Sick clown help!

[nvolkern]

I got up this morning to my clown at the bottom of the tank, i figured maybe he was sleeping but he looks pretty beat up. The only other fish in there is a sailfin tang and they've been getting along great! I'd always say they look like best friends. Could this be because I'm not feeding them enough? Or something totally unrelated?

 

[ngoodermuth]

I'm tagging the #mods to move this to the fish disease forum for more views.

That redness in his head is concerning. Are those white spots on the fish or is that just sand or spots on the glass? How long have you had him? Is he breathing heavily or scratching on rocks? Any white stringy poop?

My first instinct is that it might be some sort of infection, but more information would be helpful.

 

[PanchoG]

Seems sick bro, but cannot tell you what exactly is

 

[nvolkern]

I'm tagging the #mods to move this to the fish disease forum for more views.

That redness in his head is concerning. Are those white spots on the fish or is that just sand or spots on the glass? How long have you had him? Is he breathing heavily or scratching on rocks? Any white stringy poop?

My first instinct is that it might be some sort of infection, but more information would be helpful.

Thanks for the tag, no white spots that's just the glass, I've had him for about 3 weeks now he is breathing heavy but I have not witnessed him scratching at all. His behavior has been pretty normal up to this point. I also have not noticed any stingy poop, like I said he's been pretty normal up until now. No dots, no signs of ich or velvet. The most concerning thing is his heavy breathing, the discoloration on his head and his tail looks a little frayed or chewed up

 

[Scarybo]

The head redness is concerning. It looks like an infection. How big is the tank? How long has he had this behavior. Tests?

 

[nvolkern]

The head redness is concerning. It looks like an infection. How big is the tank? How long has he had this behavior. Tests?

It's a 40 gal, this is day 1 of his whatever it may be. I just brought my water in to my LFS 2 days ago and they told me everything was perfect. I have some corals in there that are all very happy.

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

When you say you LFS says everything is good, can you post your parameters? Do you use RODI water or tap? His fins being chewed could be from laying on the bottom where crabs can get to him. What is your salinity at?

 

[Sistawolf]

@Humblefish will for sure be able to help..

 

[Sistawolf]

@melypr1985 @Brew12

 

[nvolkern]

When you say you LFS says everything is good, can you post your parameters? Do you use RODI water or tap? His fins being chewed could be from laying on the bottom where crabs can get to him. What is your salinity at?

I use RODI, I was thinking the same about the crabs. Salinity is at 1.025

Ph 8.0
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 0ppm

 

[Brew12]

My first thought was that it is suffering from osmotic shock from a rapid increase in salinity but seeing as you have had the fish for 3 weeks that is unlikely. Odd symptoms for the poor little guy.

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

I use RODI, I was thinking the same about the crabs. Salinity is at 1.025

Ph 8.0
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 0ppm

Everything looks great with your parameters. The eyes look cloudy to me. It could just be the picture. If they are it could be a bacterial infection.

 

[nvolkern]

Everything looks great with your parameters. The eyes look cloudy to me. It could just be the picture. If they are it could be a bacterial infection.

Just got a look again at him and you're right. Eyes are cloudy

 

[ngoodermuth]

I think it is a bacterial infection as well. Do you have a QT or hospital tank you can move him to, and quickly?

Here are some treatment options:
Antibiotics

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Antibiotics.283711/

I would suggest the trifecta (kanaplex+metroplex+furan-2) with an acriflavine bath en route. And unfortunately you will have to move quickly, so if you have another antibiotic on hand you might want to just go ahead with what you have, but start soon.

 

[melypr1985]

agree with the bacterial infection, but my concern (on top of that) is what caused it. I'm suspecting either flukes or brook (which can present in many ways even without the peeling we usually see with it). You may want to transfer the clown to a QT and start antibiotics. Then catch another fish out of the display and do a freshwater dip on them to check for flukes. I'm suggesting dipping a different fish because that sick clown may not make it through a dip at this point.