What the... How is this possible? (Brooklynella)

[Spork3245]

Woke up this morning to see one of my clowns barely moving, having a very hard time swimming. Has clearish-white patches throughout, definitely matched pictures of brooklynella with a quick google search. Unfortunately she died in just a few hours as I was scrambling to set-up a hospital tank.

Here's what's weird though; I haven't added a fish to my tank in approximately 8-10 months. I haven't added any corals in ~4-5 months and the last time I added any inverts (snails/shrimps/chitons/hermit crabs) was over two months ago with an order from ReefCleaners.org which, AFAIK, uses invert-only tanks.

How in the world could Brooklynella have gotten into my tank??? Could a clownfish incubate the disease for months/years before stressing enough to be symptomatic? I just don't understand!

I pulled the second (male) one out, he doesn't show any signs of it but I figured it's best to treat now. I do have a third which is in my refugium, I'm currently trying to pull him out... Long story short on why I have/had three is that I got bad advice from a LFS when I first started the tank, about 3 weeks ago two of the clowns finally turned on the third so he went into my 'fuge till I could re-home him. Hopefully he'll be okay with the other clown now that the female has passed.

 

[Spork3245]

BTW will Melafix work for Brooklynella? It seems as though NO LFS in my area carries Formalin. :fun2:

 

[Sk8r]

Melafix is an antibacterial. Brook is a parasite. Copper, however, won't work well on this particular parasite.

Some accounts say the pest can lie dormant for some time, but the length of time you give should be enough. I can only think that you've got an unusual situation, and without access to the only effective med, you may not be able to save this fish. You might look up brooklynella freshwater dip as a palliative (comfort) measure while you order formalin via internet, but I fear on a weekend this is not going to go well. I'd let some time elapse before attempting to replace the lost clown, and have formalin in house, in case.
The only thing I can think of to do at this point is to put the fish in qt, try lowering salinity to hyposalinity, and hope. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1991470

 

[Spork3245]

Melafix is an antibacterial. Brook is a parasite. Copper, however, won't work well on this particular parasite.

Some accounts say the pest can lie dormant for some time, but the length of time you give should be enough. I can only think that you've got an unusual situation, and without access to the only effective med, you may not be able to save this fish. You might look up brooklynella freshwater dip as a palliative (comfort) measure while you order formalin via internet, but I fear on a weekend this is not going to go well. I'd let some time elapse before attempting to replace the lost clown, and have formalin in house, in case.
The only thing I can think of to do at this point is to put the fish in qt, try lowering salinity to hyposalinity, and hope. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1991470

Well it's not a replacement, I already have a second who was in the 'fuge due to having three clownfish via some bad LFS advice nearly 2 years ago. Will they be okay in the same hospital tank or should I try to get a divider of some sort?

 

[Sk8r]

They've been in the same water, they're in the same situation.

 

[Spork3245]

They've been in the same water, they're in the same situation.

Sorry, I'm probably not being clear. I'm asking if they can safely be put in the same QT without one attacking the other, not if they should both be QT'd.

 

[Sk8r]

CLowns fight until one of them becomes female, and the female, who grows larger, dominates the pair, and the tank. They will fight. If you think the survivor is too weak to fight back, put an eggcrate barrier into the qt and separate them that way.

 

[Nina51]

yes, they should both be qt'd. you would be wise to put some egg crate down the center of the tank to keep them separated until you know they will be ok together.

 

[Spork3245]

Thank you!