Beth...Terry...Your diagnosis?

[salisbury a d]

My clownfish about a month ago were healthy and eating.
Then one of them developed small cotton like spots, which then turned into more spots, laziness, milky pale skin, and loss of some scales. Also the fins frayed some. Then the other clownfish developed the same illness.
They were still eating and swimming around untill a week ago when they finally stopped eating, and stayed at the bottom of the tank.
I do not know what it is.
It can't be ich because my other fish don't have it.
Then the clowns did just recently.
Tests were at
Nitrate 0
nitrite 0
ph 8.2
ammonia 0
I will check them tonight.
The clowns were tank raised percula.
Then my damsel started doing nothing and just hung out on the gravel and lost his appetite.
What is going on?
Do you know?
Please help!
Adam

 

[beth]

This problem with the clowns is either a bacterial infection or a fungal disease. You say that the white spots were "cottony"? This is a symptom more of fungus rather than of a bacterial infection. Be clear that the spots you see do look like tuffs of cotton.
A bacterial infection will be whitish-gray in appearance and will have more of a slimy appearance to it. May even appear stringy.
The 2 diseases can be mistaken for each other.
However, you can treat for both bacterial and fungus. Do you have a FO tank? Meaning no LR, LS inverts?? NONE!
It is better to treat these fish in a separate hospital tank, and there is no choice but to treat them in a separate tank unless your main tank is Strictly FO.
Tell us what your setup is and if you can move your fish into a hospital. Look closely at the spots, using good lighting and a magnifying glass if necessary, to see if you can actually see cottony tuffs or not.
For bacterial infection you can use Maracyn2. For fungus, you can use Maracyn's sister medication, Maroxy. Preferable to use the meds that are labeled for Saltwater fish, as these have the additional benefits of Vit B supplements.

 

[salisbury a d]

I do have live rock coral inverts.
The clowns have died a couple of days ago and I just want to know what it is and how to treat it if it comes up again in the future.
But my other damsel is still alive has no visible illness except it doesn't move just does nothing but get drawn to the power filter intake tube.
It is still alive and in a 5.5 gallon hospital tank.
I did quarentine the clowns but did not help.
Now in my main display I am left with a yellow tail blue damsel and a watchman goby.
I should wait a month before getting more fish right??
What should I do about the sick damsel?
I have a treatment called Kanacyn (spelling)
It says it treats many things including wasteing away but what does it mean by that.
Adam

 

[salisbury a d]

I did tests today and it is the same as it always is.
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
pH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Salinity 1.022
Not that long ago I had my water tested at a store and they came up with the same thing.
Adam
Oh Wait a month before adding new fish right?

 

[beth]

Wait a month, or more. Also, add slowly, like one fish at a time, alway a few weeks to pass before getting a new fish.
Unstocking is preferable. Good luck!

 

[salisbury a d]

Ok.
All I have left is a yellow tail blue damsel and a yellow watchman goby.
I do not have to get rid of them if I don't have to but am going to quarentine them and medicate them just for safety.
I think the damsel is getting spots any way.
but very very small ones.
Adam

 

[beth]

What kind of spots?

 

[salisbury a d]

They were very tiny but seem to have disapprared. there was maybe 3 on its tail and that was it.
Adam

 

[salisbury a d]

Ahh! They came back.
Would it help if I did a large water change and used carbon and turned up the protein skimmer?
Adam

 

[beth]

Do what you said you were going to do and place them in a hospital tank. Are these spots ick? Do know ick when you seee it?? You need to give some specific details on the disease itself, and what you are seeing.
However, my educated guess is ick at this point. Don't use meds, use hyposalinity for treatment, alone with garlic soaked food.

 

[salisbury a d]

I use garlic soaked food.
I believe it is ich.
Small white spots scratching against rocks and glass.
The spots look like ich all over.
Bhe problem is I can't catch the fish. It darts into the rockword.
And I don't want to mess up.
I just rebuilt the way it is set up.
Can I do Hyposalinity in the main display?
No right? Corals can't take it.
What is the easiest way to catch the fish?
Help!!
Adam