How long should I wait...clown had brooklynella

[mcoomer]

I had a beautiful little wild Gold Stripe Marine that I bought last week that died yesterday of Brooklynella. Even with formalin baths and Revive in the tank the fish only lasted a day and a half after I first noticed symptoms. This is a small 20G tank that sits next to my garage workbench and the only other fish in the tank is a Green Pseudochromis that shows no signs of illness. The water is in good shape but I'm going to do some serious water changes to get the Revive out of the water column.

So, does Brooklynella live in the tank or on the fish? Does it spend part of it's life in the substrate like ich? How long do I need to wait before I can try another clownfish? Really bummed about losing the fish but I'd like to get another as soon as it's safe to do so. I've had bad luck so far trying to introduce clowns to this tank. This one died of brook and the first one jumped. One of these fish has to stick, right?

Mike

 

[MrTuskfish]

Sorry. Brook kills quickly, as you've learned. A large % are lost, even with prompt treatment. Brook infects the tank, like ich and many fish can show an immunity it, while still possibly hosting forms of the parasite. IMO, as long as there is another fish in the tank, it may never be completely free of the parasite. Clownfish are especially vulnerable. If you move the pseudo and treat him; the DT should be safe in 6 weeks. If you're going to chance it and add another fish anyway, I sure wouldn't make it a clownfish. Another scenario is that the pseudo catches it tomorrow and is gone in a day or two....that immunity isn't always real immunity---resistance would be a better word. When the dormant phase of the parasite turns free-swimming, that will determine its fate. Formalin baths or "Revive" will not cure or prevent brooklynella; the entire tank must be treated with Formalin---the only cure i know of.

 

[Chris27]

Mr Tusk's post sounds spot on to me. Brook is a parasite just like crypt, and for comparative purposes, it has a similar lifecycle. Approaching QT and eradication just as you would for crypt would be a good path to follow at this point.

 

[mcoomer]

Sorry for the delay in updating this thread. Thank you both for the replies. As I understand it then, I should treat the tank for brooklynella in much the same manner I would for ich, leaving it fallow to allow the parasite to run its course and break the lifecycle. I'm more than happy to do so to ensure that future attempts at getting a successful GSM/anemone pairing. Should the normal 8 weeks work or do I need to allow more time for this particular bug?

Looking ahead, what should I do differently to give the next fish a better chance at beating any potential parasitic attack? Since I picked up a couple products trying to save this fish (Quick Cure and Fish Vet Revive) should I use them in a preemptive strike during the acclimation period with the next fish? They're both formalin based, Quick Cure for baths and Revive for whole tank treatment. Should I simply assume the worst and begin with treatment right away since brook is a common complaint? That would go against my general practice of not treating before symptoms present themselves.

Again, thanks and any other advice is greatly appreciated.

Mike

 

[MrTuskfish]

I do prophylactic treatments, but not for brook. Brooklynella makes itself known and can be treated with great success, if caught early. Just QT everything, the main tool to keeping anything in this hobby, IMO & IME. Don't just throw questionable drugs at a fish, hoping it may do something. I personally don't think either of those two meds do anything anyhow. If you get a couple of tank-bred GSMs; you have an almost certain chance of avoiding brook. Tank-breds are not immune, but are much less likely to carry it than wild fish. But if you want a mated pair that have been wild-caught; by all means , get them. just QT for at least 3 weeks and observe closely. QT the anemone, and anything else wet too. If you do, you'll never go through this again.

 

[Frictionless]

I have just went through this situation; for a second time. Each time it seemed to come up when I had more than 2 clown fish. So far the lone survivor of the first outbreak is the lone survivor of the second. Hopefully it is 2/2. All of my clowns were tank-bred, well at least that is what the LFS said.

Note to self: dont get more than 2 clownfish lol. Its been a bad week