What's on my clown??

[SkyJunkie]

Noticed this on my clown this morning. It's like a thin white film that is peeling off... ? The fish seems a little "off" too.

No other fish have this on them.

[IMG]http://i48.*******.com/zkke1w.jpg[/IMG]

[noj3333]

I'm sure someone else will chime in, it's sick I believe, is this the 'clow fish only disease'? I'm sorry I don't know the proper name for it...

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by noj3333

I'm sure someone else will chime in, it's sick I believe, is this the 'clow fish only disease'? I'm sorry I don't know the proper name for it...

Brooklynella, a parasite. I think this the fish has too. It can infect most fish, not just clownfish. the only cure I know of is formalin (some meds contain formalin and will work too.) assuming this brooklynella, this fish could be dead before tomorrow. It is very quick-acting, contagious, and deadly. A FW dip may give some temporary relief, but isn't a cure. You'll have to treat all of your fish in a HT and let the DT stay fishless for 6+ weeks. This parasite is a great example of why you should use a QT with all new fish.

[SkyJunkie]

What does HT and DT mean?

[bellis31]

HT Hospital Tank.... DT Display Tank...

[FlyingRev]

Did the OP just put the fish in his DT or has it been in there a while?

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by SkyJunkie

What does HT and DT mean?

Here's a great helper for newer RCmembers. But, I often use acronyms that nobody recognizes anyhow, even me when I re-read them. .http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1672798

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by MrTuskfish

Brooklynella, a parasite. I think this the fish has too. It can infect most fish, not just clownfish. the only cure I know of is formalin (some meds contain formalin and will work too.) assuming this brooklynella, this fish could be dead before tomorrow. It is very quick-acting, contagious, and deadly. A FW dip may give some temporary relief, but isn't a cure. You'll have to treat all of your fish in a HT and let the DT stay fishless for 6+ weeks. This parasite is a great example of why you should use a QT with all new fish.

Exactly. Very deadly and quick acting.

[SkyJunkie]

So both clowns are now dead. Should I pull the rest of my fish? I have a blue tang and two paradigm cardinals I just got.

No, I didn't QT any of them, stupid stupid I know. Will do from now on. I hope I'm not the only one who's learned this the hard way. I feel like an idiot because I know I should have QT them. I don't have a quarantine tank but I'm going to get one.

What do I need? I was told just a tank and a filter is ok? Is that true?

[snorvich]

Please read my blog entry and the best way to introduce/quarantine acclimate fish. Also, there are various stickies in this forum and especially the fish diseases forum, it is best to read them.

The other fish, unless treated, are likely to go the same route as the clowns.

[MrTuskfish]

^^^^^AGREE^^^^; and you don't have much time to treat them. Brooklynella isn't like ich; it can go from unseen to dead fish in a day.

[SkyJunkie]

It's been a week since my two clowns and one cardinal died. The remaining fish seem completely fine. How long would it take the parasite to get to the other fish?

[SkyJunkie]

Anyone?

Is there any way to test the water for disease?

[jmacc702]

I just lost both of my clowns to this as well.. Sorry for your lost fish!!

[MrTuskfish]

There is no test you can do. Unless you remove & treat ALL fish, while the DT goes fishless for 6+ weeks; you are still possibly harboring brooklynella.

[lemmy_k]

Sorry for your loss. I know how that feels, I lost 7 fish in 6 days to that stuff. Very nasty. It's been almost 6 months ago and I am still not completely re-stocked after that mess.
Leave the tank empty as stated before and start over.

[SkyJunkie]

Originally Posted by MrTuskfish

There is no test you can do. Unless you remove & treat ALL fish, while the DT goes fishless for 6+ weeks; you are still possibly harboring brooklynella.

I so badly want to ignoring reading 6+ weeks. Ugh.

Really? If my tang, goby, and remaining cardinal are all fine I could still be screwed?

[sponger0]

Originally Posted by SkyJunkie

I so badly want to ignoring reading 6+ weeks. Ugh.

Really? If my tang, goby, and remaining cardinal are all fine I could still be screwed?

The is a newbie feeling. We have all been there and dont like waiting weeks.

But in all honesty, unless you want those fish to stay alive, you need to treat a QT properly, and need to do it quickly. As others have stated Brooklynella is very fast acting and will take your fish quickly

You are still waiting for another answer....while everyone has advised you to get those fish treated. I would stop waiting and start treating before its too late for the remainder of your fish.

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by sponger0

The is a newbie feeling. We have all been there and dont like waiting weeks.

But in all honesty, unless you want those fish to stay alive, you need to treat a QT properly, and need to do it quickly. As others have stated Brooklynella is very fast acting and will take your fish quickly

You are still waiting for another answer....while everyone has advised you to get those fish treated. I would stop waiting and start treating before its too late for the remainder of your fish.

+1 And if you don't start quarantining new fish for about 6 weeks, this will happen again.