Fish Disease Advice needed

[FunGuy]

Hey there folks,

I needed some help with what seems like a sick fish.

I recently got two fishes who had been treated for Ich weeks before. I've had these two fishes for about 1 week now. One seems to be breathing particularly hard. It also has some white poop hanging out. The other appears to be perfectly normal. Both fish swim fairly normally. The sick one seems to seclude itself more and sometimes touches it's bottom fins on a rock. Does anyone know what disease this fish has and what the treatment would be? It might be a gill disease. I don't have any quarantine tank so I'd like to treat this without hurting the other fish and coral in my tank.

Any information would be appreciated. Thanks.

- Herman

 

[Freed]

Too bad there isn't a smiley that smacks himself in the forehead and then shakes his head back and forth.

 

[TotalKhaos]

well freed that certainly didnt help this situation much.... Why are you hanging in Sacto land anyway?

FunGuy,

Although I dont have much experience with sick fish.... Can You set up a QT tank Quickly? Maybe Borrow a Smaller tank from someone and use some water and Live Rock from your main tank?

If You dont have an extra tank available... I have a 10g with a little filter and a cheapo light you can have free. I'll throw in a CPR backpak w/o pump for the sake of your fish.

If You can set up a Quick cheap but healthy QT tank you will have more options for treatment.

LMK... I can have the tank and goodies to you by tomorrow.

 

[MandM]

Even a Rubbermaid bucket or HD bucket with an airstone bubling will work for a QT container, but you need to get them out of your main tank ASAP. You have already exposed your tank to whatever these guys have so they may need to move out as well. Watch them closely for the next month and don't add anything new during that time.
We lost almost all our fish last year because we didn't follow the rules. Now it's 4 weeks minimum for anything wet.
If you have inverts in that tank, don't treat fish in it. They have to be moved to a hospital tank for treatment.
How many weeks ago were they treated for ich? Are you sure that's what they had? Do you know what the treatment was?

 

[FunGuy]

Total - Thanks for the offer. I really appreciate the offer I think if I have to, I can set up some kind of quarantine.

MandM - I added 3 fish at the same time 1 week ago... a goby and the pair of clowns. I don't really have any other fish I need to worry about. The tank currently houses inverts, coral and those 3 fish. The clowns were in the same treatment tank when I bought it. I don't worry about them transferring diseases. I am not 100% sure that ich is what they had since I didn't see it myself. The person I bought it from even raised temperatures to quicken the ich life cycle. The seller is also fairly knowledgeable and experienced in the hobby. The treatment had to have been about 3-4 weeks ago. I could find out exactly what the treatment was if needed.

Anyone have ideas of what's wrong?

 

[TotalKhaos]

I keep wanting to say your fish is just constipated... but thats coming froma mother of a toddler with a very active sense of humour.

np, If you need the Bakpack or any other equipmet for a QT let me know - My Tank is completely dissassembled and I would be happy to lend you whatever you need... heater, protien skimmer, UV sterilizer etc...

Good Luck with the Illness, Hope your fish pull through.

 

[MandM]

Hmm. You said one of them is more affected than the others, is it a clown?

I would still move them out to a QT container for treatment. Most of the treaments for fish would be harmful to your other tank population. If I have to treat with copper or medications I find it easier in a bare-bottom 10g tank.

It's hard to tell yet what the problem is, the person you got them from may be able to help. I wouldn't do anything as far as treatment until you talk to him. You may also want to post (with pics if possible) on one of the RC expert forums for help from them.

In the event you decide it is crypto (ich) this is a great article on treatment
www.wetwebmedia.com/ichart2mar.htm

Not to scare you, but here is another section on identifying desease

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mardisindex.htm

Hope your new guys recover. Good luck.

 

[FunGuy]

Thanks for the info. I'll definitely talk to the seller. I have also been trying to research info. I could have sworn they acted normal for the first few days then one started to act up. I think behaviorally it is acting up most. Pictures might not help.

The sick fish is a clown... It's mate doesn't appear to have any visible behavioral problems. It roams around more. The sick one is a little less active doing more floating in a spot.

 

[FunGuy]

I am beginning to believe more and more that it has Ich. After observing it more, it seems to have possible white spots forming.

 

[Jacob D]

Have you considered brooklynella? It's pretty common in clownfish, especiall if they are WC. Heavy breathing, and thick mucus or mucus sloughing off are symptoms. You may want to do a little research on it and see what you think. Formalin is the only treatment if that is the case.

 

[MandM]

Either way, it must be done in a seperate tank. The main tank needs to run with no fish for 4 weeks to be sure any parasites there die off before adding fish back.
Good luck.

 

[ReefRian]

Two of our clowns got brook twice. We ended up removing them from the main tank and putting them in a critter box with an air stone and some pvp pipe for hiding. Brought the salinity down really low since they can handle it. The first time they came through fine with this method. The second time we had to use copper but ended up losing the male. I don't think we cured it the first time, and just because one is not showing anything doesn't mean it doesn't have it. I would remove both fish and treat them especially if they are both clowns. If you need more info, pm me and I can check our clownfish book later tonight.

Rian

 

[duec22]

I would also check out brooklynella. I lost three clowns due to this. I started with a pair of clowns, and after about a week the smaller of the two started to act real slugish and would not eat. Lost it, and got a new one. Within another week I lost the other two. It was pretty dishearting and for about a year and a half after that I didn't want to deal with trying new fish so I only had my midas blenny.

 

[Wee-Reef Master]

Hey Freed,

Nice help. Maybe you should stick to your little world and stop venturing into the bigger, enlightened universe.

 

[FunGuy]

Hmm... after researching some more, brooklynella seems to be the disease my clownfish has. In my clownbook it says, "Treatment is a full 15-minute freshwater dip to remove the parasites from the fish. In a fish-only system, one drop of Formalin can be added to each liter of aquarium water to treat the tank." I at this point am going to try the Formalin as people suggest. I am a little scared to freshwater dip the fish for 15 minutes. I'll let you all know what happens. I'll give the Formalin a few days to see if my fish can start eating again. If not, then I may try the dip before it is definitely too weak to take it.

 

[Fragmented]

I've used the Formalin in the fresh water dip with good results. Don't be afraid of it, just keep a close eye on the fish and end the dip if you notice excessive stress. Better sooner while the fish is stronger. I keep them in a big net while in the dip so I can remove them quickly if I need to. Good luck.

 

[Undergrad]

Herman,
How are the fish doing? Like Rian mentioned, we've got some experience treating these guys, so let me know if you want some help.