Probably velvet

[dragon99]

I noticed my clown pair last night wasn't eating normally. They came out and started eating, but then went back to hiding under the rocks. The female appeared to be more reclusive than the male. I watched them but didn't notice any other signs except possibly heaving breathing.

Unfortunately this morning both clowns looked like they rolled in powdered sugar. I managed to get both out and into a FW dip and then into a QT that's already running CP. Unfortunately I don't have acriflavin. So I have to hope they make it until tomorrow when Amazon delivers.

Should I do another FW dip this evening or tomorrow morning?

The clowns were QT'd in CP and Prazi and have been in the DT now for ~1month with no issue. The only additions since then have been some acro frags (last Friday) and a deresa clam (~2 weeks ago). Could the clam have introduced the velvet?

 

[Humblefish]

Can you post photos of them showing the "powdered sugar"? This could be velvet or possibly, Brooklynella hostilis. Both can be brought in (as tomonts) on corals/inverts.

 

[dragon99]

I tried taking a couple pictures, but quickly gave up and moved on to getting them out of the DT.

I took a picture once in QT with my phone, but between poor focus and movement, nothing really shows up.

 

[dragon99]

I couldn't see any white spots after getting them out of the DT. The FW dip wouldn't have removed them would it?

I'm going to run home at lunch and try to get a better pic.

 

[Humblefish]

I couldn't see any white spots after getting them out of the DT. The FW dip wouldn't have removed them would it?

A FW dip is far more effective against brook than it is velvet. At removing the visible physical symptoms anyway.

 

[dragon99]

 

[dragon99]

Apparently I got a couple decent pics from the tank this morning. As you can see the spots were far more pronounced then they are now in QT. From the side the spots aren't even noticeable. It's only visible now from an angle.

I haven't noticed excess mucus which is why I thought velvet.

 

[dragon99]

 

[Humblefish]

@dragon99 I'm pretty sure that's brook: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/brooklynella.247938/

A formalin or acriflavine bath, followed by transfer into a new/sterile QT should take care of it.

You could dose the QT with either CP or metro for good measure though.

 

[dragon99]

Thank you!

So there's still a firefish in the DT. I'm assuming he needs to come out (that's going to be a nightmare)? Followed by 6 weeks fallow to clear the tank?

 

[melypr1985]

Thank you!

So there's still a firefish in the DT. I'm assuming he needs to come out (that's going to be a nightmare)? Followed by 6 weeks fallow to clear the tank?

You are correct sir.

 

[dragon99]

Both clowns still alive. They still looked stressed and stay on the bottom of the tank most of the time, skin looks clear.

They received a FW dip in the AM, then into 40mg/gal CP tank.
Tuesday night I gave them a 50ppm dip in H2o2 (didn't have acriflavine or formalin)
Back into a new QT w/ CP. The first QT already has a yellow wrasse and flame fin Tomini so I decided that was too crowded.
Wed, no changes. fed them some reef frenzy w/ minimal interest
Thurs, fed a pinch of NLS pellets in the AM and more reef frenzy this evening. Both eating better. 50% water change w/ CP.

I have acriflavine now (reef rally), would it be beneficial to give them a bath in that tonight/tomorrow?

 

[melypr1985]

I have acriflavine now (reef rally), would it be beneficial to give them a bath in that tonight/tomorrow?

Not a bad idea, though you've probably addressed the possibility of brook already with all that you have done.

 

[dragon99]

Looking better and more active today (excuse the dirty glass)

 

[CJBuckeyes]

@dragon99 I'm pretty sure that's brook: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/brooklynella.247938/

Would you mind sharing what you're seeing in those pics that points you to brook? I instantly thought velvet as I saw many small spots but no sloughing white mucus? Not doubting your diagnosis, just trying to learn

 

[Humblefish]

@CJBuckeyes Look at the two photos below. See how some of the white spots seem to all run together and in the second photo some of the whiteness seems to be protruding outward. That's sloughing, a classic brook symptom.

Now below is a pic of a fish with velvet. Notice the perfectly circular tiny white dots. Some run together to make them look bigger, but the vast majority are spaced out all over the fish. Brook tends to run together and sometimes forms a white looking haze on the fish.

 

[CJBuckeyes]

Very helpful @Humblefish ! I previously thought sloughing only referred to large areas of mucas/skin coming off the fish, like the photos under your brook link.

 

[dragon99]

I thought the same which is why I assumed velvet (plus the mentioned recent outbreaks in the supply chain). Most of photos online show large areas of white mucus sloughing off.

The firefish still seems fine in the DT which also points to brook I suppose. If it was velvet he would have probably shown symptoms. He's refusing to come out peaceably so it may escalate to a new aquascape this weekend...ugh.

 

[melypr1985]

Brook can present in different ways to varying degrees. I've seen it look very much like velvet, like yours and I've seen the more obvious sloughing. Your right, if this were velvet the fish would be dying left and right. Brook can be just as deadly, but if caught early and treated well, it is manageable (more or less). We deal in hundreds and hundreds of clowns and they almost always come in with brook. I've learned the hard way to treat these guys before I put them in the fish system. It's just easier on them and the rest of the fish. That said, I've seen a lot of brook as well. This is exactly like a good quarter of the cases I've seen.

 

[Humblefish]

Brook can present in different ways to varying degrees. I've seen it look very much like velvet, like yours and I've seen the more obvious sloughing. Your right, if this were velvet the fish would be dying left and right. Brook can be just as deadly, but if caught early and treated well, it is manageable (more or less). We deal in hundreds and hundreds of clowns and they almost always come in with brook. I've learned the hard way to treat these guys before I put them in the fish system. It's just easier on them and the rest of the fish. That said, I've seen a lot of brook as well. This is exactly like a good quarter of the cases I've seen.

^^Exactly. There are obvious cases of brook and not so obvious. The not so obvious ones can start out looking like velvet, but the fine little dots quickly start to look "mushy" (trying to find the right word) and the skin begins to peel. Sometimes ever so slightly.