single white spot + flashing [clownfish]

[Nstocks]

I'm back in the hobby after a 10-year hiatus and hitting a wall with my first pair of Clowns. After just a week in a brand-new tank, one is showing some sort of parasite: a single white dot under the eye and non-stop flashing/rubbing against the glass.

I’ve already done a 5-minute RODI dip (it handled it well, but no change). I’m also seeing some slight redness in the gill on that same side. This was 2 days ago and the fish hasn't developed any further issues, but equally hasn't stopped rubbing against surfaces, almost constantly.

It's not appearing to be marine ich, but who knows... I'm tempted to put both fish in QT and treat for flukes first, then see what happens in 7,14 days before doing any copper treatment. I'd likely drain the tank and let it dry out for a month to avoid 76 day fallow period as worse case.

Parameters are all spot on, tested daily, no ammonia or nitrite, 1.025, 25C, no lights other than daylight.

Thoughts?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I'm back in the hobby after a 10-year hiatus and hitting a wall with my first pair of Clowns. After just a week in a brand-new tank, one is showing some sort of parasite: a single white dot under the eye and non-stop flashing/rubbing against the glass.

I’ve already done a 5-minute RODI dip (it handled it well, but no change). I’m also seeing some slight redness in the gill on that same side. This was 2 days ago and the fish hasn't developed any further issues, but equally hasn't stopped rubbing against surfaces, almost constantly.

It's not appearing to be marine ich, but who knows... I'm tempted to put both fish in QT and treat for flukes first, then see what happens in 7,14 days before doing any copper treatment. I'd likely drain the tank and let it dry out for a month to avoid 76 day fallow period as worse case.

Parameters are all spot on, tested daily, no ammonia or nitrite, 1.025, 25C, no lights other than daylight.

Thoughts?

The dot is likely just a scrape, possible from scratching. A FW dip won't give immediate relief from flukes - what happens is that the flukes drop off during the dip, leaving tiny open sores in the fish's skin. In response to those, the fish keep scratching for a day or two. Then, the fish get reinfected and the scratching continues. You should see some slight relief around day 2 or 3.

You could treat empirically for flukes in the tank they are in now:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dosing-praziquantel-pzq.1105700/

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'm back in the hobby after a 10-year hiatus and hitting a wall with my first pair of Clowns. After just a week in a brand-new tank, one is showing some sort of parasite: a single white dot under the eye and non-stop flashing/rubbing against the glass.

I’ve already done a 5-minute RODI dip (it handled it well, but no change). I’m also seeing some slight redness in the gill on that same side. This was 2 days ago and the fish hasn't developed any further issues, but equally hasn't stopped rubbing against surfaces, almost constantly.

It's not appearing to be marine ich, but who knows... I'm tempted to put both fish in QT and treat for flukes first, then see what happens in 7,14 days before doing any copper treatment. I'd likely drain the tank and let it dry out for a month to avoid 76 day fallow period as worse case.

Parameters are all spot on, tested daily, no ammonia or nitrite, 1.025, 25C, no lights other than daylight.

Thoughts?

This looks to be a skin tag likely from a small nick and keep an eye on it that there is no further development but at this time, I rule out parasite. Fluke scratching is possible but one little mark may discount this

 

[Nstocks]

Thanks for your help, I've ordered some Vetark Fluke Solve and will get started tomorrow

 

[Nstocks]

so it's been a 10 days since I dosed fluke solve, the white thing hasn't gone away, and today I noted a small black mark around the large fish's mouth, and some other smaller spots that appear like ich, though I still can't say for sure.

the fish isn't scratching, and the smaller clownfish is fine...

thoughts?

 

[Nstocks]

video here... I'm running an air pump in the display with very fine bubble, but I'm not sure that's what these white spots are...

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

video here... I'm running an air pump in the display with very fine bubble, but I'm not sure that's what these white spots are...

That could be ich or it could be the start of brooklynella (the fish is swimming kind of stiffly like it could have Brook).

 

[Nstocks]

Is it time to get a QT and start treating?

NT Labs Marine Anti-Parasite for both ich and brook?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Is it time to get a QT and start treating?

NT Labs Marine Anti-Parasite for both ich and brook?

I’ve not used that product, but the copper in it works against ich and the formalin it contains works against Brook.

 

[Nstocks]

thanks for your reply, I have this and the QT equipment arriving tomorrow.

