Possible abscess on maroon clown

[Mjrenz]

I was wondering if anyone could help me with a possible treatment for my maroon clown, she appears to have an abscess on her face that has been present for 3 or 4 days and has gotten larger each day. Tank info and parameters are:

55 gallon tank (with a 32 gallon tank both piped to a common 20 gallon sump)
18w uv sterilizer
Salinity 1.025
Ph 8.2
Nitrates 0 (according to api test kit)
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Tank has been setup for about 1 year and all the other fish are doing very well.

Thanks for your help and let me know if you need anything else to help me out

 

[ngoodermuth]

Might sound like a strange question... but, does it look like it has eyes? There is a kind of isopod that usually lives in the mouth of a fish, that's kind of what that reminds me of. But, I've never seen one coming through tissue like that. It could be a bacterial lesion, but looks a little "off" to me so I wonder if it might actually be some sort of parasite?

@HotRocks @Humblefish @Big G

 

[Mjrenz]

Might sound like a strange question... but, does it look like it has eyes? There is a kind of isopod that usually lives in the mouth of a fish, that's kind of what that reminds me of. But, I've never seen one coming through tissue like that. It could be a bacterial lesion, but looks a little "off" to me so I wonder if it might actually be some sort of parasite?

@HotRocks @Humblefish @Big G

I took a closer look and I can't see anything resembling eyes

 

[Mjrenz]

I'm thinking there is a good chance that she may have hurt herself because she is always trying to knock over corals and rocks. I had to super glue everything that's close to her anemone because she would throw stuff around every day

 

[ngoodermuth]

Ok, it could just have been the photo angle... it just looked like something was protruding out of it so I wanted to make sure. If you believe it's an injury, it might clear up on it's own with clean water and vitamin-enriched foods (soak in selcon or vita-chem or similar). My concern is that you said it looks to be getting worse/larger, in that case you might want to get a QT up and running and catch her to administer antibiotics.

 

[BestMomEver]

She got banged up trying to be a typical maroon clown! Silly fish!

 

[Mjrenz]

Ok, it could just have been the photo angle... it just looked like something was protruding out of it so I wanted to make sure. If you believe it's an injury, it might clear up on it's own with clean water and vitamin-enriched foods (soak in selcon or vita-chem or similar). My concern is that you said it looks to be getting worse/larger, in that case you might want to get a QT up and running and catch her to administer antibiotics.

It is getting bigger, here is the best shot I could get of her 2 days ago. It almost looks like it is protruding a bit now but it looks more like a huge zit than anything else. I would have to go buy another tank to set up as a qt if I went that route, I don't mind spending more on treatments for the whole tank instead of setting up a qt if there is something you could recommend that would be safe for my corals and inverts. The only thing I have on hand is prazi pro, anything else I'd probably have to order online.

 

[ngoodermuth]

You could try binding kanaplex/metroplex to food using seachem focus and feeding it to her. But, the most effective treatment for external infections is dosing antibiotics directly to the water column in QT.

 

[Mjrenz]

You could try binding kanaplex/metroplex to food using seachem focus and feeding it to her. But, the most effective treatment for external infections is dosing antibiotics directly to the water column in QT.

I really appreciate your help with this, based on your recommendation I'll go ahead with the qt tank and go buy what I need tomorrow. The only store close to me is a petco so I'll probably pick up a 20 gallon tank and some of the "live rock" they sell. What would you suggest I use for antibiotics?

 

[ngoodermuth]

IF they have them, my first choice would be kanaplex and metroplex. Furan-2 can be added in as well to broaden the spectrum. Alternatively, API Triple Sulpha since I know the petco's around me usually only carry API medications.

If they have it, you can give her a 90-minute bath in acriflavine prior to going into the QT as well. I use ruby reef rally, but API Fungus Cure contains it. I usually use a 5-gallon bucket with an airline/airstone and a small heater for this.

Good luck, let me know how she does!

 

[Mjrenz]

IF they have them, my first choice would be kanaplex and metroplex. Furan-2 can be added in as well to broaden the spectrum. Alternatively, API Triple Sulpha since I know the petco's around me usually only carry API medications.

If they have it, you can give her a 90-minute bath in acriflavine prior to going into the QT as well. I use ruby reef rally, but API Fungus Cure contains it. I usually use a 5-gallon bucket with an airline/airstone and a small heater for this.

Good luck, let me know how she does!

I'll definitely update you, I'll see what I can get there and hit up Amazon as a last resort. The petco near me is a small store so hopefully I can get at least one of the products you listed. Thank you so much for your time

 

[ngoodermuth]

You're very welcome!

 

[Mjrenz]

I'm at petco and the only thing they have is imagitarium bacterial infection remedy, it doesn't list the ingredients on the bottle and just says it's a herbal alternative. Would this even be worth trying?

 

[Mjrenz]

I just found a couple more things here but nothing that you had listed, they have microbe-lift Artemiss and api melefix

 

[ngoodermuth]

Not likely going to be of much help, I wouldn’t waste your money. Do you have a petsmart near you? Mine at least carries API products.

 

[Mjrenz]

Not likely going to be of much help, I wouldn’t waste your money. Do you have a petsmart near you? Mine at least carries API products.

There is a petsmart that's about 40 minutes from me, I will call them and see if they have any of the products you listed before I drive all the way there

 

[ngoodermuth]

Microbe-lift is more for ammonia issues, melefix might help a bit... it’s another “natural” remedy, but isn’t an actual antibiotic.

 

[Mjrenz]

That's what I figured since they all said natural and didn't even list ingredients

 

[Mjrenz]

Microbe-lift is more for ammonia issues, melefix might help a bit... it’s another “natural” remedy, but isn’t an actual antibiotic.

The petsmart didn't have any of the products either but I did find a small pet supply store that has the api triple sulfa and the api fungus cure. They're about 40 minutes away also so I'm going to head over there now

 

[ngoodermuth]

The petsmart didn't have any of the products either but I did find a small pet supply store that has the api triple sulfa and the api fungus cure. They're about 40 minutes away also so I'm going to head over there now

I admire your dedication! What we do for our fishy pets...