Ocellaris flesh eating virus?

[rocketh2o]

Hello,
This is my first post. I am new to this hobby (addiction), so please bear with me. I have a 75G tank that is about a month and a half old. 65lbs of LFS cured rock. As for the water parameters, my salinity is 1.024., water temp is 78 deg. I have the LFS test my water for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates (I don’t have my testers yet), but they tell me that my water is good except nitrates are a “little high but perfectly acceptable”. I use RO-DI water for changes and top-offs.
Anyway, we just added two ocellaris clowns a week ago and one of them had a white spot on its dorsal fin. This “white” spot has now eaten away the flesh of the fin and bones look to be exposed. It swims around fine and seems to eat well, but the sight if her fin really worries me. What is it? Does anyone know? The LFS says it’s a virus and there isn’t anything I can do and that it will go away on its own, but how can it re-grow the fin? If there is something I can do, Id like to know.
Thanks in advance for you help.

 

[traveller7]

[welcome]

I suspect your LFS is referring to lymphocystis, but your picture does not appear to show such.

I would suspect your fish has a bacterial infection, i.e. "fin rot" If it continues to erode, it will need to be treated. Regardless, the cause should be tracked down. I suspect the culprit is the new tank and instabilities in water quality during the new tank time frames. Feed them a few times a day, get a basic test kit to monitor the conditions, make sure they are not bickering, and keep and eye on that erosion expanding or turning red.

Expansion or redness are very bad signs and treatment in a separate tank is likely necessary.

 

[rocketh2o]

Thanks Scott,
That's too bad, but I’m glad to have an idea of what’s wrong. I have watched the clowns a lot and I haven’t seen any fighting. Is fin rot contagious? And how or what is the best way to treat it? Chemicals? food?

 

[MarinaP]

It is not lympho. traveller7 is correct.

If her fin continues to rot, use Maracyn 2 saltwater at double dose in a hospital tank.