bacterial infection

karlyhui · 08/09/2007, 03:40 PM

Hi

I have 3 clowns that seem to have bacterial infection. Is there a med that works in display tank since I have no corals except 2 live rocks.

but I donot want to cycle the tank again.

thanks

Blown 346 · 08/09/2007, 03:48 PM

Your best bet would be to get a QT and treat them there. Otherwise if a QT isnt available to you, there are meds you can use to treat for it. You just have to make sure there is no presence of copper in the meds. Im not sure what meds you could use as there are handfulls out there. Im sure someone here will know.

ahullsb · 08/09/2007, 04:18 PM

I really wouldn't treat in your display tank. How big is the tank? A little more info would be helpful. Are you sure it's a bacterial infection? What are the signs/symptoms? How long has the tank been running? I would search the fish disease and treatment forum to determine for sure what is wrong with the fish.

Aquarist007 · 08/09/2007, 04:41 PM

also the danger in treating the main tank is that the live rock is porous and can soak up chemicals to later be realeased and possibly cause problems with the invert populations.

mwwhite · 08/09/2007, 07:41 PM

We had issues with our two clowns, a marine biologist we met on this site took the time to help us through it - first by trying to identify via pix what was really wrong with them -- because of the advanced nature of the problem it was determined it started as brook disease and then more than likely advanced to secondary diseases. Their tails were almost completely gone -- his recommendation was for a product called Tricide Neo -- I wasn't able to locate it locally and had to order online. (www.tricideneo.com).

Following his instructions, they were put in a 10gal hospital tank for about 4-5 weeks. A series of timed dips... 5 over a 3 day period for 10 mins (no more, no less). It was quite an involved process but we managed to get the two separate series of treatments completed before putting them back in the display. He wanted to see tail growth before they were returned to the display tank but managing ammonia in a 10 gal with minimal filtration was beginning to be more of a risk to them than putting them back in the display so back they went.

It is now 10 weeks since the treatments and their tail REGROWTH is about 75% complete. It is quite amazing. We are thrilled and as an aside learned quite a bit about diseases that we didn't know being new to the hobby. So in our case it was a win-win all the way around.

It is important that you post pix of the clowns so the experts on this site can help identify. Be ready for more than one answer on what the problem may be... take the advice you receive here but also print the pix and take them to your local LFS's for help in ID'ing the problem as well as do your own internet research on the problem.

Once accurately ID'd then effective management of it can be achieved. Different diseases require different treatments. Hospital tank is critical for most. This Tricide Neo product would have been deadly to the good bacteria in the display so it was necessary to remove the clowns.

hth

ps: After all was said and done. We could have replaced the darn clowns with a brand new pair cheaper!! LOL (couldn't have done that though....)

Aquarist007 · 08/09/2007, 09:34 PM

good show---next to trying to get certain species to eat, I find nursing fish back to health very challenging.

karlyhui · 08/09/2007, 10:18 PM

thanks, mwwhite I will write down the your info in case I might need it one day.

the 3 clowns are eating and swimming fine and look nothing different, but I notice today there waste was thin white long string.

From my freshwater experience , usually it means they have bacterial infection but I could be wrong

My stock consist of

6 2inch clowns and one 2 1/2 inch blue tang. The blue tang has no effect, all in a 120 gallon tank.

There is No Ammonia, No Nitrite, 20 or less Nitrate.

It could have been the frozen blood worm I got for them for fun.

I will set up a 20 gallon QT tank

thanks any suggestion what med to use?

08/09/2007, 03:40 PM	#1
karlyhui Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 157	bacterial infection Hi I have 3 clowns that seem to have bacterial infection. Is there a med that works in display tank since I have no corals except 2 live rocks. but I donot want to cycle the tank again. thanks

08/09/2007, 04:18 PM	#3
ahullsb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: sacramento, ca Posts: 2,729	I really wouldn't treat in your display tank. How big is the tank? A little more info would be helpful. Are you sure it's a bacterial infection? What are the signs/symptoms? How long has the tank been running? I would search the fish disease and treatment forum to determine for sure what is wrong with the fish. __________________ Andy Sacramento, CA Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef w/20 gallon sump/ER135/ 75 pounds of live rock, 4 in sandbed, 2 b&w ocellaris clowns, yellow watchman/pistol, rosy scaled wrasse, Mystery wrasse, Copperbanded Butterfly, Lighting 48" outer orbit 2 150 mh/ 4 t5 actinics

08/09/2007, 04:41 PM	#4
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	also the danger in treating the main tank is that the live rock is porous and can soak up chemicals to later be realeased and possibly cause problems with the invert populations. __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

08/09/2007, 09:34 PM	#6
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	good show---next to trying to get certain species to eat, I find nursing fish back to health very challenging. __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

08/09/2007, 03:48 PM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Your best bet would be to get a QT and treat them there. Otherwise if a QT isnt available to you, there are meds you can use to treat for it. You just have to make sure there is no presence of copper in the meds. Im not sure what meds you could use as there are handfulls out there. Im sure someone here will know.

08/09/2007, 07:41 PM	#5
mwwhite Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Land O Lakes, FL Posts: 690	We had issues with our two clowns, a marine biologist we met on this site took the time to help us through it - first by trying to identify via pix what was really wrong with them -- because of the advanced nature of the problem it was determined it started as brook disease and then more than likely advanced to secondary diseases. Their tails were almost completely gone -- his recommendation was for a product called Tricide Neo -- I wasn't able to locate it locally and had to order online. (www.tricideneo.com). Following his instructions, they were put in a 10gal hospital tank for about 4-5 weeks. A series of timed dips... 5 over a 3 day period for 10 mins (no more, no less). It was quite an involved process but we managed to get the two separate series of treatments completed before putting them back in the display. He wanted to see tail growth before they were returned to the display tank but managing ammonia in a 10 gal with minimal filtration was beginning to be more of a risk to them than putting them back in the display so back they went. It is now 10 weeks since the treatments and their tail REGROWTH is about 75% complete. It is quite amazing. We are thrilled and as an aside learned quite a bit about diseases that we didn't know being new to the hobby. So in our case it was a win-win all the way around. It is important that you post pix of the clowns so the experts on this site can help identify. Be ready for more than one answer on what the problem may be... take the advice you receive here but also print the pix and take them to your local LFS's for help in ID'ing the problem as well as do your own internet research on the problem. Once accurately ID'd then effective management of it can be achieved. Different diseases require different treatments. Hospital tank is critical for most. This Tricide Neo product would have been deadly to the good bacteria in the display so it was necessary to remove the clowns. hth ps: After all was said and done. We could have replaced the darn clowns with a brand new pair cheaper!! LOL (couldn't have done that though....)

08/09/2007, 10:18 PM	#7
karlyhui Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 157	thanks, mwwhite I will write down the your info in case I might need it one day. the 3 clowns are eating and swimming fine and look nothing different, but I notice today there waste was thin white long string. From my freshwater experience , usually it means they have bacterial infection but I could be wrong My stock consist of 6 2inch clowns and one 2 1/2 inch blue tang. The blue tang has no effect, all in a 120 gallon tank. There is No Ammonia, No Nitrite, 20 or less Nitrate. It could have been the frozen blood worm I got for them for fun. I will set up a 20 gallon QT tank thanks any suggestion what med to use?