Brooklynella

[Serpentman2024]

I’ve lost several ocellaris clowns in my tank. At first, I attributed it to tank mate aggression because they appeared to simply disappear rather quickly and it was only effecting clowns. Last pair showed definite symptoms of brooklynella and died before I could catch them to treat. At least the mystery is solved. I know Brooklynella effects clowns more due to their thicker mucus coating. The dilemma now is the other fish in the tank. None have shown any symptoms or issues. Everyone is eating and doing well since the issue first arose. No other fatalities. I’m assuming that they are still most likely non symptomatic carriers. I’m running my UV sterilizer on “total kill” flow rates but other than that, I can’t do much else. Removing fish and corals isn’t really an option. I guess clowns aren’t an option for this tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ve lost several ocellaris clowns in my tank. At first, I attributed it to tank mate aggression because they appeared to simply disappear rather quickly and it was only effecting clowns. Last pair showed definite symptoms of brooklynella and died before I could catch them to treat. At least the mystery is solved. I know Brooklynella effects clowns more due to their thicker mucus coating. The dilemma now is the other fish in the tank. None have shown any symptoms or issues. Everyone is eating and doing well since the issue first arose. No other fatalities. I’m assuming that they are still most likely non symptomatic carriers. I’m running my UV sterilizer on “total kill” flow rates but other than that, I can’t do much else. Removing fish and corals isn’t really an option. I guess clowns aren’t an option for this tank?

UV really wont address brook.
Please post a pic or better, video of at least 20 seconds of fish under bright white intensity. With brook, fish will be lethargic, swim wobbly, loss of appetite and heavy breathing.

 

[Serpentman2024]

UV really wont address brook.
Please post a pic or better, video of at least 20 seconds of fish under bright white intensity. With brook, fish will be lethargic, swim wobbly, loss of appetite and heavy breathing.

Zero doubt it was brook so didn’t bother with pics or video. Diagnosis is not my issue. Plan forward is more the concern.

Edit: I’m guessing short of running fallow, it will be ever present.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Zero doubt it was brook so didn’t bother with pics or video. Diagnosis is not my issue. Plan forward is more the concern.

This appears to be guessing and to plan, you must identify what you have. Can be flukes which are often not visible as well as water especially if false readings.

 

[Serpentman2024]

I travel a lot for work so didn’t catch the symptoms until this last pair. Thickened mucus, labored breathing, one showed lesions and ultimately both were unable to swim upright.

Water is fine.

Salinity 35.4ppt
pH 7.8-8.3
NO3: 1.6
PO4: 0.04

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I travel a lot for work so didn’t catch the symptoms until this last pair. Thickened mucus, labored breathing, one showed lesions and ultimately both were unable to swim upright.

Water is fine.

Salinity 35.4ppt
pH 7.8-8.3
NO3: 1.6
PO4: 0.04

Brooklynella has direct development, it does not have an encysted stage like ich or velvet and it doesn't have eggs like flukes. Therefore, the "fallow period" needs to only be 30 days or so. People that say "6 weeks" aren't wrong, it just doesn't have to be that long. Prevention is the big issue. Many people run fallow, and then go out and get some new clownfish, drop them in the tank and see Brooklynella develop. They incorrectly assume the fallow period didn't work, but actually the new clowns just brought it in with them again.

 

[Serpentman2024]

Brooklynella has direct development, it does not have an encysted stage like ich or velvet and it doesn't have eggs like flukes. Therefore, the "fallow period" needs to only be 30 days or so. People that say "6 weeks" aren't wrong, it just doesn't have to be that long. Prevention is the big issue. Many people run fallow, and then go out and get some new clownfish, drop them in the tank and see Brooklynella develop. They incorrectly assume the fallow period didn't work, but actually the new clowns just brought it in with them again.

Definitely no plans to add more clowns anytime soon. I guess the big question is whether any of the other fish could possibly be asymptomatic carriers. Zero issues with any other fish since the issue first appeared.

Admittedly, I perpetuated the problem as when I lost the initial clown, the survivor looked fine so replaced the lost one. At the time i didn’t even suspect disease. Thought it might even turn up in my overflows or sump. Survivor disappeared and repeated the mistake. All were juvenile clowns and spent the majority of their time hosting in corners or harder to see areas. Only until this pair did I catch the symptoms.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Definitely no plans to add more clowns anytime soon. I guess the big question is whether any of the other fish could possibly be asymptomatic carriers. Zero issues with any other fish since the issue first appeared.

Admittedly, I perpetuated the problem as when I lost the initial clown, the survivor looked fine so replaced the lost one. At the time i didn’t even suspect disease. Thought it might even turn up in my overflows or sump. Survivor disappeared and repeated the mistake. All were juvenile clowns and spent the majority of their time hosting in corners or harder to see areas. Only until this pair did I catch the symptoms.

Yes, any species of fish not highly prone to brooklynella can harbor sub clinical infections. To truly go fallow, you would need to remove and treat all of the fish in the tank, and then hold the tank fishless for 30+ days.

 

[Serpentman2024]

Yes, any species of fish not highly prone to brooklynella can harbor sub clinical infections. To truly go fallow, you would need to remove and treat all of the fish in the tank, and then hold the tank fishless for 30+ days.

Thanks. I figured as much. Unfortunately fallow isn’t an option at this point. Technically to do it correctly, all my fish would need to be permanently removed or they would just bring whatever they’re harboring back. Since none are showing symptoms, I will just leave alone and not add any more fish realizing it may still be present.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thanks. I figured as much. Unfortunately fallow isn’t an option at this point. Technically to do it correctly, all my fish would need to be permanently removed or they would just bring whatever they’re harboring back. Since none are showing symptoms, I will just leave alone and not add any more fish realizing it may still be present.

Avoiding clownfish for a time, and then only getting larger, captive raised ones would be a good course of action.