Lymphocystis on my B&W clownfish??

Nikky.Werr · 10/07/2014, 03:35 PM

Hello, I bought this clownfish last week at my LFS. It seemed perfect physically, I sorted through their new shipment of fish and chose the least stressed out looking, and least damaged (complete fins, no apparent abrasions, etc). It seems, however, that I missed this lesion on its face somehow... I've googled everything from brooklynella to velvet, ich and lymphocystis. You can't notice how this protrudes from its cheek, it comes out about 1.5mm from cheek. This is the only lesion it has. What do you guys think it is and how could I treat it?

Dmorty217 · 10/07/2014, 05:26 PM

Do you have another picture? Lympho doesn't typically start on the fishes body. Usually starts on a fin and can spread from there

Dmorty217 · 10/07/2014, 05:28 PM

Enriched, varied diet coupled with prestine water quality is the only way to get it to go away if it is in fact lympho

Nina51 · 10/07/2014, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

Enriched, varied diet coupled with prestine water quality is the only way to get it to go away if it is in fact lympho

this ^

had a kole tang in qt with lympho. started soaking his food in selcon and/or vita-chem and it cleared up quickly.

Nikky.Werr · 10/07/2014, 10:15 PM

Hello, I just saw these posts. Unfortunately my lights are out so I cant take anymore pictures but the lesion is very visible since it's a black and white ocellaris and I searched all over its body when I noticed the one on the cheek and it doesn't have anything elsewhere. My water conditions are nearly perfect, even my nitrates are at less than 1 and boy was that a feat (during fishless cycle, I use Dr. Tim's Active Pearls in my canister filter). My water temp does fluctuate though between 78°F-80°F. My pH is at a consistent 8.1. Salinity is at 1.024-1.025. I'll try to stabilize the temp to a constant and i'll use the selcon on every feeding. I prepare fresh mixtures of minced shrimp, squid, clams/oysters and freeze on a weekly basis, is this all right, or should I try something commercial instead?

ca1ore · 10/08/2014, 07:25 AM

Doesn't really look like lympho to me. I've only ever had it manifest on the ends of the fins, so have limited experience. Good news is that it doesn't look like ich, velvet or brook. Although usually clear, could it be a fluke?

snorvich · 10/08/2014, 07:40 AM

While Lymphocystis normally is found on fins, it can be on the body of the fish. If the lesion looks a bit like cauliflower, that would be lympho. Selcon and Vita-chem supplements coupled with good water will cure it. Your other parameters are fine. However, it would be beneficial if you developed a quarantine protocol. And used it.

Dmorty217 · 10/08/2014, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

However, it would be beneficial if you developed a quarantine protocol. And used it.

^This is of most importance, it's lympho this time next time you may not be as lucky

Nikky.Werr · 10/08/2014, 09:49 AM

It does look a bit like a cauliflower, so I guess I am lucky. The reason I didn't quarantine this little gal is because this is a small 20g I'd been cycling for about a month and then added CUC that's been there for another month or so, so she's the first fish I've added. I assumed it would be okay, I know what they say about assuming though... So now I know better. Thanks for all your replies. I'll keep this updated with photographs of her progress. I've turned on the UV light in my filter, would that assist or impede or do nothing at all to water quality? I've rarely used that UV because of all the mixed thoughts on its benefits. If you think it'll do no good, I'll just turn it off.
Again, thanks for all your replies. It has been a big help.

Dmorty217 · 10/08/2014, 11:01 AM

Most fish will get sick when stressed ie. when shipped. Whole sale fish places simply have too many fish coming in and out to prevent disease and most fish aren't at a whole sale place long enough to show signs of a disease. Some will use a low dose of copper which only masks the problem short term

Nikky.Werr · 10/08/2014, 11:35 AM

Too true Dmorty217.
I've already started using selcon. I'm going to update this with more pictures periodically. I'll try to get some full body ones today.

Nikky.Werr · 10/08/2014, 12:25 PM

Here are pictures of the rest of the body. She was kind of afraid of my lens so please excuse the blurriness, but even so you can tell the rest of her black body is clean.

tylersarah · 10/08/2014, 12:37 PM

If it's not lympho, it could be a little infection. What you're doing sounds good, maybe add a pellet food to your frozen mixture and keep an eye out for redness (streaking or blotchy) on the fish - in that case I would look into treatment.

