Clownfish SUDDENLY develop spots/white cast. Need help!

[dommythaGOAT]

I haven’t had any fish/coral additions to my tank for at least 4-6months now. My fish have been very healthy and eating well, but suddenly noticed these spots/ white cast develop on the body of the clownfish. Any identification would be great so I could determine the treatment ASAP.

I have 37% formalin, Ruby rally reef pro, API general cure

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[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The fins look a little chewed up, the fish looks stressed, there might be some bullying going on

 

[vetteguy53081]

I haven’t had any fish/coral additions to my tank for at least 4-6months now. My fish have been very healthy and eating well, but suddenly noticed these spots/ white cast develop on the body of the clownfish. Any identification would be great so I could determine the treatment ASAP.

I have 37% formalin, Ruby rally reef pro, API general cure

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This is ich and you will need to place fish in Quarantine tank and treat with Coppersafe or Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.25 for a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored with a Hanna Brand copper test kit- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone. All other fish in with it should also be removed as they have also been exposed to the parasites and placed in quarantine tank.
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off.
A quarantine tank can be as simple as a tank from a second hand store, a Rubbermaid type tub or a starter kit from Walmart which most of the needed essentials.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I haven’t had any fish/coral additions to my tank for at least 4-6months now. My fish have been very healthy and eating well, but suddenly noticed these spots/ white cast develop on the body of the clownfish. Any identification would be great so I could determine the treatment ASAP.

I have 37% formalin, Ruby rally reef pro, API general cure

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I agree - that is marine ich, Cryptocaryon. It can sometimes fester in an aquarium in a chronic state and then become an acute disease for no apparent reason (but when the fish are stressed some how). Treatment would be as described - coppersafe in a hospital tank, for all fish and then those fish need to stay out of this one for 60 days.

 

[dommythaGOAT]

This is ich and you will need to place fish in Quarantine tank and treat with Coppersafe or Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.25 for a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored with a Hanna Brand copper test kit- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone. All other fish in with it should also be removed as they have also been exposed to the parasites and placed in quarantine tank.
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off.
A quarantine tank can be as simple as a tank from a second hand store, a Rubbermaid type tub or a starter kit from Walmart which most of the needed essentials.

One of my fish were dead this morning when I woke up. I will follow the procedure for the other one and hopefully it makes it through. I didn’t realize that ich could kill a fish that quickly.

 

[vetteguy53081]

One of my fish were dead this morning when I woke up. I will follow the procedure for the other one and hopefully it makes it through. I didn’t realize that ich could kill a fish that quickly.

Sorry to hear and ich depending on stage as well as velvet and flukes have no time line

 

[W31Olds]

I would think it's unusual to have Ich get a foothold that fast after a long period of time with no signs of it. You mentioned Corals but what about inverts like cleanup crew, shrimp, etc. I would also consider some cross-contamination. Do you have a second tank or a QT Tank and where are you getting your water?

 

[dommythaGOAT]

I would think it's unusual to have Ich get a foothold that fast after a long period of time with no signs of it. You mentioned Corals but what about inverts like cleanup crew, shrimp, etc. I would also consider some cross-contamination. Do you have a second tank or a QT Tank and where are you getting your water?

Same cleanup crew/shrimp for at least a couple months. No additions whatsoever. I do not have a secondary tank. All of my water is produced by the 4 stage BRS RODI unit. I test the TDS of my water every time and change filters regularly. Maybe the ich was held at bay and triggered by a stress event due to some minor aggressions over hosting??? Not really sure