Low Oxygen? Bacteria Infection? Strange Clownfish Behavior.

[Mas0n]

Hey! Got a weird one, I noticed one of my clowns swimming at the top of the water, breathing rapidly, and having trouble staying upright last night. The other clown was breathing quickly as well, but swimming around the tank. I have 3 other fish, who were behaving completely normally. Chalk Bass, Flame Hawk, and PJ Cardinal.

My first thought was low oxygen, and upon closer inspection of the fish I noticed some very small red areas where it looks like scales are missing. Though this could be unrelated and due to bullying/fighting, the clowns are both juvenile and close in size, so that would not be a surprise.

I added an air stone last night, and today the clowns are acting normal, eating, and just hanging around the tank. I have good surface agitation from the return pump and an MP10 that is about 75% towards the top of the tank. I will say though, the tank has a weird odor right now, and tons of diatoms. Joys of the ugly stage.

Crappy video, but you can see how hard he was breathing when he get sucked against the overflow. I stopped recording to move him, but he pulled himself off and kept swimming frantically.



Thoughts? I haven't treated, but I do have Metro/Kana/Focus on hand that may be helpful in the case of parasitic/bacterial issue.

 

[Mas0n]

Picture of the weird redness/scales missing(?), mid section in white pattern.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Picture of the weird redness/scales missing(?), mid section in white pattern.

Fish is lethargic and appears also weak, struggling to swim. Skin is rough looking and appears to be a result of brooklynella disease and will require treatment ASAP if it stands a chance.
Is fish eating?
Typical treatment is a formalin solution is mixed with in a separate container with either fresh or saltwater. Start with a prolonged 60 minute bath of ruby rally pro then at a lower concentration in a quarantine tank. The longer the fish are exposed to the treatment, the more effective it will be at eliminating this issue.
Since a formalin solution is often 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.

 

[Mas0n]

Fish is lethargic and appears also weak, struggling to swim. Skin is rough looking and appears to be a result of brooklynella disease and will require treatment ASAP if it stands a chance.
Is fish eating?
Typical treatment is a formalin solution is mixed with in a separate container with either fresh or saltwater. Start with a prolonged 60 minute bath of ruby rally pro then at a lower concentration in a quarantine tank. The longer the fish are exposed to the treatment, the more effective it will be at eliminating this issue.
Since a formalin solution is often 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.

Thank you for the reply and advice.

The fish is eating, and acting normal today. The video was from last night. That’s why I’m so perplexed.

I have some formalin, that I can treat the clowns in. Do you think it’s worth soaking some frozen food in metro+focus and feeding the tank? Even if other fish aren’t exhibiting symptoms?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thank you for the reply and advice.

The fish is eating, and acting normal today. The video was from last night. That’s why I’m so perplexed.

I have some formalin, that I can treat the clowns in. Do you think it’s worth soaking some frozen food in metro+focus and feeding the tank? Even if other fish aren’t exhibiting symptoms?

Is the air stone still in the tank?
In the video from last night, the water’s surface looks too still. Roiling the water with a pump doesn’t always break the surface tension enough - a good air stone or large skimmer is really needed for proper gas exchange.

 

[Mas0n]

Is the air stone still in the tank?
In the video from last night, the water’s surface looks too still. Roiling the water with a pump doesn’t always break the surface tension enough - a good air stone or large skimmer is really needed for proper gas exchange.

It is, in the return chamber, tons of micro bubbles floating around the water column.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you for the reply and advice.

The fish is eating, and acting normal today. The video was from last night. That’s why I’m so perplexed.

I have some formalin, that I can treat the clowns in. Do you think it’s worth soaking some frozen food in metro+focus and feeding the tank? Even if other fish aren’t exhibiting symptoms?

soaking the foods not advied and formalin or formalin based?

 

[Mas0n]

soaking the foods not advied and formalin or formalin based?

From what I’ve read, formalin, it’s a green solution that is part of a “Safety Stop” quarantine pouch. The other part is methylene blue.

(Came in as a sample from BRS. Figured I’d keep it around)

 

[vetteguy53081]

From what I’ve read, formalin, it’s a green solution that is part of a “Safety Stop” quarantine pouch. The other part is methylene blue.

(Came in as a sample from BRS. Figured I’d keep it around)

Safety stop is more of a bath than treatment and malachite green effective in fresh water use and the level of formalin in this substance is low level

 

[Mas0n]

Safety stop is more of a bath than treatment and malachite green effective in fresh water use and the level of formalin in this substance is low level

Good to know! Thank you.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Good to know! Thank you.

Safety Stop seems like a good idea, but dip treatments are never really 100% effective, so a single dip process limits, but does not eliminate disease. Also, never use a formalin dip on newly shipped fish, it is too stressful.