Nikky.Werr · 10/08/2014, 02:39 PM

(tylersarah) all right, i'll keep that in mind, thanks!

Nikky.Werr · 10/09/2014, 10:59 PM

Hey all, new pictures to add! The lesion is getting smaller, check it out

(please excuse the blotchy aquarium glass, I need to get one of those "magnet" glass cleaners for the inside of the glass)

tylersarah · 10/10/2014, 05:32 AM

Good, good! Keep on with the good nutrition/water quality

Nikky.Werr · 10/12/2014, 12:03 PM

All right everyone, the white lesion has completely disappeared but now she won't eat at all... ill upload a photo as soon as possible.

Nikky.Werr · 10/12/2014, 02:18 PM

All right here are some photos, white lesion completely gone but is it me or do her white stripes seem like they're fading/raw/pinkish at the top??? Oh and she still wont eat. I tried everything from spectrum pellets to various frozen mixes to the frozen caviar for fish my LFS sells.... Hasn't eaten since yesterday.

Nikky.Werr · 10/12/2014, 05:15 PM

just checking on her, was about to offer more food. She's dead. i took some post-mortem pics but dont wanna be gruesome and post them unless anyone asks. I didn't find anything on her body, but I didn't autopsy to check out the inside. I really thought she was doing great, she had a big appetite till last night and the white lesion had gone away completely. HUGE bummer.

Sk8r · 10/12/2014, 08:22 PM

So sorry to hear.

Nikky.Werr · 10/12/2014, 10:26 PM

Now that the my b&w has died in the tank is there anything I need to do in order to keep whatever she died from out of the tank. Should I do a 100% water change? Are my cuc inverts at risk? What protocol do you follow when a fish has died in-tank from an apparently unknown disease? (as "lymph" had cleared up I'm assuming it had something else)
I'm completely perplexed. My parameters remained ammonia:0, nitrite:0, nitrate:<1, phosphate:0, pH:8.1, calcium:420, temperature: 79-80
Well anyways, any protocol suggestions? should I run UV or something?...

tylersarah · 10/13/2014, 04:58 PM

Shoot, sorry to hear this! Losing fish is sad. The inverts aren't at risk, nothing you really need to do to the tank other than regular maintenance. One thing of importance would be to pick up a small QT, 10 gal aquarium, a clear rubbermaid plastic tote etc. That way you can easily treat future diseases (assuming they can be identified) and keep healthy fish healthy.

Nikky.Werr · 10/13/2014, 06:55 PM

Thanks tylersarah, I'll keep up regular maintenance and pick up a small QT as suggested.
And thank you all who have replied to this thread, your help means a lot to me.
Goodnight all.

10/07/2014, 05:26 PM	#2
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Do you have another picture? Lympho doesn't typically start on the fishes body. Usually starts on a fin and can spread from there __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

10/07/2014, 05:28 PM	#3
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Enriched, varied diet coupled with prestine water quality is the only way to get it to go away if it is in fact lympho __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

10/08/2014, 07:25 AM	#6
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Doesn't really look like lympho to me. I've only ever had it manifest on the ends of the fins, so have limited experience. Good news is that it doesn't look like ich, velvet or brook. Although usually clear, could it be a fluke? __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

10/08/2014, 07:40 AM	#7
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	While Lymphocystis normally is found on fins, it can be on the body of the fish. If the lesion looks a bit like cauliflower, that would be lympho. Selcon and Vita-chem supplements coupled with good water will cure it. Your other parameters are fine. However, it would be beneficial if you developed a quarantine protocol. And used it. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

10/08/2014, 11:01 AM	#10
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Most fish will get sick when stressed ie. when shipped. Whole sale fish places simply have too many fish coming in and out to prevent disease and most fish aren't at a whole sale place long enough to show signs of a disease. Some will use a low dose of copper which only masks the problem short term __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

