Clownfish rapid breathing/flared gills/not eating much/otherwise normal

[anemonefish]

My ocellaris clownfish that I've had for at least a month has recently started breathing rapidly and her gills are flared. She doesn't eat much but does occasionally eat a shrimp or two. She seams slightly bloated as well. Her partner seems to be completely fine and is eating normally. The girl also has been having white/transparent thin poops that hang on for a long time. She has no other visible signs on her body whatsoever and other than the gills looks completely healthy. She swims very lazily but doesn't rest on the bottom or anything. From all my research I cant find any diseases that match her symptoms. My best guess would be internal parasites but I'm not sure. The tank is a 14 gallon biocube with some coral and liverock as well as one goby and one pajama cardinal. The water quality is completely normal except the nitrates are a bit high. I have been doing water changes frequently and it seems to be bringing the levels down. If anyone has any idea it would be greatly appreciated. She's been like this almost two weeks and hasn't gotten any worse or any better.

 

[anemonefish]

My best guesses so far are either internal parasites or really bad constipation but I'm not completely sure.

 

[vinhle00]

Sounds like internal parasites to me as well. I would move to QT and treat with metroplex and prazipro. for metroplex if she is still eating feed seachem metro/focus in her food and keep treating till no more stringy poop and bloated belly. If you wait too long and she become too malnourished and stopped eating completely it may then be too late to save.

Also on a side note prazipro has been reported to be reef safe. Food soaked in metroplex/focus while running carbon(not during parazipro) should be ok. In the end up to you.

 

[ThRoewer]

Velvet would fit the symptoms as well. And with clownfish involved I would also never exclude Brook from the list.

 

[anemonefish]

Do velvet or brook show on the skin? She has absolutely no marks or discolorations on her skin.

 

[anemonefish]

Also I know some parasites can be seen in the gills but to the best my eye can see her gills look completely normal just flared. Not overly red and as far as I can tell no parasites. Shes also still healthy enough to assert dominance over her partner and she will sometimes chase food but not eat it.

 

[ThRoewer]

Do velvet or brook show on the skin? She has absolutely no marks or discolorations on her skin.

Brook usually shows - at a minimum near the gills, but in some cases it can be confined to the gills and only show late

Velvet can be completely confined to the gills. But even when it gets out on the skin it can be extremely difficult to see.

 

[bat21]

If it's not getting better you should probably do something. Prazipro is the most common 'well I have to try something' medication. It's safe, most fish handle it fine. And if it's indeed internal parasites, that's what prazi is made for.

As a previous poster said, you can look into metro also. But two weeks like that means there is clearly something wrong. Hopefully it's not too late. If you can get a clear picture, post it.

 

[anemonefish]

I started treating with a medicine that contains 250mg Metronidazole and 75mg Praziquantel and after about 24 hours she seems to be improving. She ate more than usual and her breathing is less rapid. Still faster than normal and still slightly flared gills but much less so. Seems that internal parasites were the culprit! Hopefully she continues to improve!!!

 

[krullshards]

I started treating with a medicine that contains 250mg Metronidazole and 75mg Praziquantel and after about 24 hours she seems to be improving. She ate more than usual and her breathing is less rapid. Still faster than normal and still slightly flared gills but much less so. Seems that internal parasites were the culprit! Hopefully she continues to improve!!!

Would you be willing to share what medication you used that contained both of those? For others having similar issues.

That's great news that the fish is improving!