Clownfish is peeling?

Gonj · Mar 8, 2021

Got 2 clown in qt right now they’ve seemed fine, however today I noticed their skin seems to be peeling and there appears to be some growth in the filter as well. Any ideas as to what this can be or how I should treat this? Attached some photos below.

Idoc · Mar 8, 2021

Clownfish are very susceptible to Brooklynella which looks like a mucus sheathing on the fish. It is very deadly and must be treated quickly.

1. Formalin 37% bath for 45 min or Ruby Reef Rally (acroflavin) bath for 90 min
2. Then place in clean quarantine tank and treat the water with Metrodonizole every 48 hrs for 10-14 days.

In the meantime, a 5min freshwater dip will give some relief but will not cure it.

NeonRabbit221B · Mar 8, 2021

As mentioned above it must be treated pretty quickly. I wouldn't wait on amazon to get the meds needed in.

Gonj · Mar 8, 2021

Idoc said:
Clownfish are very susceptible to Brooklynella which looks like a mucus sheathing on the fish. It is very deadly and must be treated quickly.

1. Formalin 37% bath for 45 min or Ruby Reef Rally (acroflavin) bath for 90 min
2. Then place in clean quarantine tank and treat the water with Metrodonizole every 48 hrs for 10-14 days.

In the meantime, a 5min freshwater dip will give some relief but will not cure it.

All I have available as of right now is cupramine , would that work until I can get my hands in the other products you mentioned? How long would a fresh water dip give them?

Idoc · Mar 8, 2021

Gonj said:
All I have available as of right now is cupramine , would that work until I can get my hands in the other products you mentioned? How long would a fresh water dip give them?

I don't really know how long a freshwater dip is going to give relief...it probably more depends on how advanced the disease state currently is at the moment. I would attempt to continue to give the dips until you are able to obtain the meds required. Cupramine is not known to effect Brooklynella.

DeniseAndy · Mar 8, 2021

Brook is not killed by copper or coppersafe meds. If you have some Chloroquine Phosphate around it will work. Good luck. Get the ruby stuff fast or they will not make it. Brook is no fun at all.

TheWalkingCoral · Mar 8, 2021

This is your #1 resource & guide to fighting Brooklynella:

Brooklynella

Brooklynella hostilis (updated 6-9-2023) What You Need To Know: * This is most often seen with clownfish, but it can afflict other fish (usually in the gills) as well. When a clownfish has Brook, the skin will appear to be peeling or sloughing off. Which is actually excess white mucous coming...

humble.fish

Gonj · Mar 8, 2021

DeniseAndy said:
Brook is not killed by copper or coppersafe meds. If you have some Chloroquine Phosphate around it will work. Good luck. Get the ruby stuff fast or they will not make it. Brook is no fun at all.

I called multiple lfs none had the recommended meds I picked up Paraguard per lfs recommendation stating it was a good substitute for formalin. Anyone have experience with seachem paraguard and Brooke ? It’s all I got until the recommended once gets shipped to me :/

Gonj · Mar 8, 2021

Brook is not killed by copper or coppersafe meds. If you have some Chloroquine Phosphate around it will work. Good luck. Get the ruby stuff fast or they will not make it. Brook is no fun at all.

I did the dip they looked pretty rough when I put them back in the tank but they have seemed to perk up a bit after some time has pAssed. None of my lfs carry any of the recommended meds I was sold paraguard any experience with that?

TheWalkingCoral · Mar 8, 2021

I would search far and wide for ruby reef rally and Seachem Metroplex. If you search for each item on google you can click nearby, that's how I found them when I was battling brook. When you do get the medication it's important that they be placed into a new sterile tank after treatment. The big part of fighting brook is the formalin/ruby reef rally, the Metroplex is used as a insurance policy after the initial medication. Running a lower salinity below 1.020 will help the clowns breathe a little easier. Speaking of breathing easier, a bubbler is also great to keep them just a little comfier as they battle brook.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 8, 2021

Most similar symptomatically to ich, this is also a parasite that primarily attacks the gills first. At the onset, fish may scrape up against objects, rapid respiration develops, and fish often gasp for air at the surface as the gills become clogged with mucus. Very quickly the fish will become lethargic, refuse to eat, and its colors will fade. The most noticeable sign of Brooklynella is the heavy amount of slime that is produced by a fish that has contracted this parasite. As the disease progresses, a thick whitish mucus covers the body. This will usually start at the head and spread outward across the entire body. Skin lesions appear and it is not uncommon for signs of secondary bacterial infections to arise.
There are varying suggestions on how to treat a fish that has been infested with Brooklynella.
Typically a standard formalin solution is mixed with either fresh or saltwater in a separate treatment container. Initially, all fish are given a quick dip in the formalin at a higher concentration, followed by continued treatment in a prolonged bath of formalin at a lower concentration in a quarantine tank (QT). Of course, the longer the fish are exposed to the formalin treatment, the more effective it will be at eliminating this disease.
If a formalin solution is not available for immediate use, temporary relief may be provided by giving fish a FW dip or bath. 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.

Gonj · Mar 8, 2021

TheWalkingCoral said:
I would search far and wide for ruby reef rally and Seachem Metroplex. If you search for each item on google you can click nearby, that's how I found them when I was battling brook. When you do get the medication it's important that they be placed into a new sterile tank after treatment. The big part of fighting brook is the formalin/ruby reef rally, the Metroplex is used as a insurance policy after the initial medication. Running a lower salinity below 1.020 will help the clowns breathe a little easier. Speaking of breathing easier, a bubbler is also great to keep them just a little comfier as they battle brook.

When you say new tank do you mean full water change? I have them in a qt rn with a heater bubbler and pvc pipes with some paraguard.

TheWalkingCoral · Mar 9, 2021

Gonj said:
When you say new tank do you mean full water change? I have them in a qt rn with a heater bubbler and pvc pipes with some paraguard.

Pull everything out sanitize it with bleach and put it back together unfortunately. You don't want any lingering stages of brook in the tank after the treatment.

Gonj · Mar 9, 2021

TheWalkingCoral said:
Pull everything out sanitize it with bleach and put it back together unfortunately. You don't want any lingering stages of brook in the tank after the treatment.

IsNt there any chance the bleach could linger and be toxic to the fish ?