Unknown disease that is spreading and killing fish

[Chris Romani]

Please help with identification of this fish disease. All water parameters are good i believe introduced a sick fish which has spread. The sick fish (royal gamma) died, and along with it a kole tang and the attached picture of this clown. I have since relocated the remaining stock into a hospital tank and treating with prazipro per the LFS recommendation. Any thoughts and other recommendations?

 

[hdsoftail1065]

@Frtdrmrose7 @Big G @ngoodermuth @HotRocks

 

[Ryanj71687]

Please help with identification of this fish disease. All water parameters are good i believe introduced a sick fish which has spread. The sick fish (royal gamma) died, and along with it a kole tang and the attached picture of this clown. I have since relocated the remaining stock into a hospital tank and treating with prazipro per the LFS recommendation. Any thoughts and other recommendations?

Looks like brookylnella

 

[Chris Romani]

Looks like brookylnella

Will this impact other fish along with clownfish? The existing clown pair that looked like this both passed but were healthy in the tank for over 6 months... would a royal gamma be able to bring this disease with him upon new introduction?

 

[Tahoe61]

Looks like brookylnella

Yup

See link

Brooklynella

Brooklynella hostilis What You Need To Know: * This is most often seen in clownfish, but it can afflict any fish. The fish’s skin will appear to be peeling or sloughing off, oftentimes causing excessive white mucous to form around the affected area(s). * Treatment of choice is a 45 minute...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Chris Romani]

Yup

See link

Brooklynella

Brooklynella hostilis What You Need To Know: * This is most often seen in clownfish, but it can afflict any fish. The fish’s skin will appear to be peeling or sloughing off, oftentimes causing excessive white mucous to form around the affected area(s). * Treatment of choice is a 45 minute...

www.reef2reef.com

Is prazi pro a good treatment of choice like lfs recommended? I will keep tank fallow for 6 weeks and fish in qt tank until cleared.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Yes that appears to be Brooklynella. All fish need to go into QT ASAP. If you have Ruby Reef Rally a 90 min bath before QT would be very beneficial, if not a 5 min FW dip will work also. Dose QT with Metro at 2 scoops per 10G for 14 days. Your DT will need to be fallow for 6 weeks.

 

[Ryanj71687]

Will this impact other fish along with clownfish? The existing clown pair that looked like this both passed but were healthy in the tank for over 6 months... would a royal gamma be able to bring this disease with him upon new introduction?

Yes it will it spreads like marine velvet and is very hard to treat. Tahoe61 shared a link below

 

[Pbh-reef]

I agree it looks like brook and sounds like it in terms of rapid deaths

Brooklynella

Brooklynella hostilis What You Need To Know: * This is most often seen in clownfish, but it can afflict any fish. The fish’s skin will appear to be peeling or sloughing off, oftentimes causing excessive white mucous to form around the affected area(s). * Treatment of choice is a 45 minute...

www.reef2reef.com

Edit - replied before I saw everyone else had you covered!

 

[Amboss72]

It’s quite difficult to tell from the picture but what I’m seeing looks like brooklynella. It appears that the clown has milky patches of slime which are caused by proliferating ciliated protozoans. Clownfish are exceptionally susceptible to this illness. This parasite is very contagious as you’ve already noted. Stress is often what weakens a fish to this opportunistic parasite. I don’t understand the use of prazipro in this situation. I would suggest using Seachems Paraguard if the fish is in a quarantine tank at 5ml per 10gallons. Also lowering the salinity tends to slow down how quickly it spreads. I would treat the fish for a minimum of 6 days. Increase aeration in the tank as this med can reduce the amount of oxygen and the parasite attacks the fishes gills making it harder for it to breathe. Lowering the water temp to 76 degrees would probably also help. As a side note many fish contract internal parasites but brooklynella should be addressed first as it’s a quick killer. Then if necessary you can attack the internal parasites with metroplex and focus mixed with your fish food.

 

[HotRocks]

I agree with the brook diagnosis.

@Frtdrmrose7 has provided you with the same treatment option I would use.

It may or may not spread, I would treat all fish to be safe. It typically impacts clowns much worse than any other fish. Damsels and dottys seem to be very succeptable as well.

 

[Chris Romani]

Thank you all for the information. Can one of you also provide me i formation on the prazipro? The Lfs correctly identified it too brooklynella like you all stated but then sold me a 80$ bottle of prazi and it sounds like will not help.

I will pick up ruby reef and figure out the metro product today and purchase. What is the difference between those treatments and the paraguard route? Again thank you all for info this has been an unfortunate learning experience in which i will learn from to prevent in the future

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Thank you all for the information. Can one of you also provide me i formation on the prazipro? The Lfs correctly identified it too brooklynella like you all stated but then sold me a 80$ bottle of prazi and it sounds like will not help.

I will pick up ruby reef and figure out the metro product today and purchase. What is the difference between those treatments and the paraguard route? Again thank you all for info this has been an unfortunate learning experience in which i will learn from to prevent in the future

$80 bottle of Prazi? Omg it sounds like you need to find a different LFS (unless it’s 1G bottle). Prazi is typically used for external flukes, certain worms etc. Prazi is not effective against brook, velvet, ich, etc.

 

[Chris Romani]

My god yes i will do that for sure. No not 1 gallon that same size wow!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Also I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but once the fish are out of the display tank and ran through the treatment bath and in a quarantine tank, your display has to remain without fish for a minimum of 6 weeks.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

My god yes i will do that for sure. No not 1 gallon that same size wow!

Also I wouldn’t wait to order RRR I would just FW dip and get them into treatment. Brook kills quick and time isn’t on your side

 

[Pbh-reef]

To answer your Paraguard question- no one knows exactly what is in that product because they say their blend is proprietary. Some people use it as a 30 minute bath. I would say skip the Paraguard and go for a 5 minute fw dip followed by metro in a hospital tank.

 

[Chris Romani]

Can i use the ruby reef rally along with the metroplex? I picked up both just now; i saw above someone stated do a 90 minute dip... however in the rally bottle it says it is a 3 day treatment. Really want to get this metro going today... will they be safe together? Or is that a mistake?

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Can i use the ruby reef rally along with the metroplex? I picked up both just now; i saw above someone stated do a 90 minute dip... however in the rally bottle it says it is a 3 day treatment. Really want to get this metro going today... will they be safe together? Or is that a mistake?

I would do a bath in a bucket (heated and aerated) so it doesn’t get cold then into QT with the Metro

 

[Chris Romani]

Thank you performing now. Really appreciate the quick reply's and info from everyone!