Brooklynella on Flame Angel

Newsmyrna80

Active member
I've been treating a Flame Angel and a Watchman Goby for ich via tank transfer method for the last week. This morning I discovered it is not ich but Brooklynela. I'm currently getting the Formalin dip ready for the Angel since he is showing all signs, lethargy, mucous, etc. My question is should I dip the Watchman Goby seeing how he is not showing any signs but he is in the same QT as the Angel?
 
I've been treating a Flame Angel and a Watchman Goby for ich via tank transfer method for the last week. This morning I discovered it is not ich but Brooklynela. I'm currently getting the Formalin dip ready for the Angel since he is showing all signs, lethargy, mucous, etc. My question is should I dip the Watchman Goby seeing how he is not showing any signs but he is in the same QT as the Angel?

Brook doesn't seem to be as contagious as other external parasites; but I wouldn't take any chances, dip them both. Btw, formalin is some nasty stuff. Use it carefully and aerate heavily.
 
Brook doesn't seem to be as contagious as other external parasites; but I wouldn't take any chances, dip them both. Btw, formalin is some nasty stuff. Use it carefully and aerate heavily.

Thanks Humblefish! I did dip them both. They seem to be ok. The Flame Angel even ate. I've done a lot of reading on this and do have a question. I'm doing the dips every other day but do I put them back into the same QT water? Doesn't that seem like a conflict? I've read where some are using Formalin in the QT along with the dips.
 
Thanks Humblefish! I did dip them both. They seem to be ok. The Flame Angel even ate. I've done a lot of reading on this and do have a question. I'm doing the dips every other day but do I put them back into the same QT water? Doesn't that seem like a conflict? I've read where some are using Formalin in the QT along with the dips.

I haven't battled Brook in a long time, but it seems logical that you would need to transfer him into a new tank with new water, equipment, etc. after the dip. Just like if you were doing TT. Otherwise, he would keep getting reinfected. I would first try to eradicate this without treating the entire tank. Just do the dips for now. Like I said, formalin is nasty ****. You don't want to expose a fish to it long-term (if you can help it). Good luck!
 
I haven't battled Brook in a long time, but it seems logical that you would need to transfer him into a new tank with new water, equipment, etc. after the dip. Just like if you were doing TT. Otherwise, he would keep getting reinfected. I would first try to eradicate this without treating the entire tank. Just do the dips for now. Like I said, formalin is nasty ****. You don't want to expose a fish to it long-term (if you can help it). Good luck!

That's what I thought. I was doing TT for ich so i'm prepared for it. I'll do dips every other day and put into a new tank. I thought that the formalin in the QT would be overkill. Thanks again for your advice!!
 
I've just completed the third Formalin dip on the Flame Angel and a Watchman Goby. They were both put into sterlized tanks after each dip. Both are looking ok and eating very good.

I came to the conclusion that it was brooklynella and not velvet based on images on various websites, since symptoms are so similar. Originally I thought the angel had ich due to a couple of spots on his pectoral fins 2 weeks ago so I began tank transfer. On the 3rd transfer he had a lot of mucous and his face color had faded. I immediately treated for brook.
My question: is it possible have spots with brooklynella? Btw he hasn't had spots since I started tank transfer 2 weeks ago.
 
These ciliate protozoans are all a bit different in their sensitivities to formalin/copper/chloroquin/metronidazole/nitrofurazone/fw dip/ hyposal. It's important to know which one youy are up against. Do you have accress to a microscope...pretty easy to use a coverslip to do a skin scrape and then compare to web images of the actual parasite. I love tank transfer for crypto but for the others it's worthless. I like formalin in the water for brook (copper isn't usually as effective) rather than the stress of dips. Either quickcure (formalin+malachite green) as directed for sensitive species or strait formalin at 1ml / 10g (25ppm). Here is a copy and paste from Ed Noga's fish disease book for treatment.

Brooklynella Infestation (Brooklynellosis)
Prevalence Index
WM - 2
Method of Diagnosis
1. Wet mount of skin or gills with parasite
2. Histopathology of skin or gills with parasite
History/Physical Examination
Typical signs of protozoan ectoparasite

Treatment
Formalin bath
Prolonged immersion in aquaria
Add 0.015 "“ 0.025 ml formalin/l (= 15 "“ 25 ppm =
16.5 "“ 27.6 mg/liter = 0.06 "“ 0.09 ml/gallon). For
Ichthyophthirius , use 25 ppm every other day for 3
treatments (Hoffman and Meyer 1974 ). Remove
all plants before treatment. Change up to 50% of
the water on alternate days.
 
These ciliate protozoans are all a bit different in their sensitivities to formalin/copper/chloroquin/metronidazole/nitrofurazone/fw dip/ hyposal. It's important to know which one youy are up against. Do you have accress to a microscope...pretty easy to use a coverslip to do a skin scrape and then compare to web images of the actual parasite. I love tank transfer for crypto but for the others it's worthless. I like formalin in the water for brook (copper isn't usually as effective) rather than the stress of dips.

I do have a microscope. I'll take a look today. Thanks!
 
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