Brooklynella-confirmed

[goog]

Just when I thought I had turned the corner and I had healthy fish and aquarium...disaster strikes. First my Powder Blue Tang, then my Queen Angel, and finally my Stars and Stripes Puffer (all within 24 hours). I brought the PBT and then my QA to my DVM friend. Necropsy confirmed ciliated protozoans most likely Brooklynella hostilis.

My DVM recommended Cupramine for the display tank after the PBT death(FO and It had been Cu'd before...long story and I don't want to go back there, just move forward) and Formalin dips.

My Yellow Tang is in QT (since Friday) but the source water for the QT came from the main tank, and the sponge filters ran in the sump of main tank for four weeks. I Cupramined the QT, I would have to assume cross contamination from the main to the QT.

(1) The YT appears normal so far, respiration is up a little, no flashing, no darting. Is the increased respiration the result of the Cu treatment? Would you Formalin dip?

(2) The remaining Chromis (2) and Cardinals appear normal, are they somewhat resistant to Brooklynella?

(3) My fish guy was running the display tank somewhat Hypo (1.017). When we parted ways I transitioned to Scripps sand-filtred NSW and brought the salinity slowly back up to natural 1.025. Do you think the protozoans were some what inactive with the hyposalinity and took-off when the salinity was increased or do you think they were brought in with the NSW?

(4) If Formalin kills the protozoans what prevents re-infection once the fish is re-introduced to the contaminated water. My DVM friend says Cu is only moderately effective against Brooklynella.

Editorial comment - If you are new to the hobby please follow Lee's guidance to the "T" especially regarding quarantine. I have spent an enormous amount of time and $$$ trying to right the past wrongs...never mind the loss of some beautiful tropical fish.

Thanks in advance!

[leebca]

If you've identified the problem as brooklynellosis then you have two treatment options -- a series of FW dips or a series of formalin dips. These prove to work best, with the series of Formalin dips coming out slightly ahead on the success curve. I've provided treatment procedure here: Formalin Treatment - Marine Fishes

1. Could be. No. But I wouldn't mix this fish in with those being treated. That is, it should be held in quarantine for at least 6 weeks.

2. Yes.

3. No and Neither.

4. Brook needs a fish and is transfered fish-to-fish without going through stages off the fish, like for instance Marine Ich. Treated fish thus must not be mixed with untreated fishes until all untreated fishes have been cleared of carrying brook. Copper has no effect on Brooklynella hostilis. Your DVM is caught up in some voodoo or myth. Many ciliated protozoan are susceptible to copper, but this one isn't. Someone or your DVM has incorrectly extrapolated this bit of copper info to include brook.

A copper treated display system will slowly release copper back into the water, making chronic poisoning of marine life forms a likely event.

Thanks for your editorial. It's a hard thing to learn, yet so many still don't take this simple prophylactic step.

[goog]

Lee,

I moved my Coral Beauty to a 2nd QT. I Formalin dipped her last night (IAW w/ your sticky). Woke up this am and she was totally covered in white specs/fuzz. I fresh water dipped her and all the white was shed. Formalin from a different source had no visual effect on the puffer, it died. This seems/appears like the formalin was ineffective (new bottle/fresh). Does this seems more like ich (also a ciliate protozoan) then Brook?

My misunderstanding regarding the effectiveness of Cu and Brooklnella.

How often on the fresh water dips? If Formalin is only marginally more effective it would seem fresh water would be safer.

Why are Chormis and Cardinals apparently more resistant? Can they carry ciliate protzoans but not succumb to them?

Any other suggestions on how to proceed?

Thanks for all of your help.

[leebca]

I would appear that brook isn't the correct diagnosis. Not much I can do with that unless I have a lot more information. (Sort of like calling the medical doctor and saying you have a temperature and asking the doctor to cure you over the phone).

Marine Ich is usually identified from a group of visual symptoms, the most pronounced and convincing being white spots the size of a grain of salt, or slightly smaller.

The FW dips are much like the series of Formalin dips. Every 2 days for a total of 5 days. Some believe that Formalin, when done properly is less stressful. The Formalin series is done in the water they came from, so there is no temperature, contamination, pH, salinity 'shock.'

In general, their mucous coating is different. Still, they may carry it and infect others. Their quarantine and observation is necessary.

I can help with a diagnosis, but considering all that the fish have been through I wonder at this point if the situation isn't one of multiple problems including but not limited to: chronic poisoning (all those meds), reduced defenses (unable to cure themselves), pathogens, opportunistic microbes, and to some extent unable to acclimate. The ornamental marine fish is pretty resilient overall, but when a group of stressors are put on it, it easily succumbs.

I would need more information: their whole history, data, diet, chemistries, etc., and plenty of photos.

[goog]

Some goods news..... the Coral Beauty is up and swimming normally versus 24 hrs ago on the bottom w/ very fast respiration.

Thanks for your advice. I realize it's very difficult to provide any guidance without comprehensive inforamtion. I appreciate your frankness.

I think at this point since all the survivors are stable the best course of action would be to simply observe, since I'm not 100% convinced as to the actual parasite.

Thanks again.