Help sick fish please!

[tylerfish]

HELP!!! My two clownfish are acting very different. The tank has been cycled for years and all nitrogen associated compounds are at low levels. We recently had moved a new clownfish into the tank and suspect it may be the cause of these two fish struggling. Any ideas or solutions?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

#fishmedics

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

HELP!!! My two clownfish are acting very different. The tank has been cycled for years and all nitrogen associated compounds are at low levels. We recently had moved a new clownfish into the tank and suspect it may be the cause of these two fish struggling. Any ideas or solutions?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Are there three clownfish in the tank then?
How long ago did you add the third clownfish?

This is most likely a gill parasite known as Amyloodinium (velvet). It might also be Brooklynella, but I don't see the thick mucus seen with that disease.

To treat Amyloodinium, you are going to need to move quickly, as it can kill in a matter of hours.

Start with a 30 minute hydrogen peroxide dip - add 10 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water in a bucket. Add the fish to the bucket for 30 minutes, then move them to a new tank with no invertebrates and treat them with 2.25 ppm coppersafe for 30 days.

 

[tylerfish]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Are there three clownfish in the tank then?
How long ago did you add the third clownfish?

This is most likely a gill parasite known as Amyloodinium (velvet). It might also be Brooklynella, but I don't see the thick mucus seen with that disease.

To treat Amyloodinium, you are going to need to move quickly, as it can kill in a matter of hours.

Start with a 30 minute hydrogen peroxide dip - add 10 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water in a bucket. Add the fish to the bucket for 30 minutes, then move them to a new tank with no invertebrates and treat them with 2.25 ppm coppersafe for 30 days.

Yes there are 3, the one is in a breeder box and got moved into the tank roughly 3 weeks ago now. My biggest concern is the two tangs I have in the tank as well but for now I’m gonna do my best to save the clowns.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes there are 3, the one is in a breeder box and got moved into the tank roughly 3 weeks ago now. My biggest concern is the two tangs I have in the tank as well but for now I’m gonna do my best to save the clowns.

If it is Amyloodinium, it's going to spread to all of the fish. If it is Brooklynella, it will likely just infect the clownfish. Do you see any shedding mucus or cloudy fins on the clownfish?

The peroxide dip will give temporary relief if it is Brook, but the copper won't help much.

 

[tylerfish]

If it is Amyloodinium, it's going to spread to all of the fish. If it is Brooklynella, it will likely just infect the clownfish. Do you see any shedding mucus or cloudy fins on the clownfish?

The peroxide dip will give temporary relief if it is Brook, but the copper won't help much.

I’m waiting for the copper to get to my house it should be here by tomorrow morning. As far as shedding or mucus, there is minimal amounts of mucus nothing excessive. They have also randomly started spending a lot of time in the clay pot we have had in the tank. Is there anything else I can do in the meantime though?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’m waiting for the copper to get to my house it should be here by tomorrow morning. As far as shedding or mucus, there is minimal amounts of mucus nothing excessive. They have also randomly started spending a lot of time in the clay pot we have had in the tank. Is there anything else I can do in the meantime though?

You can do the peroxide dip once every 24 hours. Even if you can’t move the fish to a sterile tank after each dip, it will still buy you some time…..

 

[tylerfish]

You can do the peroxide dip once every 24 hours. Even if you can’t move the fish to a sterile tank after each dip, it will still buy you some time…..

I’m setting up the tanks when I get home the copper just got in from Amazon. I’ll keep you posted if I have any more questions. Thanks for your help so far.

 

[tylerfish]

You can do the peroxide dip once every 24 hours. Even if you can’t move the fish to a sterile tank after each dip, it will still buy you some time…..

What formalin brand do you recommend and where should I purchase it from?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

What formalin brand do you recommend and where should I purchase it from?

Formalin is really tricky to use! I've pretty much stopped recommending it due to the human health issues that it poses. I'm scared that other people will get the exposure I've had over the years - I fully expect to develop health issues/cancer from my decades of using it (ugh).

That said, you want pure formalin. That will be 35% formaldehyde gas in water, with less than 10% methanol added as a stabilizer. Avoid the 10% NBF (neutral buffered formalin). That is a preservative and cannot be used in aquariums. I used to buy my formalin from a company called Argent, but I've seen it for sale on Amazon.

 

[tylerfish]

Formalin is really tricky to use! I've pretty much stopped recommending it due to the human health issues that it poses. I'm scared that other people will get the exposure I've had over the years - I fully expect to develop health issues/cancer from my decades of using it (ugh).

That said, you want pure formalin. That will be 35% formaldehyde gas in water, with less than 10% methanol added as a stabilizer. Avoid the 10% NBF (neutral buffered formalin). That is a preservative and cannot be used in aquariums. I used to buy my formalin from a company called Argent, but I've seen it for sale on Amazon.

Oh wow I appreciate your advice and hopefully it doesn’t turn to that I ordered a product that is called “Kordon Rid-Ich” it is formalin based and contains something called malachite green. Are you familiar with it? If so would you recommend it?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Oh wow I appreciate your advice and hopefully it doesn’t turn to that I ordered a product that is called “Kordon Rid-Ich” it is formalin based and contains something called malachite green. Are you familiar with it? If so would you recommend it?

So - that product has a low dose of formalin in it plus malachite green. Despite what the label might say, that mixture is a really old school freshwater fish medication, I would not use it for marine fish.