Clownfish diagnosis

[Mroyce92]

Heyo, I’m trying to figure out what is wrong with my 6 y/o clown. I just started a new tank and moved her into it about a week and a half ago with a smaller clown that she paired with after a few days. I also have a BTA in the tank that they host. The new tank finished cycling about 2 weeks ago and all of the parameters are great. I noticed that when she first started to go into the anemone she got what looked to me like a scratch on her side. The spot has since turned into this raised white spot. She is not eating and mostly staying close to the bottom of the tank. She also looks like she’s losing a little color. My guess is that she scratched herself on the rock and it’s maybe infected. Hoping to get some clarity through someone with more experience with fish illness.

 

[fishguy242]

#fishmedic

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Heyo, I’m trying to figure out what is wrong with my 6 y/o clown. I just started a new tank and moved her into it about a week and a half ago with a smaller clown that she paired with after a few days. I also have a BTA in the tank that they host. The new tank finished cycling about 2 weeks ago and all of the parameters are great. I noticed that when she first started to go into the anemone she got what looked to me like a scratch on her side. The spot has since turned into this raised white spot. She is not eating and mostly staying close to the bottom of the tank. She also looks like she’s losing a little color. My guess is that she scratched herself on the rock and it’s maybe infected. Hoping to get some clarity through someone with more experience with fish illness.

The other clown is symptom free?

This clown has some sort of systemic infection - the small lesion seems to be minor, but the faded coloration, not eating, shimmy swimming and rapid breathing all point to an infection. If the other clown is fine, and remains that way, one possible diagnosis is mycobacterium. This is fish tuberculosis. The bacteria that causes it is found in every aquarium. Sometimes, fish become stressed and weakened and this bacteria takes hold. It is especially common in older fish. Unfortunately it is not treatable.

Jay

 

[Mroyce92]

The other clown is symptom free?

This clown has some sort of systemic infection - the small lesion seems to be minor, but the faded coloration, not eating, shimmy swimming and rapid breathing all point to an infection. If the other clown is fine, and remains that way, one possible diagnosis is mycobacterium. This is fish tuberculosis. The bacteria that causes it is found in every aquarium. Sometimes, fish become stressed and weakened and this bacteria takes hold. It is especially common in older fish. Unfortunately it is not treatable.

Jay

Thanks so much for the info, Jay. This sounds about right. The other fish is totally fine. The sick fish is now swimming in the center of the tank rather than the bottom which makes it seem like she’s doing a little better but idk. Do fish ever bounce back from this?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thanks so much for the info, Jay. This sounds about right. The other fish is totally fine. The sick fish is now swimming in the center of the tank rather than the bottom which makes it seem like she’s doing a little better but idk. Do fish ever bounce back from this?

I wouldn't say they never bounce back without treatment, but it would be really rare.

Jay