Fungus on a clownfish?

[DavidToronto]

Hi reefers,

Just wanted some advice on diagnosis and treatment.

Yesterday I noticed my clown has white growths on body. I figured it was fungal and gave him a 30min formalin (ich x) bath while changing water 20-25%.

I recently added a fire goby. Chemical levels are normal:

Free ammonia: 0
Total ammonia: 0.01-0.02
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 80 (rose from 40, 2 weeks ago, maybe the new arrival...)
PH: 8.4
Kh: 200ppm
Temp: 24 C
Salt: 0.024
The aquarium is 30g and about 6 months old and houses a foxface tang, fire goby, pyjama cardinal, and the clown. Also the cleaning crew.

I plan to give another bath tonight. Although I read conflicting reports about it's efficacy for fungus...I also have Melanex, Prazi pro, and coppramine at home.
Please let me ur opinion. I will attach a pic. (Weirdly the tang who is usually a loner, was keeping the ill clown company...)

Thank you

 

[HumbleFish]

Hard to say from the pics, but fungus is pretty rare in a SW environment.

Could be something bacterial, or maybe just Lymphocystis: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa181

Are you seeing any skin sloughing off? (That would be Brooklynella.)

 

[DavidToronto]

Thanks Humblefish,

No no skin sloughing apparent. But could be Lymphocystis according to symptoms or another bacterial issue. He seemed to feel better after the second Ich X bath today and the white growths are a bit more deflated so maybe it's helping...will keep going another couple of days and keep water changes frequent with lower salinity, keep an eye on the stats. Let me know if u think of anything else.

D

 

[HumbleFish]

The primary ingredient found in Ich X is formaldehyde (>22%); so if he's looking better after treating with that it would suggest a protozoan is what's afflicting him. That's not to say that a (secondary) bacterial infection is not also present.

 

[DavidToronto]

Thank you,

I did the ich x bath for 4 days but no really visible improvement so I gave him a break for 2 days and stated with Melanex baths. He seems fine but the white growths are still there...should I just keep doing the baths and water changes and give it some time?

 

[HumbleFish]

Are the white growths changing at all? Changing color, getting larger/smaller?? Spreading to other parts of the body?

 

[DavidToronto]

Yes, they seem to be growing, not spreading to other parts though. It seemed to me that after the ich x baths they were getting smaller but it might just been my imagination...
Yesterday and today I gave him a 5 min Melafix bath (tea tree based) but not much difference yet.
I am kinda hoping it's lymphocystis you mentionned but not sure...
I don't have a quarantine tank unfortunately so maybe he just keeps relapsing, but the other fish seem ok.:hmm4:

 

[DavidToronto]

not changing color, just white

 

[HumbleFish]

Really sounds like Lympho to me. The nodules will disappear eventually after the virus goes back into remission.

 

[DavidToronto]

Yeah, I agree. Should I bother with the baths or just let him be for a while?

Thanks for the advice so far

 

[HumbleFish]

Yeah, I agree. Should I bother with the baths or just let him be for a while?

Thanks for the advice so far

I would just give him clean water and plenty of vitamin soaked foods. See what happens.

 

[DavidToronto]

Ok will try that, thanks!