sick ocellaris

[jonesdeini]

1. How old is this aquarium?
2 years

2. If less than six months old, what is ammonia level?

3. What is SG of this aquarium? How measured?
1.025. Refractometer

4. When was the last fish added to this aquarium?
9 months ago

5. Was it quarantined? If so, how? And how long? Was it prophylactically treated? How?
No

6. If you are using a copper based medication, which one? How often do you measure level? When?

7. If you are using hyposalinity, how did you calibrate your refractometer?

8. Please describe in detail, the appearance of the fish? If there is one or more pimples, are they lumpy? What color?
A white lump appeared on the fish's head, about the size of it's eye. (Much larger than any white bumps from ich that I've seen).

9. Please describe the behavior of the fish as best you can. Is it acting reclusive? Is it always up towards the top of the aquarium? Is it avoiding light? How active is the fish?
When I turned on the lights this morning the fish was lying in it's anemone which is not uncommon. When I came down to turn the lights up I noticed it was laying on it's side in the anemone. As I turned the lights up it seemed to perk up, but I was still worried. I did not noticed the lump until about 6 hours later. I was trying to observe the fish throughout the day and did not notice the bump before. I do not see any other spots or bumps on the fish.
The fish seems lethargic.

10. Is the fish eating? What?
The fish did not attempt to go for food today. I feed PE mysis. The fish ate fine yesterday.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Have you added any corals, LR or inverts to the rank recently? Can you post a pic?

 

[jonesdeini]

I have added a small frag and a few snails about 2 weeks ago. I only drip acclimated them as I do not have a QT for for coral/inverts yet. (I didn't realize these should be QT'd, but I'm now a full believer)

 

[jonesdeini]

not the best pictures but you can see the lump by it's right eye

http://imgur.com/a/GheLx

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Something could have hitch hiked in the water. As for the fish the only thing you can do is wait and see if anything presents. It could be the beginning of brook, however, that usually starts with something that looks like a pimple not a lump. Does he have a gold sheen to him or is there mucus trailing off him? It could be a tumor (insert Arnold joke) or an injury. Do you have any vitamins you can add to the water since he is not eating?

 

[jonesdeini]

what do you mean by pimple? as in the size would be smaller?

I do not notice any physical other symptoms. What color light would be best to notice a gold sheen if it were present?

 

[snorvich]

what do you mean by pimple? as in the size would be smaller?

I do not notice any physical other symptoms. What color light would be best to notice a gold sheen if it were present?

Light coloration would not be essential. Most obvious when looking at the fish almost head on but once you have seen it, it is immediately obvious. Before physical appearance, behavior is always the first indication.

 

[jonesdeini]

Since the lights have been on today I have not seen the lump on the fish's face. I'm perplexed on what is going on here.

The best I can describe the fish's behavior is lethargic: laying around in it's anemone, and only swimming slightly every so often for no apparent reason.

The only other fish in the tank is a 3" purple tang, who seems fine and is eating like a pig as always. I have more than enough spare enough equipment to separate the fish. I would lean towards removing the tang since the clown fiercely protects the anemone under normal conditions and I would think it would be very stressful to remove the clown from it.

Any other thoughts or advice how I can better identify the problem?