Brook or something different? - Treatment plan?

[nemofish2217]

A few weeks ago, I had a B&W clown die on me. Couldn't figure out why, no real signs of disease. I introduced it along with a O&W clown. No QT, which I now realize should've done. For a few weeks it was fine, but over time when I would feed it would seem interested but then spit out the food. Also, it always seemed like it wanted to swim in the strongest part of the current. Then one day it was totally listless and died very quickly. I just thought maybe it was one of those deals and didn't think too much else about it since I saw no signs of disease or infection (externally). Fast forward, and a week later I got a replacement B&W to go with the O&W that was still in the tank, eating fine, and acting normally. However, the O&W did have what looked like a lesion or injured spot on its one side, but no other signs of illness. I decided to set up a 10 gal. QT tank for the new B&W to treat for ich using copper, and decided to put the O&W in there as well to run through a treatment of a wide spectrum antibiotic...figured it couldn't hurt. Treated both for five days and both acted normal, eating fine, and swimming around normally. Put them in the DT, and everything was good for a day or so. Then, out of the blue, the O&W totally deteriorated and started acting listless (similar to the first one), and died within a couple of hours. We are talking went from perfectly swimming (in the strong current though) and eating to dead within two hours.

From what I've read (after the fact, of course), this sounds a lot like Brook. The only thing that I don't get is that I never saw some of the tell-tale signs, such as the entire body being cloudy and patches all over. In the tank I have the B&W clown, orchid dotty back, yellow watchman, and inverts. If it is Brook, then I realize that I probably need to go ahead and pull the B&W and treat it. Even though the dotty back has been fine, as I understand clowns are more susceptible, I should probably treat all fish and keep the DT empty of fish for 6 weeks to disrupt the cycle.

What do you all think? Does this sound like Brook to you or something different? Catching the clown to treat will be easy, but catching the dotty back and goby will most likely mean that I will need to remove all of the rock. I don't mind doing it, but would rather not if it isn't necessary.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Deinonych]

Timeline and behavior sounds more like velvet than brook. Regardless, you'll need to leave your tank fallow (without fish) for at least 6 weeks.

 

[nemofish2217]

Thanks for the reply. I would have thought with velvet I would have possibly seen ich looking dots and or multiple discolored patches?

Also, wouldn't the cupramine helped with treating velvet?

 

[snorvich]

Thanks for the reply. I would have thought with velvet I would have possibly seen ich looking dots and or multiple discolored patches?

No. Behavior is really first indication.

Also, wouldn't the cupramine helped with treating velvet?

No. CP is best.

 

[snorvich]

Some reading for you.

 

[nemofish2217]

No. CP is best.

What is CP?

 

[nemofish2217]

Some reading for you.

Thanks for the guide. The B&W never really had any of those outward symptoms, until the lethargy and labored breathing right at the end, and the O&W did have what looked like one lesion, but it never looked like it got worse or spread to different parts of the body. Also, didn't notice any signs of film on the body. I guess the lesion and labored breathing was why I was initially thinking Brook.

I haven't looked into velvet that extensively, is it as contagious/deadly as brook? I know with ich you can sometimes stave it off by keeping clean water and fish well feed with nutrient rich food.

 

[Deinonych]

I haven't looked into velvet that extensively, is it as contagious/deadly as brook? I know with ich you can sometimes stave it off by keeping clean water and fish well feed with nutrient rich food.

IMO, velvet is worse than Brook. It is highly virulent. You don't want either parasite in your tank, though.

 

[nemofish2217]

So, still not completely sure whether it was Brook or Velvet. Just a question though, any reason why the other fish in the tank, the orchid dotty back that has been in there the entire time hasn't shown any signs of illness?