10/07/2014, 10:15 PM	#5
Nikky.Werr Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Posts: 72	Hello, I just saw these posts. Unfortunately my lights are out so I cant take anymore pictures but the lesion is very visible since it's a black and white ocellaris and I searched all over its body when I noticed the one on the cheek and it doesn't have anything elsewhere. My water conditions are nearly perfect, even my nitrates are at less than 1 and boy was that a feat (during fishless cycle, I use Dr. Tim's Active Pearls in my canister filter). My water temp does fluctuate though between 78°F-80°F. My pH is at a consistent 8.1. Salinity is at 1.024-1.025. I'll try to stabilize the temp to a constant and i'll use the selcon on every feeding. I prepare fresh mixtures of minced shrimp, squid, clams/oysters and freeze on a weekly basis, is this all right, or should I try something commercial instead?

10/08/2014, 09:49 AM	#9
Nikky.Werr Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Posts: 72	It does look a bit like a cauliflower, so I guess I am lucky. The reason I didn't quarantine this little gal is because this is a small 20g I'd been cycling for about a month and then added CUC that's been there for another month or so, so she's the first fish I've added. I assumed it would be okay, I know what they say about assuming though... So now I know better. Thanks for all your replies. I'll keep this updated with photographs of her progress. I've turned on the UV light in my filter, would that assist or impede or do nothing at all to water quality? I've rarely used that UV because of all the mixed thoughts on its benefits. If you think it'll do no good, I'll just turn it off. Again, thanks for all your replies. It has been a big help.

10/08/2014, 11:35 AM	#11
Nikky.Werr Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Posts: 72	Too true Dmorty217. I've already started using selcon. I'm going to update this with more pictures periodically. I'll try to get some full body ones today.

10/08/2014, 12:37 PM	#13
tylersarah Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 900	If it's not lympho, it could be a little infection. What you're doing sounds good, maybe add a pellet food to your frozen mixture and keep an eye out for redness (streaking or blotchy) on the fish - in that case I would look into treatment.

10/08/2014, 02:39 PM	#14
Nikky.Werr Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Posts: 72	(tylersarah) all right, i'll keep that in mind, thanks!

10/10/2014, 05:32 AM	#16
tylersarah Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 900	Good, good! Keep on with the good nutrition/water quality

10/12/2014, 12:03 PM	#17
Nikky.Werr Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Posts: 72	All right everyone, the white lesion has completely disappeared but now she won't eat at all... ill upload a photo as soon as possible.

10/12/2014, 05:15 PM	#19
Nikky.Werr Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Posts: 72	Rip just checking on her, was about to offer more food. She's dead. i took some post-mortem pics but dont wanna be gruesome and post them unless anyone asks. I didn't find anything on her body, but I didn't autopsy to check out the inside. I really thought she was doing great, she had a big appetite till last night and the white lesion had gone away completely. HUGE bummer.

10/12/2014, 08:22 PM	#20
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	So sorry to hear. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

10/12/2014, 10:26 PM	#21
Nikky.Werr Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Posts: 72	Now that the my b&w has died in the tank is there anything I need to do in order to keep whatever she died from out of the tank. Should I do a 100% water change? Are my cuc inverts at risk? What protocol do you follow when a fish has died in-tank from an apparently unknown disease? (as "lymph" had cleared up I'm assuming it had something else) I'm completely perplexed. My parameters remained ammonia:0, nitrite:0, nitrate:<1, phosphate:0, pH:8.1, calcium:420, temperature: 79-80 Well anyways, any protocol suggestions? should I run UV or something?...

10/13/2014, 04:58 PM	#22
tylersarah Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 900	Shoot, sorry to hear this! Losing fish is sad. The inverts aren't at risk, nothing you really need to do to the tank other than regular maintenance. One thing of importance would be to pick up a small QT, 10 gal aquarium, a clear rubbermaid plastic tote etc. That way you can easily treat future diseases (assuming they can be identified) and keep healthy fish healthy.

10/13/2014, 06:55 PM	#23
Nikky.Werr Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Posts: 72	Thanks tylersarah, I'll keep up regular maintenance and pick up a small QT as suggested. And thank you all who have replied to this thread, your help means a lot to me. Goodnight all.