Please HELP with diagnosis...

[joshkirkland83]

This is my 10 year old maroon clown. She has a lesion, almost hole in her side and fin rot. Dont want to treat without knowing what is. Time is of the essence, thankyou for any help. Below is a video, hope it helps.

Josh

 

[Humblefish]

Any new additions to the tank recently? Any large aggressive fish which might have bitten her?

I don't know for sure what caused that but I know this much... You need to get her into a QT ASAP and treat with this combination of meds: Furan-2, Kanaplex & Metroplex (or Metro-MS). If you can't find all three, at least start with one of the antibiotics (Furan-2 or Kanaplex). That "lesion" is badly infected.

 

[joshkirkland83]

Any new additions to the tank recently? Any large aggressive fish which might have bitten her?

I don't know for sure what caused that but I know this much: You need to get her into a QT ASAP and treat with this combination of meds: Furan-2, Kanaplex & Metroplex (or Metro-MS). If you can't find all three, at least start with one of the antibiotics (Furan-2 or Kanaplex). That "lesion" is badly infected.

I added a black sailfin blenny. But she is over 5" long, she is the biggest and aggressive one. No other fish are affected. I have the blenny, 2 damsels and a male clown thats been with her for ten years. She has been scratching on my gsp for about a week before this popped up.

 

[Humblefish]

I added a black sailfin blenny. But she is over 5" long, she is the biggest and aggressive one. No other fish are affected. I have the blenny, 2 damsels and a male clown thats been with her for ten years. She has been scratching on my gsp for about a week before this popped up.

It sorta looks like Brooklynella (Google images of that and see what you think.) But it would have had to been brought in as a tomont (egg) on a new coral/invert. If he has been rubbing, that suggests an external parasite is also in play.

 

[Humblefish]

If it is brook, you might need either acriflavine or formalin. Metronidazole is supposed to treat brook, but I have zero experience using that drug on Brooklynella.

 

[joshkirkland83]

It sorta looks like Brooklynella (Google images of that and see what you think.) But it would have had to been brought in as a tomont (egg) on a new coral/invert. If he has been rubbing, that suggests an external parasite is also in play.

It started as looking like ich a week ago, after i began treatment, the fin rot started coming on and then she started scratching, and now this "hole". I just dont know what to treat for...

 

[Humblefish]

It started as looking like ich a week ago, after i began treatment, the fin rot started coming on and then she started scratching, and now this "hole". I just dont know what to treat for...

I would treat for the bacterial infection first, figure out the primary cause later. The infection will kill her before the parasite will.

 

[joshkirkland83]

I would treat for the bacterial infection first, figure out the primary cause later. The infection will kill her before the parasite will.

Ok. So treat her with all 3? If i cant get them at lfs tommorrow, is there somewhere i can get them overnighted to me offline?

 

[Humblefish]

Ok. So treat her with all 3? If i cant get them at lfs tommorrow, is there somewhere i can get them overnighted to me offline?

Yes. I just checked and this place has all 3: http://www.petmountain.com/

 

[Humblefish]

Me and my wife's babies are pulling for ya.

 

[joshkirkland83]

Thanks so much doc. Ill definitley keep you posted. My wife also says thankyou. Ill take all the help i can get.

 

[Humblefish]

Thanks so much doc. Ill definitley keep you posted. My wife also says thankyou. Ill take all the help i can get.

Good luck. Move fast, that infection looks serious.

 

[joshkirkland83]

Good luck. Move fast, that infection looks serious.

Doc, does the metroplex have to be ingested?

 

[Humblefish]

Doc, does the metroplex have to be ingested?

It works better if you dose it directly into the water. But only do this in a QT or a system with NO corals/inverts. You can use a binder (ex. Seachem Focus) to soak it in food, but this is just a "reef safe" alternative for using metro. It is not the preferred way.

 

[joshkirkland83]

Thanks. Shes in QT.

 

[joshkirkland83]

It works better if you dose it directly into the water. But only do this in a QT or a system with NO corals/inverts. You can use a binder (ex. Seachem Focus) to soak it in food, but this is just a "reef safe" alternative for using metro. It is not the preferred way.

She didnt make it doc, the wife is pretty upset. As am I. Will the male clown be ok without her? He has been with her 10 years.

 

[Humblefish]

She didnt make it doc, the wife is pretty upset. As am I. Will the male clown be ok without her? He has been with her 10 years.

Sorry to hear. That infection was pretty bad. I've lost fish in the 10-15 year old range, so I know how you feel right now...

Moving forward, the male clown may darken and morph into a female. If this happens, I recommend buying the smallest maroon you can for shim. You also need to keep a close eye on the male (and all your other fish as well.) I have a feeling there is a parasite lurking in your tank which started all of this.

 

[joshkirkland83]

Sorry to hear. That infection was pretty bad. I've lost fish in the 10-15 year old range, so I know how you feel right now...

Moving forward, the male clown may darken and morph into a female. If this happens, I recommend buying the smallest maroon you can for shim. You also need to keep a close eye on the male (and all your other fish as well.) I have a feeling there is a parasite lurking in your tank which started all of this.

Will do. Thanks again for all your help.