Sick Clarkii clowns

[dantodd]

Well, either the little guy brought something in with him or some macro someone gave me had some nasties on it. I'd like to blame someone else but it's probably my fault for not adequately QTing the new little guy.

He looks terrible. His right gill cover looks partially detatched on the bottom and is very bloody. I noticed 2 days ago that it looked "wrong" and that he was breathing rapidly. I couldn't really see anything yesterday as he spent his time in the anemone and wouldn't show me anything.

Today it looks really bad.

The female has what looks like a parasite or an ulcer on her side. The Coral beauty also has 2 of these spots on her body. I wasn't able to get a picture of her spot with all the water spots on the tank. I will try again and hopefully get a pic I can post. There is also a peppermint who likes to clean in case it is external parasites.

It could possibly be aggression as the CB seems pretty aggressive toward the clowns, which I've not heard of before but OT here.

The yellow tang looks fine as do the 2 clowns in the sump.

I did manage to capture the 2 sick clowns from the display and they are in a hospital tank right now. No filtration yet.

Should I set up a quick FW dip and see if the spot falls off of her?

Any other suggestions or diagnoses are welcome.


Here is a picture of his injured/sick gill cover.

 

[leebca]

I would like to have you treat them all for Brooklynella, but using formalin on an open soar/wound is not a good idea.

In the future you might want to remember that all anemonefishes should be treated for Brooklynella, even if they look perfectly healthy. It is such a common disease amongst them that the probability of the fish having it is high enough to just treat it.

The 'spots' description isn't helpful. A photo is needed for that. Is it a parasite, can you tell? Is it under the surface or over the surface? Does the 'spot' look more like a lesion than a parasite?

You should be prepared to perform a formalin treatment, as if you're treating for Brooklynella, for all the other fishes in your system. So at this time, gather up the meds and equipment you might need.

Brooklynella information:
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/brooklynella.html

Formalin bath guidelines:
http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/formaldehyde_friend_or_foe.html

Good luck!

 

[dantodd]

Thanks Lee,

I was told to treat with maracyn2 by another clownfish person and have started that.

They are alive this AM and look about the same.

The spot is human-white-dude flesh colored. It does look like it is either a parasite of some sort or a swollen lesion as it is definately out further than the scales. I will try and get a better picture today. I can't see anything like a segmented body that I'd expect if it was something like an amphipod and it's about 1mm across. Inless it is dangerous I am planning to do a freshwater dip while changing the water in the hospital tank assuming it might be parasites.

I'll check out the clowns in the sump and plan on treating for brook but I'll have to pick up another tank and heater for treatment.

Thanks for taking the time to help out.

 

[dantodd]

It's definately brook. When I came home with formalin the male was floating. The female was slow-gaping at the surface and showed a line down her body under the dorsal. I set up the formalin dip as quickly as possible. I put her back in the hospital tank and kept treating with maracyn2. should I discontinue the maracyn2?

 

[leebca]

Maracyn Two will do no harm and it may fend off any secondary infection. If you're using Maracyn Two for Saltwater fishes, it also contains an appetite stimulant.

So, I would continue the Maracyn Two treatment for the 5 day treatment recommended by the med manufacturer.

Just so we're clear. . .The antibiotic (Maracyn Two) does not cure or help cure Brooklynella.

Sorry for the loss. Hope the luck changes! :rollface:

 

[dantodd]

I understand that it is not effective against brook. My thouht was that since the treatment had started I would continue if it wasn't contraindicated with formalin in the event that she had picked up a secondary infection.

She is looking a little better wrt. breating and swimming but has completely discontinued eating.... hmm..

How about returning her to the display tank. Will there still be brook in different stages of life in the tank and will she have some sort of prophylactic protection long enough for it all to die out?

 

[leebca]

Dan,

The proper treatment with formalin means dipping the fish a few times. Each dip/bath means having to catch the fish. All this is best done in a hospital tank in order to reduce the trauma of being caught. After the treatment you want to confirm the treatment worked before returning the fish to the display.

Brooklynella has no free-swimming stage like Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans). That is, it can be transmitted fish-to-fish but not tank-to-fish. If you return the fish to the display and there are fishes there that have or may be carrying Brooklynella, then the fish you return will possibly be reinfected.

What helps most in Brooklynella is isolation; treatment; reducing stress on the fish; and improved diet/nourishment. This can help with the diet/nourishment part:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=785228

Feeding the fish extra vitamins and fat supplements along with beta glucan (found in health food stores) as described above is VERY important. A fish in a hospital tank will be easier to get to eat. Once in the display, it can hide until it dies.

So as soon as possible, gather up the above recommended foods and supplements and try to get the fish eating while it is in your QT.

Some vitamins, like Vita-Chem can be added to the hospital tank.

Good luck! :rollface:

 

[dantodd]

Thanks Lee,

I can't tell you how much this helps.

I am feeding a modified version of Eric B's reef tank diet so I have a really well rounded and supplemented diet. I didn't add the Beta Glucan but probably will in the next batch, I guess I could just mix it in when I thaw the food since it's a yeast derivative it should be pretty shelf stable.

Even though the other 2 clowns are in the sump and not in the display do you think it is best to treat them anyway? I can pull them at the same time I return the fish currently being treated.

Thanks for the info on the lifecycle of brook, I didn't notice that info in the 2 articles you posted for me to read, I may have simply missed it. I suspect that the fish in the sump are OK since they weren't directly exposed to the sick fish but it would give me a much greater piece of mind if the 6 day treatment and HT stay isn't too stressful.

 

[leebca]

You're most welcome Dan.

I would treat all anemonefishes in your system and even treat all other fishes that have been exposed to the one that has the disease. Just don't mix treated with untreated fishes. Take your time and be thorough and diligent. It will pay off in the end.