It's Brook.

[dantodd]

Looks like it's brook.

On advice from the disease forum I ran out this afternoon to get some formalin to prepare for possible treatment.

When I got home the little guy was dead. Momma as gaping at the surface in slow labored breathing. She also had the telltale line below her dorsals.

She's in a formalin bath right now. I'm quite sure it's brook. I'll try to get some pics when she gets back in her hospital tank.

Should I continue the maracyn2 treatments?

I think I'm going to treat the "healthy" clowns that are in the sump too. Can I put them back in the sump after treatment? I don't have a second hospital tank and the last thing she needs right now is another big clown in the HT with her.

So many questions, so many worries.....

Any help is welcome and greatly needed.

 

[stykthyn]

I am assuming the main tank is infected, so returning the fish to the sump may seem counter productive. I am sorry to hear of your loss, especially since you have had so many problems with these particular fish recently.

 

[reefallen]

Sorry to hear of your fish's demise... :sad1: IMHO, I would treat the whole tank. I don't have as much experience as you all do with SW, but I know with FW whenever any fish are exposed, it's better to be safe than sorry. I would check and see if there are any contraindications on using the medication with anything in your tank (ex. anemones, corals, etc...). Otherwise, I think I would go ahead and treat all the fish. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss. Personally, I think it's one of the hardest things about this hobby. Many people not in the hobby don't understand that we consider each organism our pet! Good luck!!

 

[dantodd]

Unfortunately you can rarely treat reef tanks with any of the medications proven effective for disease. The problems is that killing the parasites and bacteria causing the illness also usually kills the beneficial bacteria filtering the tank.

 

[stykthyn]

are there any fish left in the tank? If not I would let it run fishless for a couple of months.

 

[dantodd]

unfortunately yes. I would need at least 3 HTs to get the tank empty. I've been told that brook doesn't have a free swimming stage so it requires contact with the other fish to be passed. I think I can get everyone treated without ever having untreated fish in with treated fish. I just won't be able to let the tank sit fallow and some will be on the same water system but not in the same tank.

 

[stykthyn]

good luck buddy, I have only had one outbrak of brook and it took me months to rid the tank of it.

 

[stykthyn]

how is the mama doing? better i hope?

 

[reefallen]

Sorry Dan. Thanks for the info about not being able to dose the whole tank. I wasn't sure. I figured I'd throw it out there... I also wasn't sure about the effect on the corals, nems, etc.

I know with FW, you also have problems when you have plants many times. But at that point, you have to choose to get a small aquarium and relocate plants temporarily with enough light, etc.. or something or restock plants and pray they don't all die!

Good luck!! It sounds like you came up with a plan!

 

[dantodd]

Momma is looking much better, not eating much but she is mouthing food that goes into the hospital tank. She is also swimming throughout the tank and not staying too close to the surface, breathing is also normal now. Fingers are crossed.

 

[stykthyn]

glad to hear she is doing better

 

[dantodd]

She goes back in display today so we'll see what happens.

 

[dantodd]

So far so good. She went back in and at went right into the LTA. She came back out almost as fast. Apparently the LTA stings when you don't have a slime coat. They also stuck to her pretty well. The BTA seemed a little less sticky but she also wasn't comfortable touching that one either. Within 3 hours she was right back in the BTA. I haven't seen her in the LTA but I suspect thatt's not a problem either.

 

[TOURKID]

isent that weird? when i treated feebee with maracyn 2, she went back in the reef went strait to the bta and stung herself over and over. she couldent resist it. she had little white marks all over her face. shes totally in love

 

[MarinaP]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7411950#post7411950 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TOURKID
she had little white marks all over her face.

Bristleworms are more likely

 

[TOURKID]

no... i put her in the tank (after 6 weeks) she lost her slime coat, she dove in and BAM white marks. i have a thread on it somewhere... and picks, scared me