Clownfish Dying! Help

KVYA · Dec 20, 2016

Bought a pair of clowns a month ago. After a week male started to seem lethargic and wouldn't eat. Did a FW bath and seemed better.
After that, he seemed to be lethargic at least 3 times and have done 3 fw baths since then. 5 mins each time.

Fast forward to now, he's just laying on the sand on his side, not even swimming away when my hand gets near him. The female nudges him a little but he doesn't do anything.
I've also seen white stringy poop and I think it's parasites but I have no idea what type of medication to use.

25g tank
0 nitrates
pH: 8.1

Other tankmates: firefish, pinkbar goby, female clown.

melypr1985 · Dec 20, 2016

Do you have a picture of him? Is there a dusty appearance or almost like the skin is peeling? White flakes or spots?

KVYA · Dec 20, 2016

melypr1985 said:
Do you have a picture of him? Is there a dusty appearance or almost like the skin is peeling? White flakes or spots?

He's behind the rocks.

It's not velvet or ich. No skin coming off or rubbing against objects. Just lethargy, laying on its side on the sand, not eating, and white stringy poop

KVYA · Dec 20, 2016

And rapid breathing

melypr1985 · Dec 20, 2016

Tristan said:
And rapid breathing

See. I'm thinking brook not velvet. But I'd like a picture as soon as you can manage it. I think the clown lasted so long because of the freshwater dips you've been doing.

KVYA · Dec 20, 2016

melypr1985 said:
See. I'm thinking brook not velvet. But I'd like a picture as soon as you can manage it. I think the clown lasted so long because of the freshwater dips you've been doing.

If it was brooklynella, wouldn't I have seen some sliming?

melypr1985 · Dec 20, 2016

Tristan said:
If it was brooklynella, wouldn't I have seen some sliming?

You would think so, but it doesn't present the same every time. Something I've almost always seen with brook is clamped fins, heavy breathing, and lethargy. The fins tend to start looking tattered and they usually suffocate and die before long, but with the freshwater dips you've been doing, it's possible that you've prolonged his life that much more. If you have formalin or acryflavin on hand you can do a bath in that then transfer him to a sterile QT - followed by the rest of the fish (bath then QT) .

KVYA · Dec 20, 2016

melypr1985 said:
You would think so, but it doesn't present the same every time. Something I've almost always seen with brook is clamped fins, heavy breathing, and lethargy. The fins tend to start looking tattered and they usually suffocate and die before long, but with the freshwater dips you've been doing, it's possible that you've prolonged his life that much more. If you have formalin or acryflavin on hand you can do a bath in that then transfer him to a sterile QT - followed by the rest of the fish (bath then QT) .

Which would be more effective, formalin or acryflavin?

melypr1985 · Dec 20, 2016

Tristan said:
Which would be more effective, formalin or acryflavin?

Both will do the job, but formalin is a bit more harsh. This is what I would do with all the fish.
Freshwater dip
Chemical bath with acryflavin or formalin
Into QT with Metroplex (metro will also treat the intestinal worms he has)
Leave display fallow for 6 weeks

Again though, I'd prefer a good, up close picture before committing to that.

KVYA · Dec 20, 2016

melypr1985 said:
Both will do the job, but formalin is a bit more harsh. This is what I would do with all the fish.
Freshwater dip
Chemical bath with acryflavin or formalin
Into QT with Metroplex (metro will also treat the intestinal worms he has)
Leave display fallow for 6 weeks

Again though, I'd prefer a good, up close picture before committing to that.

Umm. I just looked at the tank right now, and I think he passed

KVYA · Dec 20, 2016

Here

melypr1985 · Dec 20, 2016

Tristan said:
Here

I'm sorry sweetie. Can you get another that's in focus and without the blue? maybe I can see something that will help

KVYA · Dec 20, 2016

He's about a foot away from the glass so it's hard to get a clear pic

melypr1985 · Dec 20, 2016

Tristan said:
He's about a foot away from the glass so it's hard to get a clear pic

Dang. I know it's hard. Sorry, but I just can't tell much from these pictures. You have two options here the way I see it:

1. Operate under the assumption that it was brook and intestinal worms and QT everybody for those things
2. Wait, watch and see what happens with the remaining fish. Be aware that some fish might never be effected by Brook but will still act as carriers for new fish.

I'm very sorry for the loss :(