Clownfish with funny spot (See PIC)

[BLANKENSHIP76]

I hope you can make this out, I am having a hard time getting a good pic, the white cottony spot is towards the tail of the fish, I noticed it on the two clowns and none of the other fish, Water wuality is prettty good, not great, still have some nitrates but not out of control.

Here is pic of whole tank.

 

[BLANKENSHIP76]

OOPS WRONG PIC!!!!! AHAHAHAH!

 

[jeffbrig]

I saw that first pic and thought your clown had a HUGE growth on it.

What's the history on this guy? New fish, or a long term resident? Any QT, dips, or prophalactic treatments?

Can't tell too much from that picture, but it could be Brook (Brooklynella hostilis, aka clownfish disease). If so, formalin dips are the cure, but watch for secondary bacterial infections to set in. We brought back a clown from the brink of death last year from brook.

Another possibility is Marine Velvet, but that kills pretty quickly. If the fish has shown the spot for more than a day, it's probably not velvet.

 

[BLANKENSHIP76]

I noticed it yesyerday, it looks like a little spot of cotton. I have had the fish for about 5 months. I another maroon clown in whith them about four months ago who caught something and died looked like cotton spots on it skin flaking off, etc...

No other fish were affected by it all including these clowns.

Well, the clowns are eating fine, the female(the one pictured) doesn't seem to want to swim away fromt he hammer to eat as much as the male. However, she is eating flake, mysis, and I have a food you mix with water and freeze meant for parasite infection(Blue Lagoon is name) it is also eating that.

I did introduce 5 anthias about 3 weeks ago, a huge sinularia about 2 weeks ago, and a LOBO this weekend.



Breathing is normal, and I have done nothing for it as of yet.

It almost looks like a samll spot in the rear of the fish is just wasting away, almost like rotting. It is a small spot?? size of an eraser on a pencil.

 

[BLANKENSHIP76]

Where do you get formalin?

 

[jeffbrig]

You can pick up a formalin solution (37% formaldehyde) at many LFS. It's a small bottle usually in a blister pack hanging from a peg. I think it's packaged by aquarium pharmaceuticals...

Dosage is just a handful of drops per gallon to create the dip solution. It's quite nasty stuff, formalin is a biocide, so it's not terribly pleasant for the fish either. Oxygen is depleted in a formalin dip solution, so you need heavy aeration while you dip the fish. Also, rinse the fish by dipping it in clean water before you return it to a quarantine tank.

Before you put your fish through anything like this, try to confirm the diagnosis by doing some google searches and looking at photos.

Here's a thread with pics of my clown that had Brook.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=675063

Here's another reference I have bookmarked
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/brooklynella.html

There's also a good thread at the top of this forum titled "Brook Time", which may be a good read.

 

[Angela Short]

I thought a formalin dip was 20 drops per gallon. This is how heavy I dose it in a dip and have never had a problem but it is nasty stuff!

 

[jeffbrig]

I don't remember the exact dosage offhand, and I generally use a mL measure instead of drop - something like 3mL to 5g of water. I was just trying to convey that it's a relatively small amount.

 

[BLANKENSHIP76]

spot hasn't really gotten worse however isn't gone either fish is eating very well??????

 

[jeffbrig]

well that is a good sign. when my clowns had brook it took about 3 dips every other day before the white areas looked improved. if the fish is eating, this is a very good sign. be vigilant and watch for any signs of setback - rapid breathing, fin rot, etc. additional formalin dips may be necessary.

 

[Steven Pro]

How many drops depends on the brand and the concentration of formalin they sell. The Aquarium Products brand is a 37% solution and requires very little. Kordon on the other hand markets a 3% solution and requires many more drops. Always read the label and follow their instructions.