New clown - not looking too good

[mikezoch]

I have 2 new clowns - bought from the same store - same display tank. The smaller of the 2 is happy and eating. The other seems to be breathing heavy, not very interested in eating and sometimes swimming head up at a 45 degree angle.

We are concerned and hope we don't loose this little clown.

My question - should I move the clown to the sump? I have a 75, but there are 3 blue tail damsels - and they are separate from the main tank because they pick on fish their size or smaller.

Is this fairly common for new fish to be stressed out or do I have a sick clown?

The tail is a little ragged - could this be fin rot?

 

[romsoccer12]

you should move it to a QT, not sump

 

[tahoe61]

Clowns

Clowns

If they are young clowns less than an inch, you could very well have purchased a sick clown. Small clowns are prone to marine Ice and a whole host of things including parasites. This is the reason I do not buy baby clowns nor do I get clowns from the same tank. Sorry for you problems it is always stressful to see a new fish in distress. I have the ability to visit my LFS and choose the clowns I want and wait to see it they are eating before I purchase them.

 

[Sinful Aquatics]

if they are young clowns less than an inch, you could very well have purchased a sick clown. Small clowns are prone to marine ice and a whole host of things including parasites. This is the reason i do not buy baby clowns nor do i get clowns from the same tank. Sorry for you problems it is always stressful to see a new fish in distress. I have the ability to visit my lfs and choose the clowns i want and wait to see it they are eating before i purchase them.

+1

 

[mikezoch]

Thank you everyone. I'm readying a QT and have purchased a package of API's - General Cure. I hope this will do the trick it was all they had at PetsMart. If anyone as a better treatment suggestion - I can hit one of the local reef friendly stores tomorrow.

Mike

 

[romsoccer12]

glad your listening and getting a QT. hopefully the clowns pull through. im not one thats good with medicine, just try to use high nutrient food like rods food or other foods dipped in selcon.

 

[mikezoch]

I read Ocean Nutrition Formula 1 and 2 were good foods. The little one spit it out. I'll try looking for Rod's tomorrow.

 

[traveller7]

...The other seems to be breathing heavy, not very interested in eating and sometimes swimming head up at a 45 degree angle.

These are classic symptoms of external/gill parasites in clownfish. Elevated breathing rate and swimming head up.

Is this fairly common for new fish to be stressed out or do I have a sick clown?

This is not stress, it is caused by a pathogen. It is very common with new imports, captive bred fish mixed in the same system with new imports, and home aquariums when proper quarantine procedures are not followed.

The tail is a little ragged - could this be fin rot?

Fin rot, Brook, bacterial infection, shipping damage, and countless other issues could be contributing to ragged fins. They are likely secondary injuries.

The net result:

You have parasites in the tank. Any and all of the other may or may not show symptoms over time.

If the clown is already breathing quickly and no longer swimming normally, it should be treated in a hospital environment immediately. If they were my fish, I'd treat every fish in the tank and leave the display tank system fishless for at least 4 weeks, more likely 6 weeks.

Good thread on QT procedures and clowns:
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=288805

Example of a QT tank:
http://atj.net.au/marineaquaria/quarantinetanks.html

I'd likely start a hypo treatment here if the clown is still alive:
http://atj.net.au/marineaquaria/hyposalinity.html

I'd hope is not Brooklynella, but it is common in mixed LFS systems, even with captive bred clowns.

Good luck and post clear close up pictures if you can. There are some telltale signs which may narrow the diagnosis down to few possible bugs.

 

[mikezoch]

Bad news - the clown died last night. I put both clowns in the QT and treated with Aquarium Pharmaceuticals General Cure.

The smaller one has not show signs of illness and eats well.

Can I consider this matter dealt with or since the sick clown spent time in my display tank - do I now need to treat the display tank?

When treating the display tank - a few SPS and softies - which of these 2 products would you recommend using

• Aquarium Pharmaceuticals General Cure
• SeaChem ParaGuard

 

[mikezoch]

Ok I just read SeaChem ParaGuard is not reef safe so that product is out.

 

[mikezoch]

Here are the ingredients of Aquarium Pharmaceuticals General Cure

sodium chloride
metronidazole
praziquantel
silica amorphous, fumed, crystalline free

 

[traveller7]

Sorry for your loss

The parasite has a life cycle as well. As I previously posted, I would treat all the fish in the system at the same time. Removing all the fish for 4+ weeks, allows the majority if not all of the parasites to die off without a host. I understand this is difficult to the point most folks will not follow this path.

I would not treat my main display system unless I it was and will always be a fish only environment.

If you already have the fish in treatment, at least finish the treatment and monitor the remaining fish in the main system for symptoms over the next few weeks.

Be very attentive when adding new fish in the future, some will be more susceptible to whatever parasites may remain in the display.

All the best.

 

[mikezoch]

Lesson learned - albeit the hard way.

The clown that died was in my display tank for 2 days. The tank is a new tank - setup for 2 weeks, but with 160lbs of live rock from very mature tanks - I had it up and running for the last 4 months bare bottom in a 75 gallon.

These clowns were the first addition since moving into the new tank.

 

[MarinaP]

Symptoms and timing point to brooklynella, which is usually contagious. Look for treatment for the remaining clown on ATJ's website (Scott has provided the links already).

Here is a link to purchase formalin

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=21423

 

[mikezoch]

Is brooklynella a Clown only disease?

I have a Foxface, Blue Tang, Black Barred Convict Goby, Red Bubble Tip Anemone, Brittle Star, and crabs and Peps. I have a few SPS Corals and they are removable, but the Mushroom and Zoas are on very large rock and would not survive long outside the main tank.

I've read Formalin - will kill off inverts and pretty much destroy live rock.

Do I put all on my fish hospital tanks and treat for a few days - then put them back?

 

[MarinaP]

There is evidence that brook affects other fish as well. Clowns are just magnets for it. They definitely get brook more often than ich. I would treat the remaining clown in a hospital tank, and hope for the best for the rest of the fish. Your call.

 

[mikezoch]

From what I'm reading it sounds like removing the fish for 4 weeks and treating with Formalin would be the sure bet. Leaving the main take along until the fish are treated - then putting them back in the main tank.