Sick (parasite?) clownfish

[._Z_.]

I believe I have a clownfish that has some sort of parasite. I’m looking for advice on what I should do.

A little over a week ago I got a pair of clownfish from liveaquaria. One of them seems to be doing great, the other acts lethargic (lays on sand, doesn’t swim around much), and he didn’t eat for about 5 days until yesterday where I saw him eat for the first time. He started eating so I thought he was actually going to make it, until I saw his poo today which looks white and stringy.

What would you do about this?

Does he pose a risk to his tank mates? The only other fish in the tank are the other clownfish and a fire fish. Both of them are doing well.

Additional tank info:
45 gal reef tank, all parameters are good

I’m thinking I’ll leave him be and see if he pulls through since he started eating. I don’t have a QT available but I could put him in a 5 gal bucket for a few hours with prazipro.

Any advice welcome, though I’m hoping to avoid told-you-so’s about using a QT... hindsight is 20-20...

 

[mcarroll]

I wouldn't make any assumptions, personally....any I-told-you-so's would be based on assumptions.

If he's eating you're right to stay the course. Stressing him and the tank out with catching him and then keeping him in a tiny, half-full bucket full of medicated water would not be worth it IMO.

Plus the treatment for this is ususally an antibiotic called metronidazole, given orally. Something called Focus needs to be added to it for this to work at all, as it does not naturally bind with food.

Keep up the good feedings. Don't over-do it. Keep the tank and water in great shape. He'll be fine.