I'm planning on completely draining the display tank, removing the sand and letting it dry out for 3-4 weeks. sand can be tricky to dry out, would pouring boiling water on it in a bucket kill all the parasites/eggs? The rock I'm leaving in the tank to dry out.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

thanks for your reply, I have this and the QT equipment arriving tomorrow.

I'm planning on completely draining the display tank, removing the sand and letting it dry out for 3-4 weeks. sand can be tricky to dry out, would pouring boiling water on it in a bucket kill all the parasites/eggs? The rock I'm leaving in the tank to dry out.

You don’t need to sterilize the tank, you can just leave it running fishless for 60 days and the parasites will die out on their own. The biggest risk is when you then add new fish - you can be right back to this point if you don’t quarantine them.

 

[Nstocks]

The sterilisation is to 'skip' the 60 days of running an empty tank (there is nothing else in it, livestocks wise except the two clownfish)... appreciate I can just wait 60 days too...

I have the clownfish in a hospital tank and will start the NT treatment today, it takes 12 days and I;ll monitor for another week. In the future I will absolutely treat everything before adding... inverts will of course not get medicated, just left in a QT tank without fish for a month before adding to the main tank

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

The sterilisation is to 'skip' the 60 days of running an empty tank (there is nothing else in it, livestocks wise except the two clownfish)... appreciate I can just wait 60 days too...

I have the clownfish in a hospital tank and will start the NT treatment today, it takes 12 days and I;ll monitor for another week. In the future I will absolutely treat everything before adding... inverts will of course not get medicated, just left in a QT tank without fish for a month before adding to the main tank

However, with the fallow period, you could begin adding invertebrates during the 60 days - giving you something to look at.

To really sterilize the tank, you should run it with just freshwater and 500 ppm bleach for 24 hours, then drain and rinse well.

 

[Nstocks]

that's a good point on the inverts! The QT tank is only 25 litres of water which isn't ideal for the fallow period. I was going to drain the tank, remove the sand and rinse the real reef rock before letting it dry out for 3 weeks to avoid the bleach?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

that's a good point on the inverts! The QT tank is only 25 litres of water which isn't ideal for the fallow period. I was going to drain the tank, remove the sand and rinse the real reef rock before letting it dry out for 3 weeks to avoid the bleach?

If you rinse the rocks in FW and then soak them in FW for at least 24 hours, that will eliminate ich and fluke eggs. I’m not sure about velvet though, it can survive down to a salt level of 4 ppt. I don’t think you tank has that disease though.

 

[Nstocks]

Day 10 of the quarantine, came home and the larger clownfish is dead.

The smaller one isn't doing great either... not eating much it seems. I've spend £30 on foods and garlic so hopefully it starts eating... 3 more days left of the QT...

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Day 10 of the quarantine, came home and the larger clownfish is dead.

The smaller one isn't doing great either... not eating much it seems. I've spend £30 on foods and garlic so hopefully it starts eating... 3 more days left of the QT...

Can you post a video of the remaining fish?

Do you know anyone who has used that NT Labs product that can give you some advice?

 

[Nstocks]

The remaining fish seems lively as it did before the QT, wheras the passed larger fish was lethargic from day 4/5 and barley moved at all in the last couple of days, not was it eating.

I've got baby brine shrimp and Dr Bassleer foods and seachem garlic guard to try and keep this one as healthy and fed as I can...

I don't know anyone that has used the NT labs anti-parasite,... I've done some searching (including on AI) which has stated I should reset the clock and start the 11-day course again...

 

[Nstocks]

I've been observing the fish and noticed that it has a white dot, in a similar location as the past fish near its gill.

It's hard to say what it is, it's had fluke treatment and 9 days of anti-parasite treatment. This fish is also not eating anymore either...

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

The remaining fish seems lively as it did before the QT, wheras the passed larger fish was lethargic from day 4/5 and barley moved at all in the last couple of days, not was it eating.

I've got baby brine shrimp and Dr Bassleer foods and seachem garlic guard to try and keep this one as healthy and fed as I can...

I don't know anyone that has used the NT labs anti-parasite,... I've done some searching (including on AI) which has stated I should reset the clock and start the 11-day course again...

Sorry, top down through the water can’t show us anything really.

I guess starting another course of treatment would be something to try…..but I’m a bit worried because copper accumulates with each dose (formalin de gasses).