Sick clownfish. I need help

SteveHung · Apr 29, 2020

I’ve had my percula clownfish for nearly 27 yrs. She‘s never been sick before but had a cloudy eye recently and LFS recommended I put kanaplex In her food. After 6 days, the eye was still cloudy but I noticed that her oviduct seem extended. I’ve seen them breed before so I know they should swim around more excitedly and be cleaning a rock if she was getting ready to lay eggs. None of that behavior this time so I knew something was wrong and stopped the meds immediately. Now, after 3 days, the oviduct is still extended and what looks like some under-developed eggs are leaking out. But I want to see if anyone thinks it’s some kind of parasite near her anus.

1 So my first concern is what causing her oviduct to extend and perhaps causing her to abort this clutch of eggs. Side effect of kanaplex? Has anyone heard of that before? Do fish expel their eggs like that when they are sick?

2 And if she survives this, what should I do about the cloudy eye. Water parameters ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite are nearly unmeasurable. She‘s had the cloudy eye for almost 2 months now and the other clownfish in the tank is doing fine.

Pics show the egg-like objects near her anus. Also a pic of her cloudy eye.

#reefsquad

hdsoftail1065 · Apr 29, 2020

@Big G @HotRocks

Big G · Apr 29, 2020

Can she see out of the eye? The cloudy condition could be caused by flukes and or an eye infection. Normally giving the fish a freshwater dip will either confirm or eliminate flukes as the cause. If flukes are the problem its a two step treatment: first prazipro for the flukes, and then, in either case, the eye infection path is treating the fish with erythromycin.

The objects you see may be rectal prolapse:

Rectal Prolapse

Identified by a protruding anus, a rectal prolapse can be caused by constipation, straining or even unknown parasitic infection. These things will usually correct themselves and adding vitamins to the food and dosing kanaplex can help with keep it from getting infected while it’s out. Premium water quality should be a priority during and after this time as well. On larger fish who don’t appear to be getting better, it’s possible to correct the issue yourself and use a purse-string suture to keep the anus inside the body until it’s healed.

SteveHung · Apr 29, 2020

Thanks so much. I googled and you are right. Looks like it could be rectal prolapse. She was already on kanaplex when it happened so maybe I will just work on water quality. I‘ve read kanaplex shouldn’t be over used because it’s bad on their Kidneys. Is there an alternative Med I could use to reduce chances she will get infected?

As far as the cloudy eye, I think she can see through it but not as well (not as quick to get food on that side).

Big G · Apr 29, 2020

Most antibiotics are a bit hard on fish as it helps their immune system to recover. But in this case, it also does double duty as it has diarrhea as a side effect and that can help with the rectal prolapse as it is sometimes caused by constipation.

SteveHung · May 1, 2020

Been doing water changes. Fish not better but not worse (with the cloudy eye and rectal prolapse). I was thinking... This fish is 27 yrs old, she loves to be in her soft coral, and with her mate. If this is the end for her, I’d rather not stress her out by moving her to a QT tank. But, is there any meds I can put in her tank to improve her chances of survival? Something that’s safe for invertebrates and the biological filter? This is a reef tank with soft corals. What do people think of using Metafix?

#reefsquad