Clown in Hypo

[gatorcsm]

One of my clowns in Hypo, been at 1.009 since last thursday afternoon, seems to have a bit of ich that just appeared. His breating is rapid, and hangs out in pvc ; the other clown (female) is fine; The rest of the fish are all doing very good, and ich has just about disappeared; except of course for this most recent appearance on the clown.
What should I do? Anything? Do you think it will get better on it's own, with the help of the hypo? Or should I consider some other treatment as he is breathing heavy and not looking great? readings are 0/0/0; 8.09 pH, 1.009 sg, 83F;
One of his fins is looking a bit raggid, but not too much; seems like what I've seen in the past accompanying ich on clowns... But not positive; The ich is mostly on his rear fin and dorsal. That I can see that is;
Thanks

 

[beth]

What are you using to measure salinity/specfic gravity? If you're using a swing arm hydrometer, then I'm sure your salinity measurement is inaccurate.
Are the gills swollen on the fish? See any mucous? You could add Maracyn Two for Saltwater Fish. Also, are you feeding the fish garlic soaked food?

 

[gatorcsm]

I am using a refractometer and digital hydrometer; Both read 1.009; Digital Hydrometer reads out fractions as well and it has it at 1.009 and 1/8; I don't use swing arm or float; The gills don't look puffy, seems similar in appearance to the female, just not himself and breathing heavy. No mucus.
Is Maracyn 2 like copper where once you use it in a tank it makes the tank unuseable for reef?
Oh, yeah, and yes, I am feeding food soaked in zoe/zoecon/garlic
Is that fine(the combo)?
Thanks

 

[beth]

No, Maracyn 2 is an antibiotic. Are you treating all the fish for ich? And are they in a hospital tank, or your main tank?

 

[gatorcsm]

My main tank is in hypo; (all of my fish, yes) I was going to do it in my hospital, but it is only a 29 gallon, and figured it would be easier to take out the rock and shrimp (i thought it would be less stressful than trying to net all the fish); I have all of my rock and my 4 cleaner shrimp in a 60 gallon rubbermaid with 45 gallons of water. It has my VHO lighting on it to keep the rock happy...
So that's why I was concerned with the meds. So you are saying (just to make sure), No, I can't use it, or No, it isn't like copper, it is just an antibiotic?
And is there any harm if they don't have a problem, and I treat with maracyn two?
Thanks again!

 

[beth]

No, you shouldn't medicate the display tank if it has or is going to hold soon LR, LS or inverts.
The fish may have a secondary infection, which is common with ich, which is why you might want to use the M2. You can either use your hospital tank to threat the 1 fish with hypo and antibiotics, or wait and see.
Is the fish eating?

 

[gatorcsm]

Yes, the fish is eating; He is eating normally, just not zipping around as much;

 

[beth]

Start feeding the fish with garlic soaked food, if you're not already. Also, if you can get Zoe or Zoecon, vit supplement, you can alternate feeding with food soak with the supplement then the garlic.

 

[gatorcsm]

Just noticed that one of the spots that looked like ick, kind of looks like a dried mucus.. I know that sounds wierd, but it looks as if his "skin" was peeling; not really, but looks like. Kind of an area that could be considered a 'membrane'; His back fin is looking a little tattered more. If I remove him to the hospital tank, is Maracyn two the best all-around treatment?
And I have been feeding all of the fish food soaked in Zoe/Zoecon and garlic since I started the hypo.

 

[gatorcsm]

Originally posted by Beth
No, you shouldn't medicate the display tank if it has or is going to hold soon LR, LS or inverts.

How soon is soon? I still have about 4 weeks to go on hypo...?
Trying to minimize the extra stresses of moving him if I can, but I'll do what I need to do. Currently dropping the salinity of q-tank down to 1.009 as well to accomodate him.

