Need Help Diagnosing Clownfish Problem

Roots

Roots

New member
My Gold Band Maroon Clown has developed a sort of skin lesion or irritation due to something I am not sure what. Possible thoughts on my part are Brooklynella?, Fungal Infection?, or Bacterial Infection?

She first started showing signs about 2 weeks ago after being reintroduced to my DT from my Hospital Tank where all my fish underwent Copper treatment for Marine Ich. My Display Tank remained Fallow for 7 weeks. The fish looked fine after reintroduction to the DT and all but this GBM Clown remain healthy and without any symptoms of any problems of any kind.

The problem has not gotten better or severely worsened, however I think it has slightly progressed since I noticed some dull patches forming on her tail fin. She behaves normally, eats normally and frolics in her anemone as normal. She shows no signs of respiration problems or scratching, or lethargy.

I will include pics to hopefully aid in diagnosis. :sad2:

10 days ago.
picture.php


Today.
picture.php


picture.php


picture.php
 
:worried2:

Thought I would bump this with some additional info for you.

Current Water Parameters:
Temp: 76 Degrees F.
Salinity/SG: 1.025
pH: 8.3
Ammonia: 0/Undetectable
Nitrite: 0/Undetectable
Nitrate: Under 10 ppm
Phosphate: 0/Undetectable

:confused:
 
Sorry bad info in the first post. I checked my Calendar and I actually Had the Tank Fallow for almost 9 weeks (8 weeks and 5 days to be exact). My Bad. I don't think it's Ich though. This is in no way looking like white spots that I have seen in Ich infested fish before.
 
h2so4hurts said:
Did you net her? Could just be an abrasion? Are any of the other fish looking funny?
Click to expand...

No. She's not been netted since she was moved from the HT/QT to the DT more than 2 weeks ago. If it was an abrasion or a scrape I think it would have started to show signs of healing by now. I think it might be Brooklynella but I'm not sure.
 
Roots said:
No. She's not been netted since she was moved from the HT/QT to the DT more than 2 weeks ago. If it was an abrasion or a scrape I think it would have started to show signs of healing by now. I think it might be Brooklynella but I'm not sure.
Click to expand...

I'm not great with pics, but FWIW, I doubt this ich or brook. Brooklynella is a fast killer and brook infected fish don't act normal at all. I've seen some worm-type parasites that resemble the spots; treating with Prazi-Pro is safe (even in a reef) and just might solve your problem. I think all fish should be treated with PP anyhow. (In a reef tank, only feather dusters and other worms are in danger.)
 
I know Brook is typically a fast killer, but that's also because it's typically seen on fish that are fresh from the wholesaler or LFS where they have undergone a lot of stress, possible periods of time without food, weakening the fish's immune system and exposure to lots of parasites within confined spaces. So by the time the aquarist has the fish at home at diagnosed the fish is severely weakened as well as the disease has had time to incubate and reproduce so it's in the more advanced stages.

My Fish is eating well and in an established and healthy aquarium so her immune system is fighting the parasites/disease and therefore progression of the disease/parasite has been slow? This is a possible scenario is it not?

Either way.... I suppose the only course of action is another QT of all the fish and treatment of them in a tank other than my DT. I have too many sensitive invertebrates that I care about to risk dosing the DT Reef with anything that could even remotely pose a threat to the aquatic life in there.

My real problem is that my HT/QT has my new pair of Mandarins in there. They need to stay out of the DT if there is a disease or parasite present. But I need the HT/QT for quarantining the other fish and treat them for the problem. I also have a new pair of Clownfish in my DT's Refugium while their new tank cycles. Now they are exposed to whatever it is that is affecting my GBM Clown. So they too need somewhere separate to be QT'd and possibly treated.

I'm just a little bit stressed out over the situation......
 
A fish with a good immune system can often fight ich for a while. But brooklynella and velvet are not the same. I have never heard of any clown fish having any real immunity from brooklynella. Very healthy fish, with years in captivity can easily be killed by brook in a matter of days. I don't know what your clown has, but if it isn't getting worse since the pics were taken: I doubt if it anything dangerously contagious. Peeling sloughing skin and general lousy health are the main indications of brook, not the odd spots your fish has. A fish just doesn't get a "little' brooklynella. Brook would also be getting to tankmates by now.
 
Well, here is what I am going to do. I ordered several different medications. I have an empty tank that I am going to setup as a Hospital Tank. I am going to be treating as if it's an external parasite using formalin dips. 1 dip every other day until I have done 5 treatments of 45 minutes each. Mean while in the HT I will employ a broad spectrum antibacterial anti-fungal medication. I'll keep you posted on the outcome.
 
If you're going to do formalin dips anyway, you might as well add malachite green. They're synergistic (They make each other work better) and that dip regimen should kill everything on or under your fish's skin in one shot. A good all in one solution is RidIch+ used at 10x strength (5mL per gallon).
 
I already placed my order and it has shipped out. If I decide to get the Malachite Green, I will have to look for it locally. I don't want to pay shipping for a single item. I like Rid Ich+ actually. I have only ever used it for freshwater fish with ich, but it worked both times I have used it.
 
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