HELP!! Clown fish with white string by gills and a weird slime coat.

[Bambilover09]

My black oscilaris clown fish, today had white string by his gills on each side that went away in a few hours. His slime coat looks more noticeable and his eyes look a bit dull. He is eating well but his mouth is opening and closing quickly. He also is not in his anemone today and is just chilling by some rock. I'm wondering if this is an internal parasite.?

 

[Bambilover09]

Tank is two month old. New fish and coral have been added. Everyone is from the same LFS. Clown was in the tank first before anyone else for 3 weeks with no issues. No other fish are showing any signs.

 

[Lavey29]

Looks like early stage brook developing. Did you QT fish?

 

[Bambilover09]

Looks like early stage brook developing. Did you QT fish?

No my quorenteen tank isn't set up yet.

 

[Lavey29]

No my quorenteen tank isn't set up yet.

I would get it set up. If that cloudiness from mucus coat gets worse that's a strong indicator of brook which is common with wild caught clowns.

 

[vetteguy53081]

mucus will spread along facial area and not confined in one area but the breathing issue described may be excess mucus and giving the fish a 5 min freshwater dip with air stone present will loosen mucus If mucus and offer temporary relief
Follow up with ruby rally pro which is reef safe

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I would get it set up. If that cloudiness from mucus coat gets worse that's a strong indicator of brook which is common with wild caught clowns.

I agree that it could be Brooklynella, but this is not a wild caught clown - it is a captive raised color morph. It might have been housed with wild clowns prior to purchase though.

 

[Lavey29]

I agree that it could be Brooklynella, but this is not a wild caught clown - it is a captive raised color morph. It might have been housed with wild clowns prior to purchase though.

I agree much more common with wild caught versus captive bred.