Clown Parasite?

bonkuba

bonkuba

Member
Hello everyone......
I have two small Percula Clowns that have what seems to be a white parasite gowing or hangin off of the gill area (very small)....only on their left side. The wierd thing is that it is exactly the same on both fish (one has a litttl on his front fin).
The other fish in the tansk (Yellow Tang, Damsels) look fine no sign of anything.
I dont believe (I am no expert) that it is ich due to it being only on the clowns and not the other fish.
I have been trying to get my temp down by using frozen bottles of water. Not going down over 3-4 degrees at at time.......it stays at 82-84 with the lights on if I dont put the ice in. Could this be stress related?
I am really new to this so please dont be afraid of hurting my feelings at all.
My tank is a 90 Oceanic Bow Front, VHO lighting, Live Rock ,etc.
The fish have never had any disease at all (been in the tank about 6-8 weeks now).
I am hoping this is stress or duue to the temp changes , etc....and not ich!!! HAHA!!
All responses welcome and thanks in advance!!!
Sean :)
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Hey, we'd rather help than hurt your feelings.
Give some tanks specs, size, filtration, how long set up, type [reef, fish only, fish only with live rock?], water readings.
When did this problem start, and how are the fish doing besides having this problem? Eating, color, swimming, etc.?
 
bonkuba

bonkuba

Member
Sure thing!!
The tank is a Oceanic 90gal Bowfront with a 20 gal sump. The Tank has been set up now about 3 months (maybe a little over). I use Saltwater from the LFS when I do a 10% change and replace with DI water for evaporation. I bought Bio water in the beginning of the process to speed up cycle, etc.
So far the tank has fish (Yellow Tang, 2 Percula Clowns and 2 Damsels) and a "cleanup Crew" consisting of snails, starfish, hermit crabs, etc.
I have not added anything to the tank other than red algae for my Yellow Tang to eat (last week) in the last month. The Algae is from my LFS (same one I always use).
Since the summer heat really started I seemed to be having more what I call "Algae Film" on the glass (that comes off easily with the mag scraper) and about 1 inch long green algae growing on one of my live rocks.
I had been doing some reading and thought it could be do to heat. My tank, with the lights on, goes to about 84(sometimes inches higher) even with the top off and the glass open. I couldnt afford a chiller so I started using frozen water bottles when the lights are on....which seemed to keep the temp where I wanted it...around 78-80. I forgot to mention I wanted to add coral and read that they dont like hotter water (again I am new).
So, today I had friends over and they noticed a white "substance" in the exact same place on both clowns......one has a little bit on his front fin.......but other than that they are in the exact same place. They act really fine and eat well.....other than the white "stuff" on them they are fine. All the other fish have no sign of this. Keep in mind this is a small amount...but they are small too :)
My thoughts are this and keep in mind these are just theories of a novice.
1. I have Ich. I have looked at pics and it doesnt look like it. I really hope it is not.
2. Stress related due to the temp changes (trying to keep it cool).
3. Something off of the water bottles caused it. I tore off the wrappers and washed by hand rinsed well, etc. The lids are always tight and nothing leaks out into the sump (where I place them).
Out of the above I hope it is stress related or something that I can cure. These guys have the best personalities (I know I am becoming attached.....hahaha!!!) and I dont want to lose them.
Again, this just showed up in the last day or two and I have been doing the ice thing about 4 days.
All my tests are in the norm including salinity. I can check tomorrow again to get exact if needed.
I am sorry for the long post so I hope this helps.
Thanks for all the replies!!!
Sean :D
 
bonkuba

bonkuba

Member
Update.....
I just got of of the phone with my LFS in OKC (I live in Ardmore which is a small town with no fish store, etc.....closest is OKC).
Anyway, the lady on the phone that I usually deal with seems to believe it is "ClownFish disease". She said she is leaning towards that since I stated to her that both of the fish have it in exactly the same spot by their left gill......etc.
The methods she suggested to get rid of it are:
1. buying Cleaner Shrimp. This I dont really understand....do they eat it off the clowns?
2. A fresh water dip for 3 minutes in DI water at the same PH. This I am willing to do but but with my live rock it will be a pain in the ying yang to get them out!!
Again, I want to make sure I am doing the right thing before doing any of this to my little clowns :(
Since I cant get to the LFS today (75 miles) I am willing to try the Freshwater dip, but I dont want to put them thru the stress of me catching them (not to mention how hard it is going to be to catch them) if I dont have to.
Opinions?
Thank you,
Sean :D
 
bonkuba

bonkuba

Member
Sorry to post again so soon......
I was looking at the little guys again just now and it looks like a little piece of a cotton swab attached to both fish on their left gill. One has a "little piece" on its left front fin....
These "cotton balls" seemed to have grown since last night....but I may just be stressing.
Thanks,
Sean
 
bonkuba

bonkuba

Member
I thought that I posted everything you would needed really soon (less than a few hours) of what I thought you needed.
Again, I am new to this so I not always sure what is needed.
I am sorry you feel that it is a waste of time....I certainly do not.
Rather than start a post frenzy, I have found my answers elsewhere. I thank you for the late reply but it is no longer needed after 3 days.
Thank you,
Sean
 
firefishspike

firefishspike

Member
if you can post a pic of it I have a friend that is a fish vet, yes I said it, a fish vet...........I bring my arowana to him for check-ups all the time lol.........if you purchase a cleaner shrimp it cleans the parasites off of your fish, a good investment IMO
now there is a slight possibility that someone else may back me up on....it is very rare in saltwater tanks, but there is a very good chance that your clowns are infected with a fungal disease
if it looks like a cotton patch, very very rare and really bad luck if it is, I have read that one guy have only seen it 3 times in 14 years
and there is no cure for the saltwater case
 
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