Might have a sick Clownfish

[Spyderturbo007]

Here is the background on my tank. The last fish was placed in the DT were 2 Banggai Cardinals back in April after a 5 week QT. Everything has been just fine since then. So much that the male Banggai has a mouth full of eggs. :bounce3:

Anyway, about a week ago, I noticed that my clownfish was starting to become less active. He used to always be swimming around with my Tang, then over the course of a few weeks he became less and less active.

Fast forward to about 5 days ago. He wasn't doing anything other than hanging out in the corner of the tank by himself. Disease didn't cross my mind since the only thing that has went in the tank in 5 months was my hand. I thought he might have been a little "bound up" from eating too much so I decided to fast the tank for 2 days. Wouldn't you know, the little bugger was swimming around the tank more and looked much better. I just figured he had to poop.

I fed them on Thursday and Friday but less than I normally do. He ate both days and seemed much better. Then yesterday I noticed that he had returned to the corner of the tank and wasn't swimming around, nor was he really interested in food. Today it's the same story, other than I see what might be stringy poop. It doesn't look like what I've seen in pictures, but like he swallowed a human hair that might be sticking out of his butt.

Long story short, I was considering dosing the tank with Parazipro since it's said to be reef safe other than feather dusters. I have SPS, LPS and Zoanthids. I also have a cleaner shrimp that I don't want to be harmed.

Would any of the experts here recommend I go ahead and proactively dose the Parazi just to be safe? I could probably easily grab the clown when he is sleeping and throw him in QT, but I'm afraid whatever is causing him to act like this is in the tank and would effect the other fish sooner or later.

Thoughts?

 

[Spyderturbo007]

I went ahead and dosed the tank with 3tsp of Prazipro and turned off my skimmer like the instructions stated. The tank is cloudy and the clown seems to be gasping for air, which wasn't happening before.

He ate a little today, but not too much. I thought this stuff was supposed to kill feather dusters? Mine all seem fine 24+ hours after treatment. Did I not does enough? It said 1tsp / 20g. I have a 55g + Sump, so I figured approx 60g after rock.

 

[HumbleFish]

It can kill tube worms/feather dusters, but oftentimes doesn't. Or at least not all of them. Using Prazi can deplete the tank of oxygen, so I'd suggest pointing a powerhead or two towards the surface.

 

[Spyderturbo007]

I don't think it's that, but I can move my mp10's higher in the tank if that would help? My other fish don't seem to be breathing rapidly.

I removed my filter socks so the water can fall further in the sump to try and increase agitation, but obviously there isn't as much surface area there as there is at top of the tank.

Should I remove my skimmer cup and turn the skimmer on to provide more aeration? I turned it off because the directions said that it will render it ineffective.

How do I know if it's working or not? How long does it take before the tank clears up?

Thanks!

 

[HumbleFish]

I don't think it's that, but I can move my mp10's higher in the tank if that would help? My other fish don't seem to be breathing rapidly.

I removed my filter socks so the water can fall further in the sump to try and increase agitation, but obviously there isn't as much surface area there as there is at top of the tank.

Should I remove my skimmer cup and turn the skimmer on to provide more aeration? I turned it off because the directions said that it will render it ineffective.

How do I know if it's working or not? How long does it take before the tank clears up?

Thanks!

Whenever I've used chemiclean, I just remove the skimmer cup to provide extra aeration. Just be prepared for tiny microbubbles in your tank everywhere.

Prazi usually works within the first 48-72 hrs. You'll need to do a second round, 5-7 days after the first, to eradicate the "next generation" from any eggs left behind. Do a 20-25% WC beforehand.

 

[Spyderturbo007]

So I should do the water change between treatments? I'm assuming that I'll dose the same amount for the second treatment, that I used the first time?

It's day 3 of the treatment and I'm not seeing any improvement in my Clownfish. He still really isn't eating, he is breathing heavier than everyone else and isn't swimming around the tank like he normally does. There is nothing abnormal about his appearance. His color is vibrant, his eyes are clear and everything looks normal. No spots or other imperfections on his body.

Any thoughts on what the issue might be if things don't get better in the next day or so?

 

[HumbleFish]

Could be any number of diseases other than flukes: Ich, Brook (should manifest visible symptoms in time). IME; clowns are also susceptible to swim bladder disorders, especially as they get older.

Since you started Prazi, I would stay the course for now. Do a 20-25% WC in a couple of days, and do a second dose (same amount as the first).

 

[Spyderturbo007]

I went with Prazi because I saw what looked like stringy poop, but not to the degree that I've seen pictures online. It almost looked like he swallowed a human hair, but I couldn't tell.

I really don't think it could be Brook or Ich, because nothing has went into the tank since April, not even a frag. All fish also went through QT for 4 - 5 weeks before being added to the tank. Unless it's something that has laid dormant for 4 months?

He was a juvenile when I got him about a year ago, so he isn't that old.

I'll keep going with the Prazi and see what happens. Is it normal for the water to be cloudy for so long when using Prazi?

 

[Spyderturbo007]

He isn't getting any better. Still lethargic and staying at the bottom of the tank. He did swim around and eat some Cyclop-Eeze yesterday, but you could tell it made him exhausted. He was breathing more heavily than he is now.

Is it possible that this is Velvet and just hasn't effected my other fish? I just don't understand how something could have gotten in my tank?

Does anyone have any suggestions? I really don't want to lose this little guy.

 

[HumbleFish]

Symptoms of Velvet are usually not as subtle as Ich - you should be seeing "dust" all over his body by now. Same goes for Brook - there are always visible symptoms.

Have you done the second dose of Prazi yet? Sometimes Prazi will make certain fish lethargic and suppress their appetite. So, it's possible you are just witnessing the side effects of that.

 

[Spyderturbo007]

Not yet. Today is the 5th day of treatment, so I was going to do a big water change and then dose again when I get home from work tonight.

He ate some Cyclopeeze yesterday but didn't want any of the Brine Shrimp or Mysis that the other fish ate. It's odd, because he is normally a pig.

There are no visual symptoms and other than being lethargic and breathing heavily, he looks normal.

 

[Spyderturbo007]

He has been doing better and the tank is now in its second round of treatment. He still wants to hang out in the corner a lot, but maybe that's just becoming normal for him as he gets older. Either way, he is eating better and comes out sometimes.