 

[cowabonga]

skin peeling? I think it might be brooklynella...do research on it

 

[gatorcsm]

I am getting ready to put him in the q-tank today, and treat with m2; either way, I'm doing that at this point, but can you tell me anything about other symptoms of brooklynella? Know of any good pictures? I did some searches on-line and couldn't find anything good on it. The posts here had good info on treating, but I only see one/two common things, the breathing and possibly the skin issue. It's so small of an area, I'm hesitant to dip. I've heard it can be stressful. But I'll have to do more readings on the formaline dips. Are those less stressful? Is it unsafe to do it on a fish that does not have brooklynella, but is mis-diagnosed?
If it won't hurt, I'm open to covering any possible loose ends. I just don't want to treat the guy with everything out there...

 

[gatorcsm]

Ok, on the brooklynella issue. Is it always associated with gills and mouth? Because this clown does not have it on his gills or mouth, from what I can see. It appears only to be directly below the dorsal on his left side...
Thanks again!

 

[beth]

How long have you had the clown? Brook is highly contagious. You will actually see skin pealing off with it an whitish mucous.
The treatment is not dips, it is formalin baths using water from the source tank, 45mins, every other day, 3-5 days.

 

[gatorcsm]

I've had the pair (bought them together) for almost a month now. I think it was the 12th/13th of january when I got them. Maybe a little earlier. It isn't peeling off. It just sits there looking like a small stringy piece of dead skin. Hasn't changed too much. Maybe some more though, now, nearer his tail. All of it on the same side. I've tried to take a picture, but he just won't stay still long enough to get a clear image. Too fuzzy to see it. He seems slightly more active, but still breathing heavy (mouth constantly gasping). His back fin (caudal fin?) is seeming a little worse. But again, it might just be aggression i'm not noticing. Both of the clowns have this symptom. Just the male is much worse. Not devestatingly bad. The purple tang has small pieces missing from his pectorals, but it hasn't really changed, and he doesn't seem to be exhibiting any signs of problems other than that. Thus far i've attributed that to aggression. I was planning on doing water changes on the q-tank with displays water so i could just take them out of one directly into the q-tank. Is that sound ok? Then I figured if it becomes a spreading problem, it would be easier to move another fish if necessary into the treated water. If there are any additional medications (ie. the formalin bath) other than m2 for SW, i'm open to trying, just wanting to minimize stresses, obviously. I really wish I could describe what it looks like better, or get a clear picture. Are there fish vets that do house calls? ?
It doesn't seem like his problem is quite life threatening yet, but i'd really hate to have the female lose her mate! They are so nice together...
I really appreciate all of your help. Thanks.

 

[beth]

Well brook is a common problem with clownfish, so I would not rule that out. However, since you've already had the fish for a month, it is more likely that they would have appeared with the problem before now. You can go ahead give them the formalin baths, as I described above. Be sure to aerate the bath water during treatment.
Maracyn 2 for SW fish is the med you need for bacterial infection. Double dose, 5-7 days. Prior to each redose, do a water change, and if you can do an hour or 2 of carbon filtration prior to a redose, that would do well as well.
You might try to do a web search for brook to see if you come up with a picture of it. It kills rapidly and spreads to other fish. The skin will form a white layer, which peals off. Infected fish will exhibit rapid gilling. Usually die pretty quickly once these symptoms are present.

 

[gatorcsm]

It doesn't seem then like brook is the problem here. More of a rapid mouthing... I guess that's how you'd put it. Hard to tell with the gills. Do Formalyn baths take care of any other problems?
I guess I'll try putting him with the maracyn two and see how he does. He's been like this since tuesday I think, and hasn't gotten worse for sure. If anything, a little better, so doesn't seem like a rapid killer as brook is described. Hopefully the m2 will do it.
Thanks again.

 

[beth]

How bad is the ich on this fish?? Certainly ich can cause stress and rapid gilling.

 

[gatorcsm]

Ich is gone now, as far as I can tell. No visible signs at this point. I have the clownsin the q-tank and treating per your instructions (dose x2). Hopefully whatever it is will clear up. I got the formalyn just in case.
At this point, other than the ragid tail, which both clowns and now the purple tang has a little bit of, it is only the rapid breathing that appears a problem in the male clown.

 

[beth]

Ok, got your email, and failed to notice that your user name and email address was the same.
I can't imagine that the fish has brook. I'd give the antibiotics a try and see what happens. Is the fish's skin pealing?