Sick Clownfish- Help!

[j0shc]

I woke up today and noticed my clownfish acting strange. I have had this particular clown for many years now and it was once part of a mated pair up until about a year ago. Tank has not had any additions for months only coral that was dipped and is living in my sump at the moment. Yesterday everything seemed fine but today the clown is unable to swim up and seems to have a coating on the skin... worried about brooklynella. What should I do? Can I save my clown? What can I do to make sure the rest of my tank is not effected. I lost all my fish to Ich early on in the hobby and it was devastating, really trying to avoid this.

 

[W31Olds]

Can you post a video of you Clown Swimming? Swimming is a good indicator of Brook, however this does appear to be that. I would order or see if you can get Ruby Rally Pro.
@Jay Hemdal
@vetteguy53081

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I woke up today and noticed my clownfish acting strange. I have had this particular clown for many years now and it was once part of a mated pair up until about a year ago. Tank has not had any additions for months only coral that was dipped and is living in my sump at the moment. Yesterday everything seemed fine but today the clown is unable to swim up and seems to have a coating on the skin... worried about brooklynella. What should I do? Can I save my clown? What can I do to make sure the rest of my tank is not effected. I lost all my fish to Ich early on in the hobby and it was devastating, really trying to avoid this.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

That’s very strange. I agree, a video is needed here.

I’ve never seen brooklynella in long term captive fish unless another infected fish was added to the tank.

What other fish are in with it?
The fish almost looks thin - but that could just be the angle of the photo.

 

[j0shc]

Can you post a video of you Clown Swimming? Swimming is a good indicator of Brook, however this does appear to be that. I would order or see if you can get Ruby Rally Pro.
@Jay Hemdal
@vetteguy53081

Not a great video at all but my LFS thinks it is brook as well- setup a quick QT tank in the middle of the work day and treated with a formalin bath per their recommendation. Hoping for the best here...

 

[j0shc]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

That’s very strange. I agree, a video is needed here.

I’ve never seen brooklynella in long term captive fish unless another infected fish was added to the tank.

What other fish are in with it?
The fish almost looks thin - but that could just be the angle of the photo.

The swimming at the bottom then back to the top and bumping into things (hence the overnight fin damage) was my sign it was brook.

Have not added any fish in a long time- I have a mix of wrasses, tangs, a Kuhlia, long nose hawk, and the newest back in fall was a file fish I added for aiptasia control.

What makes this even stranger is I fed last night and he ate no problem and did not show signs of sickness.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

The swimming at the bottom then back to the top and bumping into things (hence the overnight fin damage) was my sign it was brook.

Have not added any fish in a long time- I have a mix of wrasses, tangs, a Kuhlia, long nose hawk, and the newest back in fall was a file fish I added for aiptasia control.

What makes this even stranger is I fed last night and he ate no problem and did not show signs of sickness.

Overnight is so fast for such a massive set of symptoms to show up like this. In the video, the clown looks almost moribund, actively dying. I see a lot of fin erosion - could another fish have suddenly turned on it?

 

[j0shc]

Overnight is so fast for such a massive set of symptoms to show up like this. In the video, the clown looks almost moribund, actively dying. I see a lot of fin erosion - could another fish have suddenly turned on it?

That is what I am considering- I had been at my desk and heard a splash which is often the big kuhlia making a mess. I wonder if a fish started to attack him suddenly and caused the rapid decline as it seems extremely odd to me.

I have been closely watching my tank recently as I am in the midst of setting up a frag tank off the DT and feel I would have noticed his symptoms. In the Qt he is having similar issues with floating and the skin still looks "slime coated". My tank is not heavily stocked for the size and I rarely have had issue, the clown (male) is the smallest fish in the tank and lived in the hammer colony I have for nearly 8 years now with his mate who passed a few months back.

 

[winxp_man]

The fins tell me tank mate fights. If all is true from your first post, unless cross contamination somehow took place, this fish was chased and beat up to the point recover is 50/50. Have has a few clowns die off sadly to tank mates. Other clowns that is. A lot can happen when you’re not watching constantly.

The minute I would see such issues I would put in a camera to record. Talking about ripped up fins that is. Fish can get crazy when no one’s around.