Lymphocystis questions

[29reef]

I purchased two clowns from the lfs about two weeks ago. They were originally from QM and collected in the Solomon islands. I was told they had been at the lfs for a week. They both looked healthy and were eating well. Now today two weeks later I'm seeing a whitish film that is accompanied by some small white spots that are somewhat irregular in shape. I haven't dealt with ich in a long time but this doesn't look anything the ich I remember seeing. The spots are very small, I thought that lymph was larger white patches. I am unable to get a good photo of it. I couldn't find any fish with ich at the lfs. I'm scratching my head because it didn't show up right away. My tank temp is stable and nutrients are low. I change 10% weekly and feed my fish 3x daily dry food and many times with frozen food. All look happy and fat.

Right now it is only affected the clowns, all the other fish seem fine. All fish have a strong appetite and color looks good. Gill movements are normal and no one is scratching. I'm wondering if I can get some input before I go about removing all my fish and treating them. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[b0bab0ey]

Lymphocystis is usually a cottony like growth, and usually starts on the fish's fins or tail. Sometimes it's also found on the body or even on the gills. Here's a pic of a Clown w/Lymphocystis for you to compare:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/DiseasePIX/Clownfish%20lymph.jpg

Now, what you are describing sounds more like Brooklynella, very common to Clownfish. Compare here:

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/Brooklynella2.JPG

And then read up on it here:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_6/volume_6_1/brooklynella.htm

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135372

 

[29reef]

I'm pretty familiar with brook, they have spots and don't show the thick whitish coat like brook. From just looking at the tank they look fine but up close you can see it's not the case. I examined my other fish it looks like the red eye wrasse also has the same disease.

 

[keving]

Lympho rarely forms a "film" on the body. could be amyloodinium, if you can catch them, a 4 min freshwater dip may help in the same temp and pH as the saltwater they came from

 

[29reef]

I'm thinking it is some sort of fungal infection, it finally overtook the clowns they lost their appetite and the next day, gone. So far it's wiped out all my fish that I've added to the tank in the last three months. Hopefully my others will make it. The anthias continue to show no signs and my male leopard seems unaffected. I was dipping the clowns but it didn't seem to help. It seems like every few days it goes away slightly then comes back the next. I'm 100% that it's not ich. I'm going to just ride it out at this point as I've been unsuccessful at removing all my fish. I am going back to qt ALL incoming fish no matter how confident I am in them.

 

[C0rp]

Adding wild caught clowns to a tank without QT is really rolling the dice.....QT everything, always, no matter what. Everyone needs to make this practice. Sorry for your losses.

 

[MrTuskfish]

This sure sounds like brooklynella to me, The whitish film is typical, as is the deadliness of this parasite you are experiencing. Fish infested with brook often have a filmy skin coat that sloughs off and the disease kills quickly. Fungal infections in fish are rare, and seldom fatal and I don't think there is any chance you're dealing with one. Velvet isn't impossible, either; but I'd still bet brooklynella. This awful parasite is often called "clownfish disease' and any fish can die from it and/or carry it. IMO & IME: it is a very serious disease that can wipe out a tank in no time---much quicker than ich. The only cure is to QT all fish, treat with formalin (not just dips), and let the tank go fishless for at least 6 weeks. Velvet is treated just like ich, but is deadlier, faster. I QT everything because I am much more concerned about velvet or brooklynella than I am ich. I really think, assuming this is brook, that you stand a good chance of loosing all your fish if you don't properly treat it. Whatever you decide, don't add any new fish. Sorry you had to learn the hard way about QT; but your plan to start QT on everything is the only way to go. (IMO & IME) Even diver's Den, possibly the best volume provider of fish on the planet recommends you QT their fish; and they QT everything first.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Too late to edit.

If i follow, you've lost fish to this same problem before you got the clowns? If so, then the parasite was already in the tank and probably not introduced by the clowns. But, it would have to brought in by something that wasn't Qtd. Are the leopard wrasse and the anthias all you have left? I've never kept a L.W.; but I know they bury themselves at night. There are some fish, that are primarily bottom dwellers that seem to have more resistance to protozoan parasites (like Mandarins and their slime coat) because they are so vulnerable. The Anthias, who knows? Please keep us posted.

 

[snorvich]

I agree with both of MrTuskfish's posts above. I would suggest it might be oodinium but brooklynella is the more likely culprit. I have various posts in my blog that you may choose to read.

 

[29reef]

Thanks for the help guys, I have looked around at various photos of brook. None really match what I see in my tank but I'm no expert and as I've said I haven't dealt with any type of disease in over 4 years so in many ways it's new to me. I am in the process of setting up my qt tank and getting it ready but I don't see it being done in time to save these fish. I have in the past always observed incoming fish; this was mostly just a fluke having a new tank and wanting a pair of clowns. I will not be adding fish to the tank until this disappears for at least 6 weeks, more likely I will wait 8. It claimed my lyretail anthias today, it's strange because that fish never showed any signs of disease. Just stopped eating yesterday and then dead today. Seems all the fish I've lost loose their appetite a day or two before they pass.

Thanks for the info mrtuskfish & Steve.