FW Dip - Clownfish

Publiccert

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 9, 2024
Messages
19
Reaction score
5
Location
BC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi everyone, I'm new here so apologies if I miss some of the protocols.

I picked up my first clownfish Saturday along with a Yasha Goby and a pinkbar goby. I'd been cycling 2 tanks for ~6 weeks and parameters looked good - I keep zebra plecos and test religiously, just my first marine tanks in 10 years so I'm rusty.

As soon as I got home I saw the clownfish gasping for breath and leaning heavily on the bottom of the acclimation container. I called my LFS and they let me know that whole batch of clownfish were sick with Brook - wasn't familiar with Brook until then...

Originally wanted to put the clownfish and Yasha in the same big tank but opted to split them. I had already accidentally exposed the pinkbar to the same water as the clownfish so they're in the same tank now for quarantine.

I have an order of Formaline - could only find 10% - arriving tomorrow. The clownfish was actively eating for a couple days - live hatched BBS - but has mostly stopped. He just perches on the top bracket of the heater I put in.

What I'm currently doing is a 3% peroxide dip for 30 minutes per the medical threads here and a FW dip for 5 minutes (dechlorinated tap, not RO). I have clove oil on hand if he really goes down hill (I still need to research if this is effective for marine fish). FW dips have been 8 hours apart. Peroxide is once a day. I notice a major improvement with the FW dips but no appetite improvement.

I did multiple inspections of the clownfish's skin and observed no mucus or parasites. None of the dips revealed any falling parasites on the black bottom.

Is there anything I can do to make this guy more comfortable? I've dropped the water flow way down on the tank to minimize the stress. Unfortunately the pinkbar goby is wrapped up in this whole mess but not showing signs of any problems. Should I be doing anything for him also?
 

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
96,239
Reaction score
214,132
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
15   0   0
Hi everyone, I'm new here so apologies if I miss some of the protocols.

I picked up my first clownfish Saturday along with a Yasha Goby and a pinkbar goby. I'd been cycling 2 tanks for ~6 weeks and parameters looked good - I keep zebra plecos and test religiously, just my first marine tanks in 10 years so I'm rusty.

As soon as I got home I saw the clownfish gasping for breath and leaning heavily on the bottom of the acclimation container. I called my LFS and they let me know that whole batch of clownfish were sick with Brook - wasn't familiar with Brook until then...

Originally wanted to put the clownfish and Yasha in the same big tank but opted to split them. I had already accidentally exposed the pinkbar to the same water as the clownfish so they're in the same tank now for quarantine.

I have an order of Formaline - could only find 10% - arriving tomorrow. The clownfish was actively eating for a couple days - live hatched BBS - but has mostly stopped. He just perches on the top bracket of the heater I put in.

What I'm currently doing is a 3% peroxide dip for 30 minutes per the medical threads here and a FW dip for 5 minutes (dechlorinated tap, not RO). I have clove oil on hand if he really goes down hill (I still need to research if this is effective for marine fish). FW dips have been 8 hours apart. Peroxide is once a day. I notice a major improvement with the FW dips but no appetite improvement.

I did multiple inspections of the clownfish's skin and observed no mucus or parasites. None of the dips revealed any falling parasites on the black bottom.

Is there anything I can do to make this guy more comfortable? I've dropped the water flow way down on the tank to minimize the stress. Unfortunately the pinkbar goby is wrapped up in this whole mess but not showing signs of any problems. Should I be doing anything for him also?
Youre doing too many things too quickly and in lieu of making it comfortable are increasing stress. FW dips is a step for temporary relief and buying time until treatment. When a fish is breathing heavy, you want to avoid this dip which can alter stress and even lead to death,
As for formalin, youre better off with Ruby Rally Pro which is very reef safe. Formalin has to be diluted precisely to a 37% solution and can be tricky.
Brrok is a high probability but we will need you to post pics and even a video under white light intensity to see the fish and provide best assessment
 

Jay Hemdal

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 31, 2020
Messages
28,335
Reaction score
28,040
Location
Dundee, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi everyone, I'm new here so apologies if I miss some of the protocols.

I picked up my first clownfish Saturday along with a Yasha Goby and a pinkbar goby. I'd been cycling 2 tanks for ~6 weeks and parameters looked good - I keep zebra plecos and test religiously, just my first marine tanks in 10 years so I'm rusty.

As soon as I got home I saw the clownfish gasping for breath and leaning heavily on the bottom of the acclimation container. I called my LFS and they let me know that whole batch of clownfish were sick with Brook - wasn't familiar with Brook until then...

Originally wanted to put the clownfish and Yasha in the same big tank but opted to split them. I had already accidentally exposed the pinkbar to the same water as the clownfish so they're in the same tank now for quarantine.

I have an order of Formaline - could only find 10% - arriving tomorrow. The clownfish was actively eating for a couple days - live hatched BBS - but has mostly stopped. He just perches on the top bracket of the heater I put in.

