Sick clown (with pics)

[john miller]

I was told to post this here instead of the Clown forum.

I purchased two juvi clowns 10 days ago. One was 1 1/2" and the other 3/4". Both were put straight in a QT tank and a few days later the larger of the two stopped eating and then I noticed long white stringy poo. I did a search and found it was more than likely internal parasites. I found some PraziPro and started treating. After I started treating I noticed the smaller of the two also had white stringy poo but was still eating. Well yesterday I lost the larger of the two. After I removed her I did a cleaning and a 75% W/C.

Tonight the smaller one that is left quit eating also. Then I noticed this:

To give you an idea of scale that's a 2" PVC fitting.

I dosed with PraziPro again and it immediately came loose.

Does it look like that I'm treating for the right thing? If not, then what should I be using?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[duncantse]

Check ammonia and nitrite. It might be too high. IME, when I bought 2 clowns, they had white stringy poop too but then after a few weeks, it just disappeared and turned into normal poop. I think it's due to stress.

 

[SkullV]

Check ammonia and nitrite. It might be too high. IME, when I bought 2 clowns, they had white stringy poop too but then after a few weeks, it just disappeared and turned into normal poop. I think it's due to stress.

The clown pictured above has additional issues. It looks very pale. Does it have a very thick slime coat that is visible? Just from looking at it I am going to say Brook but it is hard to tell from that photo.

 

[john miller]

Check ammonia and nitrite.

Both at zero.

 

[john miller]

The clown pictured above has additional issues. It looks very pale. Does it have a very thick slime coat that is visible? Just from looking at it I am going to say Brook but it is hard to tell from that photo.

Not that I can see. I'll look closer tonight. That's the best pic I could get because the little thing never stays still. I think I took around 70 pics just to get that one.

 

[steelhead77]

The clown pictured above has additional issues. It looks very pale. Does it have a very thick slime coat that is visible? Just from looking at it I am going to say Brook but it is hard to tell from that photo.

+1 on the Brook diagnosis. It's hard to tell from this pic, but it looks like the the tail fin and top fin have some fuzzy bits trailing off of them. If this is the case and you see a white film on the fish, then it is indeed Brook and Formalyn is the ONLY thing that will cure it. Directions must be followed exactly and it must be administered quickly, otherwise your fish will not make it.

Good Luck

 

[john miller]

Thanks. Unfortunately no one around me carries it and nether does the place that I can get next day shipping. Is there anything I can do to help slow it down until I can get the Formalin?, freshwater dips maybe?

I'm going to stop at one place on the way home because the guy I talked to on the phone sounded beyond stupid so maybe I'll get lucky.

 

[SkullV]

Thanks. Unfortunately no one around me carries it and nether does the place that I can get next day shipping. Is there anything I can do to help slow it down until I can get the Formalin?, freshwater dips maybe?

I'm going to stop at one place on the way home because the guy I talked to on the phone sounded beyond stupid so maybe I'll get lucky.

Nothing will slow it down but Formalin. Unfortunatly Brook kills fast. If the fish truly does have it and you can't get the Formalin for a few days I would say that you may be out of luck.

 

[john miller]

I found AP QuICK Cure. Ingredients are formalin & malachite green. I did the first of three doses, per instructions, tonight. We'll just have to wait and see. He did seem to perk up a little but he was pretty bad off when I started. But at least he has a chance now.

 

[john miller]

It actually ate a tiny bit last night. It was only a few pieces of brine shrimp but that's more than it had been eating. I did a W/C last night after feeding and dosed it's second treatment. It appears to be breathing easier and moving around more. About how long till I know if the treatments have been successful? According to the instructions on the bottle tonight will be the last treatment.

Also my LFS is holding my new clown (ordered before I was told what I was dealing with here), so how long should it take to clear out all the parasites and how long until I'm able to introducing the new one to the QT tank? I need to give them some kind of time frame.

Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[steelhead77]

If after 3 or 4 days you see improvement, you should be out of the woods. It will probably be another week or so before the fish is completely healed. I would not put it back in your DT before then. At that time you should be good to add the other clown. Hopefully you're not getting the new clown from the same place you got the one that's sick right now. If so, then you need to completely wash out the hospital tank and turn it into a quarantine tank and keep an eye on the new guy for a week or so before adding it the DT.

Good Luck, keep us updated.

 

[john miller]

Neither was ever in my display. This is a new set up and both were put directly into a QT tank. It is showing improvement but still not eating like it should. I did the last treatment last night and just now replaced my carbon. I noticed last night before feeding that it still has long stringy poo but it's almost clear now. I haven't noticed this tonight.

The new clown needs to go into the QT tank with this one. How long should I wait before adding the new one? I'm planning on QT'ing both for four more weeks.

 

[john miller]

It didn't make it.