Maroon Clown Fish

[Parrothead]

Hey Lee,

Quick question, I hope the solution will be fairly quick as well,

Purchased a Maroon clown yesterday, acc. him in the usual way, done it for years, however when I returned from work today and checked on the tank, he has a white mucus looking stuff around his eyes, mouth, gill area, and paddle fins. Behavior is somewhat erratic.

All other livestock, 3 damsels and all my corals are doing excellent, water parameters in normal range, temp normal, about 80 degrees. Bi-Weekly water changes are done reg.

Any ideas?

Tanks,
Robert

P.S. Could he be losing his slime coat, if so what can I do for him. He's a very nice size fish, looked healthy in the store. Kinda stuck here.

[leebca]

The symptoms you've described is that of Brooklynellosis -- a very common disease among Anemonefishes. Their quarantine is essential AND I believe every newly acquired Anemonefish should be treated for brook whether it displays or not. That is because it is so common and so easily transmitted from Anemonefish to another.

Treatment is not as you had hoped. Isolate in QT; either choose to give a series of formalin dips or a series of freshwater dips. The formalin dips are more successful but more troublesome to give. You'd follow this procedure for a formalin treatment: Formalin Treatment - Marine Fishes

If you choose the freshwater treatment, then QT the fish and give a FW treatment according to these instructions: Freshwater Dip for Marine Fishes every other day, until you've completed the 5th treatment.

The difference is that when you treat the fish in the above FW procedure, leave the fish in the bath for only 10 to 15 minutes. You don't have to leave the fish in for the full recommended time in the above procedure.

[Parrothead]

Thanks Lee,

He didn't make it, I had planned on using my 20 gal. for a sump, now I believe it will have to become a QT, don't be upset, but I've never ever used one, and have had no real issues till now, however effective immed. the 20 is now a QT Tank.

Thanks for the help.

Tanks,
Robert

[leebca]

A stressed fish (like most newly acquired fish are) dies quickly from brook.

Hope the future looks brighter.

[Parrothead]

Lee

It will, I'm on my way here shortly to pick up a couple of missing items from your QT Tank post, Hated to lose a fish because of a good run of luck I guess.

I do have a quick question for you regarding the Bio Filter for the qt, you article recommends a sponge filter with air pump, I'm familiar with them, However I was wondering if I could sub the sponge filter for a Marineland 330 with bio Wheel(cycled) on the 20 gal. tank?

Let me know.

Tanks,

Robert

[leebca]

You can sub almost anything. However, the simplicity of the sponge filter allows some advantages: You can throw it away without having to clean it or worry about contamination; the bubbles are great for creating enough water circulation; the bubbles disturb the entire surface of the tank, facilitating gas exchange; there is no strong intake for fish to get caught in; and it's easy to move from the display system (when it's got bacteria) into the QT.