Whats wrong with my clown fish?

[lougotzz]

Hello everyone, It is night time here, and I just installed my light today. Well, the lights have gone off and the lunar light is on. The tank has two clown fish in it. One is doing very well, but the other is having problems. He is being sucked up against the filter , then swimming off of it, then getting sucked up onto the power head, and swimming off of it. He looks pal and not as attractive as his tank mate, it looks like he isnt going to make it through the night Why is this happening to him? The tank parameters are
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
phosphate .5
ph 8.2
SG 1.025
Calcium 460
Tank has been up now for four weeks. He was never active, until the second clown came in, the second clown is very active, but this guy always just floated in the corner. Im sad to see him get sucked up on the power head cause I really liked him, what could have caused this? Thanks for the help.

 

[1geo]

Read up on Brook and Ich. Brooklynella is a parasite that has very similar symptoms to Ich which includes Marine Velvet are also parasites. Brook is treated with Formalin and Ich is treated with copper. Some of the symptoms are rapid swimming, swimming at the top of the tank and gasping for air, fading color, sometimes spots on the body, sometimes lesions on the body. Brook can take your fish in a matter of days, Ich takes a little longer but it too will kill. If one fish in your tank has either of these parasites the ALL of you fish have the parasite even if they exhibit no symptoms and have to be treated or eventually they will die. That means setting up a treatment tank with copper in it and giving them Formalin dips. The tank the fish came out of also has the parasite in it and all of the fish have to be removed from the tank for a six week period to stop the life cycle of the parasite. The eggs of the parasite are in the bottom of your tank and can lay there dormant for up to six weeks. When they hatch they have to find a fish host or they will die. After six weeks the tank is safe for new occupants. Get on Google and read and read and read some more about these parasites and how to treat them and do it now before you lose all of your clowns and your other fish.

 

[kook1e]

Brooklynella =[

Brooklynella =[

ok, so ive come to the conclusion that my babies have Brooklynella. i dont have a QT tank due to Financial issues... but what can i do to get rid of it? just dip the clowns in FW from time to time? ive read up that Brooklynella can live in ur tank for up to 6 weeks.... what should i do!?!

 

[1geo]

First buy some "Formalin" which is 37% formaldehyde. Then get a container for one gal of RO water the same salinity and temperature as your main tank. in the container put an airstone and 1 cc of Formalin. This is your dip. You put your fish in this mixture for 45 minutes; keeping a close eye on them in case they get stressed out and have to be removed. You have to have a tank to put them in, NOT the main tank because it too is infected and has to remain fish free for six weeks before stock can safely be put back in the tank. The reason is explained in my previous posting. The most important thing you need do immediately is read the articles on the internet on Brooklynella and its treatment. It is a complex and difficult parasite to get rid of and it can kill you fish in a matter of days. So first order Formalin NOW. Then read, read and read some more.

 

[kook1e]

could i keep my two clowns in my fathers tank that is Brooknyella free? or would it spread to his tank and his fish as well?!

 

[1geo]

NO, If you put them in your Father's tank his tank will be infected also. The fish have to be treated with formalin, if they have Brooklynella, or treated with copper if they have the various forms of Ich. Remember, the symptoms for both are very much the same so I would first put them in a Formalin dip then into a copper tank for three weeks. Then move them to a QT tank and observe them for at least three weeks to make sure they are cured of the parasite. Then and only then can you put them in a community tank. The original tank they came out of has to be without fish for 6 weeks. The reason being the eggs of the parasite can remain dormant that long then hatch and look for a fish host. If it does not find the host, then the parasite dies.

 

[ILLiDaN]

keep in mind though that a lot of times fish don't die of the disease itself but the stress caused by the treatments. I would recommend just keeping the fish as stress free as possible maybe not a bunch of treatments at once and try consistent treatment of one that you end up picking

 

[lkc]

You could pick up a cheap rubbermaid 5 or 10 gallon tub at Home Depot for a quarantine tank. Make sure its rubbermaid tho. Smell it and make sure it does not smell like petroleum. Light, heater and airstone or hob filter - daily water changes and formalin per instructions.

 

[DeathWish302]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14913426#post14913426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lkc
You could pick up a cheap rubbermaid 5 or 10 gallon tub at Home Depot for a quarantine tank. Make sure its rubbermaid tho. Smell it and make sure it does not smell like petroleum. Light, heater and airstone or hob filter - daily water changes and formalin per instructions.

+1 on the clear Rubbermaid hospital/quarantine tank!!! I've even used them for breeding purposes. Worth the $15 tops!

 

[Jamie1210]

or just go to petco/petsmart or walmart and pick up a cheap 10 gallon tank for 10 bucks