New Sick Clown Fish

[beef1978]

I have just introduced two new Pecula Clown fish into our new aquarium which is a 78L Aqua One tank with 160kgs of live rock which has been in two weeks (pre-cured)...all levels seem fine.
These are the first fish to our aquarium and one of the Pecular clowns seems fine, very active and swiming around alot, while the other is huddled in a corner at the bottom of the tank swimming vertical and panting alot.
I noticed when we picked the fish from our fish store that the guy had to fight with an anemone where the fish was hiding, to catch him with the fish net.
I have also noticed that the sick fish has a damaged tail fin.
Is there anything we can do to help him?
Was this caused by the anemone he was in at the store??
Any advice appreciated for this beginner...

 

[White Tiger]

The picture is not really clear. However, I have determined that the damaged area of the fish is either a fungus infection or scar tissue. To get the proper diagnoses, please reply.

1. What was the clown housed with at the store?
2. Does there appear to be any red around the white blotches?
3. Was the clown in this condition when you bought it?

 

[beef1978]

Unfortunately the fish is no longer....

But i am interested in what the problem was here to avoid it again in the future.
At the store the fish was in a tank housing anemonies and was probably there for decoration. The clown was hiding in a large carpet anemone and it was a fight to catch the fish.
I didn't notice red around the white blotches, however its tail deteriorated rapidly when we got it home. In fact, by today it effectively had no tail left. Thanks.

 

[White Tiger]

The fish had a fungus infection. The bad thing about fungus is that it can kill quickly. You should not be worried about your other clown since it is extremely heathy (fish can only get fungus if unhealthy).

Copper does not treat fungus. However, there are treatment options.

There are two ways a fungus can infect a fish. The first way is an internal infection. This is where a fungus grows outward from the inside of the fish. It is usually leathal to the victim. The second way is an external infection. In this infection, the fungus develops on the outside of the fish and works its way in. This is usually less lethal.

To determine whether or not the recent fungus death was an internal or external infection, you can cut the fish's body in half. If it was internal, there would be a gigantic hole/cavity in the clown's body. If the disease developed externally, there should not be a hole/cavity unless if it is by the skin.

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

Fungus infections are VERY rare in marine aquariums..most likely a bacteria infection.
Was this Clown wild caught or tank raised? Was it 'hosting' this Anemone? Stress from separating this Clown from his home, his protection, may have had a big part in this..especially if it was wild caught.. Also wild caught often carry Brooklynella, which will kill very fast. This normally gives the fish a white slime coating or the appearance of 'peeling' skin

In the future, buy only tank raised, I wouldn't buy anymore fish until you are sure the Clown you have is disease free.

Also invest in a quarentine tank

 

[White Tiger]

The clown could have had brooklynella. If it did have brooklynella, the clown would have displayed the following symptoms---

--Panting
--Coming up to the surface for air
--Scratching on rocks
--Massive shedding of a whitish slim substance

If the clown did not show a couple of these symptoms, then the killer would have been fungus.

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

As I said, fungus is VERY rare in Marine aquariums.....most likely BACTERIAL in nature

 

[White Tiger]

"...fungus is VERY rare in Marine aquariums..." (BTTRFLYGRL, 2006)

Fungus is rare in marine aquariums. But fish infected with brooklynella show severe symptoms that are immediately noticeable. So despite the fact that fungus is rare, it could have still been a possibility.

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

If you read my original post, I never suggested THIS Clown had Brook, only that it was common in wild caught Clowns.....I stated, the frayed fins are more likely a sign of a BACTERIAL INFECTION, not a Fungal infection.