Clownfish Disease ID

[shaginwagon13]

Hey guys,

I noticed this small area on one of my clownfish today. It has no other marking on the rest of its body, is this something to be worried/concerned about? At first I thought brooklynella, but it doesn't quite look like it. I am not sure if this matters, but there is another clownish in the tank, I was told it could be a mark from either a small bite from the larger clownfish.

It is at the base of its front fin. Refer below for picture:

 

[Jdub968]

This looks like flukes, possible the start of brooklynella. Is the fish breathing heavy scratching lethargic? From what I see I would do a fw dip and check for flukes if there is none I would place him in a qt and dose metroplex if flukes are present you could place him back into the DT and dose prazipro some people report problems with feather duster and worms when prazi is dosed to the DT however just as many report no problems

 

[shaginwagon13]

This looks like flukes, possible the start of brooklynella. Is the fish breathing heavy scratching lethargic? From what I see I would do a fw dip and check for flukes if there is none I would place him in a qt and dose metroplex if flukes are present you could place him back into the DT and dose prazipro some people report problems with feather duster and worms when prazi is dosed to the DT however just as many report no problems

Thanks for the reply. No, the fish does not appear to be breathing heavily or scratching at all. I will watch him again today for a little after work, but I did not notice anything yesterday.

To be honest, after all my years in this hobby I have never done a FW dip. Any advise on how long to do the dip for? And do I do it once? Or multiple times.

Thanks for the help. It's much appreciated.

 

[Jdub968]

Google search how to do a freshwater dip. But the basics are.
Fill a container with ro/Di water float it in you tank to temp match, add an airstone during temp match to get the water aerated after the water is up to temp catch the fish add it to the container and set a timer for 5 min. I leave the airstone in the container for the 5 min dip. Sometimes the fish will act weird, lay on its side and play dead, won't be able to swim correct, ect this normal just keep an eye on the fish if it shows signs of stress like darting around the container, hyperactivity ect then it should be removed. Don't worry about ph of the water it won't hurt the fish. After the dip return the fish to the tank once again it might act wired but it will recover. Look very close in the container for flukes they will look opaque in color and be quite small you may even see them start to fall off your fish around the 3 min Mark. If you use a dark colored container it helps to see them also a flashlight can help. Good luck don't you stress the fw dip is usually harder on the fish owner than the fish and 5 min goes by quick so really try to keep the fish in the fw dip for the 5 min I say this because it isn't effective unless you do and a lot of people who have never done a fw dip are so nervous they pull the fish to soon

 

[shaginwagon13]

Google search how to do a freshwater dip. But the basics are.
Fill a container with ro/Di water float it in you tank to temp match, add an airstone during temp match to get the water aerated after the water is up to temp catch the fish add it to the container and set a timer for 5 min. I leave the airstone in the container for the 5 min dip. Sometimes the fish will act weird, lay on its side and play dead, won't be able to swim correct, ect this normal just keep an eye on the fish if it shows signs of stress like darting around the container, hyperactivity ect then it should be removed. Don't worry about ph of the water it won't hurt the fish. After the dip return the fish to the tank once again it might act wired but it will recover. Look very close in the container for flukes they will look opaque in color and be quite small you may even see them start to fall off your fish around the 3 min Mark. If you use a dark colored container it helps to see them also a flashlight can help. Good luck don't you stress the fw dip is usually harder on the fish owner than the fish and 5 min goes by quick so really try to keep the fish in the fw dip for the 5 min I say this because it isn't effective unless you do and a lot of people who have never done a fw dip are so nervous they pull the fish to soon

Thank you a ton for the step by step it was extremely helpful. I will do the dip today.

In your opinion, should I dip both fish? Only one is showing signs but I wanted your opinion.

Thanks again

 

[Jdub968]

Well I have done that in the past, but I would focus on the fish in question because He is the one we are concerned about. However if you do decide to do both I would do one at a time.

 

[Jdub968]

Here's a link this lady is very knowledgeable she doesn't really explain the procedure but you will see the weird behavior of the fish. https://youtu.be/Po_dvEr5DL0

 

[shaginwagon13]

Well I have done that in the past, but I would focus on the fish in question because He is the one we are concerned about. However if you do decide to do both I would do one at a time.

Perfect. I will do the sick one first tonight.... now comes the fun part of catching them in my display tank :debi:

Here's a link this lady is very knowledgeable she doesn't really explain the procedure but you will see the weird behavior of the fish. https://youtu.be/Po_dvEr5DL0

Lol I actually saw that video this morning, I actually saved it as one of my YouTube favorites. Thank you for the post, the help is much appreciated.

 

[shaginwagon13]

Ok so the fresh water dip has been completed and the clown is now in GT. From what I have read, treat it in GT for approx. 1 month and then if it looks healthy, return to DT... is this correct?

Also, should I do any more fresh water dips from this point until thew clown is returned to the DT?

Thanks guys.

 

[Jdub968]

First off did you see any flukes in the container offer the dip, or did the spots fall off the fish?

 

[shaginwagon13]

First off did you see any flukes in the container offer the dip, or did the spots fall off the fish?

No I did not see any flukes after the dip and I did it for the full 5 min.

 

[Jdub968]

Ok no flukes In The bucket and fish still has this on him. I would start dosing metroplex in the qt tank seachem metroplex dose 2 scoops form 10-14 days. The problem you have is if this is brooklynella your DT needs to sit fallow for 6 weeks and all fish need to be treated

 

[shaginwagon13]

Ok no flukes In The bucket and fish still has this on him. I would start dosing metroplex in the qt tank seachem metroplex dose 2 scoops form 10-14 days. The problem you have is if this is brooklynella your DT needs to sit fallow for 6 weeks and all fish need to be treated

Sounds good. I will dose metroplex starting tomorrow.

 

[Jdub968]

This is what I'm seeing in your picture, does you fish look like this?

 

[shaginwagon13]

This is what I'm seeing in your picture, does you fish look like this?

I am going to try and get some pictures today. The picture you posted is a fish that is unquestionably very sick.

My clownfish is very very minor so it's hard to tell from your picture to what I saw over the last few days to the picture you posted. I know it's not ich, I have dealt with that before, so I'm guessing if it is something it's brookynella OR he scraped himself on the rocks.

I am going to try and examine him today and see if I can identify any new marks, and I will try and get some pictures.

Thank you for the help, I really appreciate it.

 

[Jdub968]

Yes the pic I posted is a more advanced brooklynella infestation but the similarities to what I'm seeing looks like possible brooklynella on your clown. Metroplex will take care of brooklynella!����

 

[shaginwagon13]

Got some pics tonight. Honestly the little guy doesn’t look good at all, he hasn’t eaten in several days.... I’m trying to locate some 37% formalin but in Canada it’s proving hard to find. Any suggestions?

https://i.imgur.com/zrnMMcH.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/UcKstb8.jpg

 

[Jdub968]

Paraguard is said to kill brooklynella but will probably take more than 1 bath. Metroplex will do it

 

[shaginwagon13]

Paraguard is said to kill brooklynella but will probably take more than 1 bath. Metroplex will do it

Thanks for the quick reply.

I'll call the local reef stores around me tomorrow when they open and see if they carry either of them. If they stock them I will buy it and start treating.

Thank you for the help.

 

[JustinM]

Quick cure, ich-x, and rid ich plus contain formalin as well. 37% formalin is probably the best though. As Jdub said, metro treats brook and so does acriflavine(Ruby Reef Rally). It definitely looks like brook.