Will a single fish prevent Brooklynella from dying out?

[Telperion]

Ok, this is probably a dumb question. I'm familiar with the lifecycle of brook, but i'm at my whits end.

A month or so ago, I introduced a wild-caught clownfish into my ~75-gallon (not actually sure of the exact size) display tank. The store I got him from typically has a lengthy quarantine period for their fish, and I rarely have any issues. Well, long story short, it had brook and now all my fish do as well (except the firefish, I think?). Either way, I finally bit the bullet today and set up two treatment tanks for them, broke down the rockwork so I could catch the buggers, and moved all the fish into treatment. (I couldn't get formalin, so I'm using RRRP and Secham Metroplex+Focus to treat the fish)

Now, here's where the problem is. Only once I got all the fish moved over, I realized I was missing one fish. My crafty Royal Gramma must have wedged itself in a rock that was removed from the tank and subsequently reintroduced into the display tank. Will his presence during what was intended to be a fallow period prevent the brook parasites from dying out? Assuming so, how can I remove him without having to disassemble the tank again?

Thank you all,
~ Telperion

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Ok, this is probably a dumb question. I'm familiar with the lifecycle of brook, but i'm at my whits end.

A month or so ago, I introduced a wild-caught clownfish into my ~75-gallon (not actually sure of the exact size) display tank. The store I got him from typically has a lengthy quarantine period for their fish, and I rarely have any issues. Well, long story short, it had brook and now all my fish do as well (except the firefish, I think?). Either way, I finally bit the bullet today and set up two treatment tanks for them, broke down the rockwork so I could catch the buggers, and moved all the fish into treatment. (I couldn't get formalin, so I'm using RRRP and Secham Metroplex+Focus to treat the fish)

Now, here's where the problem is. Only once I got all the fish moved over, I realized I was missing one fish. My crafty Royal Gramma must have wedged itself in a rock that was removed from the tank and subsequently reintroduced into the display tank. Will his presence during what was intended to be a fallow period prevent the brook parasites from dying out? Assuming so, how can I remove him without having to disassemble the tank again?

Thank you all,
~ Telperion

Brooklynella has direct development, no resting stage, so there is no real "fallow" period. These protozoans die out fairly quickly if there are no host fish present. That said, Brook is very often misdiagnosed. Clowns and royal gramma DO get brook though....

Metronidazole + Focus is most often misdirected in its application. Metro in the food must be at 1 to 2% by weight in the food - if you miss that dose either way, it won't work. Too low and it won't work and too high and the food is too bitter and the fish won't eat it. Additionally, oral medications really do not work well for external protozoans like Brook. Metronidazole in the water would be a better choice, but the best cure is formalin. I have issues with formalin use in homes because it is toxic to humans and de-gasses into the room. Ruby Reef Rally Pro is a safer option, but it is not very strong, and often does not cure active brook infections.

 

[Telperion]

Brooklynella has direct development, no resting stage, so there is no real "fallow" period. These protozoans die out fairly quickly if there are no host fish present. That said, Brook is very often misdiagnosed. Clowns and royal gramma DO get brook though....

Metronidazole + Focus is most often misdirected in its application. Metro in the food must be at 1 to 2% by weight in the food - if you miss that dose either way, it won't work. Too low and it won't work and too high and the food is too bitter and the fish won't eat it. Additionally, oral medications really do not work well for external protozoans like Brook. Metronidazole in the water would be a better choice, but the best cure is formalin. I have issues with formalin use in homes because it is toxic to humans and de-gasses into the room. Ruby Reef Rally Pro is a safer option, but it is not very strong, and often does not cure active brook infections.

So far the fish have been eating the Metro+focus, I did my best to make it a 1% by weight. Both the clowns and the gramma have an active infection, so with the gramma being left behind, i'm doubtful that he'll survive.

Formalin wasn't really an option for me as i'm in a poorly ventilated apartment. Would Seachem ParaGuard work instead? It's marketed as a safe alternative to formalin, but i don't have any experience with it so i'm not sure if it would work for my needs

 

[Jay Hemdal]

So far the fish have been eating the Metro+focus, I did my best to make it a 1% by weight. Both the clowns and the gramma have an active infection, so with the gramma being left behind, i'm doubtful that he'll survive.

Formalin wasn't really an option for me as i'm in a poorly ventilated apartment. Would Seachem ParaGuard work instead? It's marketed as a safe alternative to formalin, but i don't have any experience with it so i'm not sure if it would work for my needs

Sorry, I've never tried Paraguard against Brook because the reports I've heard indicate that it doesn't work well for that.