Sick Clownfish

[dthom]

Looking for some advice on a pair of sick clownfish.

I just got the pair on Friday (9/29/2023). They were purchased online and shipped to me.
They are wild caught pair.

They are in a QT tank and I have been watching the ammonia levels and doing water changes.

Breathing was a little rapid, after acclimation and adjusting to the tank.
Breathing has increased a little each day. I am not seeing any outward signs of disease.
Only the rapid breathing.

My first concern has been brook.
Last night I did a 45 min dip with 0.55 ml of formalin (37% UPC lab grade Formaldehyde).
During the dip the tank was completely drained and wiped dry then filled with fresh saltwater.
Not really a noticeable change in respiration rate.

I have also been dosing MetroPlex to the tank water.

She has been eating, but less interested in it today.

@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081 @Humblefish

What would you guys suggest I do next?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Could you post the video as a YouTube link (the standard attachment doesn’t work on mobile)?
Being new fish, it is possible the fast breathing is simply due to stress, but velvet will also do the same and it’s best to be cautious. Best to start copper treatment right away.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m re

Looking for some advice on a pair of sick clownfish.

I just got the pair on Friday (9/29/2023). They were purchased online and shipped to me.
They are wild caught pair.

They are in a QT tank and I have been watching the ammonia levels and doing water changes.

Breathing was a little rapid, after acclimation and adjusting to the tank.
Breathing has increased a little each day. I am not seeing any outward signs of disease.
Only the rapid breathing.

My first concern has been brook.
Last night I did a 45 min dip with 0.55 ml of formalin (37% UPC lab grade Formaldehyde).
During the dip the tank was completely drained and wiped dry then filled with fresh saltwater.
Not really a noticeable change in respiration rate.

I have also been dosing MetroPlex to the tank water.

She has been eating, but less interested in it today.

@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081 @Humblefish

What would you guys suggest I do next?

Can’t open video but don’t see anything out of the ordinary
Assure normal breathing, good water quality and diet
Loss of color and wierd swimming

 

[dthom]

Sorry here is the video via YouTube



Also, forgot to mention that the gills seem swollen.
I really think this is not environmental / stress related.
I am watching ammoinia very closely and fish just seems to be getting worse by the day...

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Sorry here is the video via YouTube



Also, forgot to mention that the gills seem swollen.
I really think this is not environmental / stress related.
I am watching ammoinia very closely and fish just seems to be getting worse by the day...

First - Are the clownfish in the tank to the right new also? I’m worried that there will be aerosol transmission of any disease over to that tank.

Rapid breathing isn’t the first symptom seen with Brooklynella. I’d be worried it could be velvet. As I think you know though, Brook is pretty common on wild clowns.

Was the .55 ml of formalin in one gallon of water? If so, that was spot on at 150 ppm. Did you aerate the water during the dip?

I think you might want to start copper in case it is velvet. The formalin should have given temporary relief if it was Brook and would buy you some time if it is gill flukes.

Jay

 

[dthom]

They are new too, same shipment. Did not think about that with them being next to each other.... they do have lids though. I will have to move the tanks away from each other.

Yeah, I have been worried about Brook since they are wild caught, but also velvet.

I did 2 gallons of water at .55ml of formalin per gallon.
I aerated the dip water for 30 mins after putting in the formalin (before adding the fish) and then it was also aerated for the full 45 min dip.

Ok, I will start copper. Need to find a test kit...

I have not really seen any improvement since the formalin dip last night.
Seems worse if anything.

 

[dthom]

I have Ruby Reef Rally Pro or Copper Power to use, but can not find a copper test kit anywhere near me. Suggestions on which to use?

 

[Uncle99]

I see one spot on the tail, that’s all.
They look fine to me for 4 days.
What is it your going to treat for?

 

[dthom]

Really heavy breathing and fish is in overall distress.
I am guessing early stages of brook or velvet.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I have Ruby Reef Rally Pro or Copper Power to use, but can not find a copper test kit anywhere near me. Suggestions on which to use?

If you know the net gallon capacity of your tank (should be easy to do since it is a bare quarantine tank) you can dose copper power based on the label directions for that value and then fine tune it later on, when you get the copper test kit.

If you weren't aware - length times width times water height (inside dimensions) in inches, divided by 231 give you gallons.

Jay

 

[dthom]

Thanks Jay! I was able to find a LFS that had the hanna HR copper tester and made the drive out there.

I have made an initial dose of Copper Power getting it up to 1.07.
How slow should I go in getting it up to the full dose?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thanks Jay! I was able to find a LFS that had the hanna HR copper tester and made the drive out there.

I have made an initial dose of Copper Power getting it up to 1.07.
How slow should I go in getting it up to the full dose?

You don't need to go slow at all, just be accurate. I think that if your first dose brought you to 1.07, if you add the exact same amount, that should take you to 2.14 which is pretty close to 2.25 - a full dose.

Jay

 

[dthom]

Sounds good.
Once again, Thank you for all of your help!!!

 

[dthom]

Decided to do a FW dip for 5 mins. They handled it well. Fair amount of mucus came out of the gills. Lots of tiny white particles in the water after.

Copper at 2.23 using a Hanna HR copper test.

 

[dthom]

Not seeing much progress...
Watching spot on the tail closely.
Does that look like it is maybe the start of a bacterial infection?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Not seeing much progress...
Watching spot on the tail closely.
Does that look like it is maybe the start of a bacterial infection?

It's weird that the female is breathing so hard and the male looks fine. Copper should have begun to alleviate the symptoms by now if it was velvet.

I can't see anything on its tail really....

Jay

 

[dthom]

Yeah, that’s what I was thinks to. Male seems to be in good shape. She now has a couple of holes that have formed in her fins. The holes started as white “spots”.

Last night I did a 60 min bath in Rally Pro…
Not sure what to do.

 

[dthom]

Also still no real external signs of ich, velvet or brook. At least not that I can see.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Yeah, that’s what I was thinks to. Male seems to be in good shape. She now has a couple of holes that have formed in her fins. The holes started as white “spots”.

Last night I did a 60 min bath in Rally Pro…
Not sure what to do.

Are the fish still in copper?

 

[dthom]

Yes