What I'm currently doing is a 3% peroxide dip for 30 minutes per the medical threads here and a FW dip for 5 minutes (dechlorinated tap, not RO). I have clove oil on hand if he really goes down hill (I still need to research if this is effective for marine fish). FW dips have been 8 hours apart. Peroxide is once a day. I notice a major improvement with the FW dips but no appetite improvement.

I did multiple inspections of the clownfish's skin and observed no mucus or parasites. None of the dips revealed any falling parasites on the black bottom.

Is there anything I can do to make this guy more comfortable? I've dropped the water flow way down on the tank to minimize the stress. Unfortunately the pinkbar goby is wrapped up in this whole mess but not showing signs of any problems. Should I be doing anything for him also?

Be careful using the 10% formalin - if it is described as "NBF" or "buffered", it may not be safe to use. Here is some text about that:

Use of Formalin as a Preservative​

Researchers and clinicians often use formalin to preserve tissue specimens for storage and/or processing such as histology. The formalin used for this application is a formulation that contains 10% formalin (3.7% formaldehyde) and buffers that neutralize the solution to reduce damage (artifact) to tissues during preservation. It also contains little to no methanol unlike treatment formalin. This 10% neutral-buffered formalin (10% NBF) should not be used to treat fish parasites or water mold/fungus and, likewise, 100% formalin should not be used to preserve tissues.
 
OP
OP
Publiccert

Publiccert

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 9, 2024
Messages
19
Reaction score
5
Location
BC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Youre doing too many things too quickly and in lieu of making it comfortable are increasing stress. FW dips is a step for temporary relief and buying time until treatment. When a fish is breathing heavy, you want to avoid this dip which can alter stress and even lead to death,
As for formalin, youre better off with Ruby Rally Pro which is very reef safe. Formalin has to be diluted precisely to a 37% solution and can be tricky.
Brrok is a high probability but we will need you to post pics and even a video under white light intensity to see the fish and provide best assessment
Understood and thanks for the feedback. The LFS confirmed its Brook otherwise I would have uploaded a video. Just more curious about what else I can do to make the little guy comfortable in the tank. I added an air stone since the pump flow is way down to minimize bashing him around.

I also ordered the Ruby Rally Pro and will use it tomorrow. Should I be using it once, observing, then repeating if he remains the same or deteriorates, or just once?

Thanks!
 
OP
OP
Publiccert

Publiccert

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 9, 2024
Messages
19
Reaction score
5
Location
BC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Be careful using the 10% formalin - if it is described as "NBF" or "buffered", it may not be safe to use. Here is some text about that:

Use of Formalin as a Preservative​

Researchers and clinicians often use formalin to preserve tissue specimens for storage and/or processing such as histology. The formalin used for this application is a formulation that contains 10% formalin (3.7% formaldehyde) and buffers that neutralize the solution to reduce damage (artifact) to tissues during preservation. It also contains little to no methanol unlike treatment formalin. This 10% neutral-buffered formalin (10% NBF) should not be used to treat fish parasites or water mold/fungus and, likewise, 100% formalin should not be used to preserve tissues.
I was worried about that but was in a panic to get something via Amazon in transit. I ordered Ruby Rally Pro per the other comment and am letting the little guy rest today.

I did manage to get him to eat a few pellets and some live BBS this morning.

Thanks for the info! I think I got the wrong stuff in the end: Amazon product
 

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
96,239
Reaction score
214,132
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
15   0   0
Understood and thanks for the feedback. The LFS confirmed its Brook otherwise I would have uploaded a video. Just more curious about what else I can do to make the little guy comfortable in the tank. I added an air stone since the pump flow is way down to minimize bashing him around.

I also ordered the Ruby Rally Pro and will use it tomorrow. Should I be using it once, observing, then repeating if he remains the same or deteriorates, or just once?

Thanks!
You cm run it safely for two weeks. Water will be neon green for a few hours which is normal
 

Jay Hemdal

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 31, 2020
Messages
28,335
Reaction score
28,040
Location
Dundee, MI
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I was worried about that but was in a panic to get something via Amazon in transit. I ordered Ruby Rally Pro per the other comment and am letting the little guy rest today.

I did manage to get him to eat a few pellets and some live BBS this morning.

Thanks for the info! I think I got the wrong stuff in the end: Amazon product

Yes - that’s the fixative, you shouldn’t use that on the fish.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

IF YOU HAD A CAREER IN REEF-KEEPING, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? AND WHY?

  • Selling and distributing livestock!

    Votes: 59 33.7%
  • Selling and distributing equipment!

    Votes: 16 9.1%
  • Breeding and Aquaculture!

    Votes: 86 49.1%
  • Livestock Disease and Treatment!

    Votes: 11 6.3%
  • Chemistry!

    Votes: 16 9.1%
  • Designing and Maintenance of tanks!

    Votes: 36 20.6%
  • Research and Education!

    Votes: 42 24.0%
  • Reefing Equipment and Dry Goods Creation and Manufacturing!

    Votes: 20 11.4%
  • Conservation!

    Votes: 45 25.7%
  • Other (please explain)!

    Votes: 6 3.4%
Back
Top