Brook or ich?

ricatalano · Feb 8, 2023

My clowns seem to have got something. I cant tell if it’s ich or brooklynella.

Andreas' Reef · Feb 8, 2023

Mostly looks like brook due to mucus. are these pictures of the same fish? More pics pls

Sharkbait19 · Feb 8, 2023

Could you post some videos to assess breathing rate?
How are the fish acting?
At this stage, I’d say brook but more info is needed to be confirmed.
Have a quarantine tank ready - you will need to treat with formalin if brook or copper if ich.

MnFish1 · Feb 8, 2023

I do not think anyone can answer what you're asking - without the answers to the questions at the top of the forum - and the link in my signature. - other symptoms of course as @Sharkbait19 has said. are answered

vetteguy53081 · Feb 8, 2023

This is no doubt Brooklynella. The most significant sign is the amount of slime on its body. The thick mucus on its body is a second sign which is noticeable on the fish. This mucus generally starts at the facial area as well as gills and spreads across the body producing lesions as it progresses often confused with ich and can turn into secondary bacteria. Other symptoms will be lethargic behavior, refusing to eat and heavy breathing from the mucus.
Typical treatment is a formalin solution is mixed with in a separate container with either fresh or saltwater. Start with a quick dip in the formalin at a higher concentration then performing treatment in a prolonged bath of formalin base at a lower concentration in a quarantine tank. The longer the fish are exposed to the formalin treatment the more effective it will be at eliminating this issue.
If a formalin solution is not available for immediate use, temporary relief can be achieved by giving the fish a FW bath or dip in water same temperature as display tank. Even though this treatment will not cure the disease, it can help to remove some of the parasites, as well as reduce the amount of mucus in the gills to assist with respiration problems.
Treatment is best done in a QT tank using either quick cure (more effective but now harder to find) or Ruby Rally Pro. Ruby takes a little longer and initial treatment generally takes 2-3 days to really start going to work.
With the advanced stage of this- I recommend immediate quarantine of all inhabitants and leaving display without fish for 4-6 weeks.
A quarantine system if you dont have one can be as simple as a starter tank kit from walmart which has most of the essentials

MnFish1 · Feb 8, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
This is no doubt Brooklynella. The most significant sign is the amount of slime on its body. The thick mucus on its body is a second sign which is noticeable on the fish. This mucus generally starts at the facial area as well as gills and spreads across the body producing lesions as it progresses often confused with ich and can turn into secondary bacteria. Other symptoms will be lethargic behavior, refusing to eat and heavy breathing from the mucus.
Typical treatment is a formalin solution is mixed with in a separate container with either fresh or saltwater. Start with a quick dip in the formalin at a higher concentration then performing treatment in a prolonged bath of formalin base at a lower concentration in a quarantine tank. The longer the fish are exposed to the formalin treatment the more effective it will be at eliminating this issue.
If a formalin solution is not available for immediate use, temporary relief can be achieved by giving the fish a FW bath or dip in water same temperature as display tank. Even though this treatment will not cure the disease, it can help to remove some of the parasites, as well as reduce the amount of mucus in the gills to assist with respiration problems.
Treatment is best done in a QT tank using either quick cure (more effective but now harder to find) or Ruby Rally Pro. Ruby takes a little longer and initial treatment generally takes 2-3 days to really start going to work.
With the advanced stage of this- I recommend immediate quarantine of all inhabitants and leaving display without fish for 4-6 weeks.
A quarantine system if you dont have one can be as simple as a starter tank kit from walmart which has most of the essentials

There are multiple things that can cause mucus on a clownfish - or any other fish. It could very well be brooklynella. However - more answers IMHO are required.

ricatalano · Feb 8, 2023

Sharkbait19 said:
Could you post some videos to assess breathing rate?
How are the fish acting?
At this stage, I’d say brook but more info is needed to be confirmed.
Have a quarantine tank ready - you will need to treat with formalin if brook or copper if ich.

I have a quarantine tank ready to go. They are acting perfectly normal aside from itching in the sand.

ricatalano · Feb 8, 2023

MnFish1 said:
There are multiple things that can cause mucus on a clownfish - or any other fish. It could very well be brooklynella. However - more answers IMHO are required.