not sure, brooklynellosis?

[Lucid]

Hey, my dad got two percula clowns about a week ago and I put them in QT. I didn't have any meds yet and they are on order and waiting to arrive Saturday. Now the bad juju has come my way and one of the clowns has got something coming on him fast. Yesterday night before I turned off the lights, I noticed the guy flashed. Today he is showing more signs of sickness. Breathing more rapidly, isn't eating much at all and I saw a couple of "spots" on him. Within two hours after, he has developed more skin abrasions/spots and I am not sure if it is Marine Ick or Brooklynellosis. Can anyone help me figure out what is infecting him?

These pics are 800x600 and best as I could get. I had to remove all the PVC in the QT just to get any shots of his sides. He also has been overly shy and won't come out of his PVC home today. Before he would. :/

[weez1959]

The fifth shot looks like ich to me! Until Lee answers your post you should hurry and read his sticky on ich:
Marine Ich - Myths and Facts
Good luck!

[leebca]

I would say that the highest probability is Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans).

I would suggest a treatment with Cupramine under these circumstances. You'll need the medication AND a copper test kit. Salifert Copper Test kit works with Cupramine, as does the Seachem Copper Test Kit. Most prefer the Salifert.

Congratulations on using and putting them through a quarantine process. I hope you can appreciate now how smart that was! Don't cut the quarantine process short.

[Lucid]

Thanks Louise & Lee! Yes I was thinking Ick, but couldn't make a positive id. Another good thing is all of my meds came in this mourning! And a Salifert Cu test kit.

My dad wasn't too pleased when I forced the QT on him lol. Nor when I told him 6 weeks (not inc. medicating). Kinda sucks to hit this issue the first time doing QT, BUT I rather to here than in the display and having to go fallow for 8+ weeks.

On a side note, should I start a Formalin treatment after the Cupramine? Thanks.

[Lucid]

Oh will Cupramine treatment kill a bio filter? I've read some things about that with some meds but cannot located that info again...

[leebca]

Copper can sometimes adversely affect the biological filter. It depends on how the bacteria take to the copper. Sometimes they will stop functioning and go into a type of stasis condition for a few weeks. They will however begin to do their job again, if they do stop functioning.

To answer your question. . .It depends. Keep a very close eye on the water quality for ammonia and nitrites. If ANY are detected, do water changes daily or twice a day to keep those poisons to zero. When you add water back in, don't forget to add Cupramine to the new water in the proper concentration.

After the copper treatment has passed and the copper removed from the water, let the fish be in clean water for a couple of weeks. If no Marine Ich is detected, perform the formalin baths. After the last formalin bath, watch the fish in quarantine an additional 3-4 weeks. If they are okay for the entire 3-4 weeks, they are good to go!

[Lucid]

Thanks Lee!

[Lucid]

On Formalin dips, what concentration should I be using? The link posted in your Stocking Med. Cabinet thread doesn't load anymore. But I checked other sources on the net. 0.6 ml per gallon recommended in one source (Blogs @ Reef Central » Fresh Water Dips and Formalin Baths) and 150 mg/L in another (Algone.com - Aquarium Fish Dips).

I will likely be doing the dip on both fishes in a 5 gal bucket. Maybe 4 gallons. I have teaspoon measuring instruments that also read out in ml. I just want to get this right/clear for the upcoming event.

TIA

[leebca]

I'll have to try and fix that link. The site closed. I'll write the instructions separately so others have it.

You have to control pH, temperature, and oxygen in the bath water.

Don't let temperature exceed 80F. Use an air stone to keep the water maxed out with oxygen. Before addition of Formalin, the pH should be within the normal range of 7.9 to 8.4

You begin by using a stock Formalin (about 37% Formaldehyde gas dissolved in water). It must be fresh, not old. Add 1 ml of this to each gallon of bath water. I don't like recommending drops, since drop size varies too much, however this is a 'standard' 20 drops when each drop measures 0.05 ml.

3 to 5 dips every other day for 45 minutes. Unless it is a severely advanced case, go the 3. If you are doing this as a preventative measure, do 3. If the fish shows signs of handling the bath well, do 5, regardless of the above.

Monitor the fish closely during treatment. You can extend the treatment a few more minutes but never exceed 60 minutes. If the fish shows signs of stress or problem, stop the treatment and return the fish to its QT.

[Lucid]

Thanks Lee. I assume the bath water is to be saltwater/qt water? Oh btw, since this is a hazardous product, how should I dispose of the used bath water? I live in the 'country' and could I pour it out on the ground?

[leebca]

Correct. The water the bath is from is the exact water the fish is in. Use some of that water for the bath.

Disposal must follow whatever the local, State, and Federal requirements are, which cover such chemicals. I can't help you beyond this statement.