons of water.

Ruby Reef Rally: Add 1 ounce per 10 gallons of water. This breaks down to roughly 2/3 teaspoon of Rally per gallon if using less than 10 gallons.

Pros – Effective “pre-treatment” before fish is placed in QT with copper, antibiotics, etc.; milder/safer alternative to using formalin.

Cons/Side Effects – Turns the water an orange-brownish color, so probably not desirable for Quarantine or Display Tank use. Full range of positive effects and possible side effects are not completely understood at this time.

 

[melypr1985]

I agree with the acriflavin bath for sure. I think this needs antibiotics and quickly. If you can get ahold of kanaplex or furan2... or any wide spectrum antibiotic (there are several out there, these two are just what come to my mind first) then you'll want to start that right after the bath. I don't think the copper is needed just now.

 

[Humblefish]

Has anything new been added to his tank? Even corals/inverts?

 

[LadyMac]

How’s he doing today? I agree he looks quite beat up.

 

[SDReefer]

Thank you everyone for your replies and advice. No corals were added, and the only invert is the shrimp.

Sadly, the clownfish passed away. I will keep it in the bucket overnight just in case.

 

[Amoo]

Thank you everyone for your replies and advice. No corals were added, and the only invert is the shrimp.

Sadly, the clownfish passed away. I will keep it in the bucket overnight just in case.

Sorry for your loss, not going to lie it looked worse then mine did and mine barely made it 36 hours . I don't honestly feel there is much you can do when one gets roughed up that bad unfortunately.

 

[LadyMac]

Thank you everyone for your replies and advice. No corals were added, and the only invert is the shrimp.

Sadly, the clownfish passed away. I will keep it in the bucket overnight just in case.

Oh I’m so sorry. Hopefully it was just a case of bullying and no issue with disease or parasites.

 

[Big G]

Sorry for your loss