Sick Clown, Please help, out of ideas

[iflyprops]

Two nights ago I noticed one of my no stripe clowns had what looked a little like ick. I decided to keep an eye on it but by morning it took a turn for the worst, I quarantined it but it was too late. Now the other no-stripe clown is in quarantine, it started as a precaution. She looks fine, is eating, but is staying in the same spot in the tank and has begun to breathe rapidly. She had a freshwater dip two days ago with formalin and I started soaking all her food in garlic yesterday morning and started soaking it in Kent Zoe today. I am out of ideas. What can/should I do??

Thanks
Adam

 

[leebca]

The most important thing is to get a correct diagnosis. From your efforts and descriptions it sounds like a Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) and/or a Marine Velvet condition. Marine Velvet moves very quickly as you described. Without further information or photos, the fish may have one, both, or the other OR something else. There are dozens of possibilities here. But assuming it is a 'white spot' disease. . .

Even if you aren't sure which one of the 'white spot' diseases it has, there is a treatment that will address both. The 'treatments' you are doing are not known to always cure fish of these types of infestations. And, while you are using these alternative approaches, the disease sets in deeper and gets its opportunity to spread beyond control. This is where anecdotal information, testimonials, and myth do the most damage -- wasting valuable cure time.

In quarantine, I would treat with a copper treatment. I like Cupramine. You'll need a copper test kit that is recommended by the medication manufacturer, along with the medication, to control the copper concentration. Follow directions on the medication and actually monitor the copper concentration.

Good luck!