Sick Clownfish - Help?

[BDP]

Recently (around 2 weeks ago) had a 7 year old yellow Tang die suddenly in my marine setup. Did a bunch of water changes to reduce nitrate and have great water now, added 2 baby fish recently (a baby percula clown and baby yellow tang). Both new fish and the rest of population seem to be doing fine, but my other percula clown (much larger, around 6 years old) is now acting very oddly.

The clown is now swimming in a very odd, shaky manner (almost as if confused and blind) and not eating. Mostly starting in one spot in the tank (earlier towards the bottom of the tank, now at the top). It's just obvious when you have a fish this long when the behavior changes. He does not seem well, and usually always eats so this worries me in particular. His fins and color are very good. Just his swimming and eating gabits that are not good.

Is there anything I might be able to do for Bob the clownfish???

Thanks for any advice.

BDP

 

[BDP]

Just a bit more info...Bob is swimming at the tank surface only now (he previously stayed very close to the tank bottom) and breathing is very heavy and quick (also unusual).

I've never done a hospital tank before but would like to try if anyone had any recommendations...He does have good color and no spots, but obviously is suddenly not well. I would have first thought just age, but with the recent tang death and the addition of 2 new fish I do worry (I didn't do a quarantine tank for the newbie fish tho).

Help? I'll try anything to save Bob!

 

[Lynden]

Unfortunately, anything may not be enough. If the fish does not have spots, and if he actually has a disease, then it may be an internal one. Gill flukes is a disease often overlooked, but can bring down fish that ich would be a slight inconvenience to. It causes the fish to breathe rapidly (since the fish is struggling to provide itself with enough oxygen), and as the disease progresses, oxygen to the brain is reduced, causing disorientation (hanging near the surface; swimming "confusedly and blindly"); and soon after, death.

All my attempted treatments in the past for this disease have failed. I used formalin, malactite green, and fresh water baths. The disease, as far as I know, is not highly contagious.

But your Tang's death could perhaps be attributed to old age, as 7 years is a relatively long time for a fish to be kept.

-Lynden

 

[BDP]

Thanks for the reply. I just noticed a white stringy substance hanging from Bob. He is still not eating. Now I'm worried this may be some type of parasite infection.

My research indicates this could be an internal parasite.

Since I am just an amateur hobbyist with a small tank, I don't have space or time for a separate hosptial tank (don't have anything with filter, aeration, etc). Is it possible to just somehow hang something in the tank to segregate the fish on his own but still keep him in the main tank while I treat him (if I can find what to treat him with?) Keeping the treated water separated of course.

I am worried that whatever is wrong with Bob could get to my other fish and I don't want that (or I want to treat the entire tank if it's possible I have a tank infection). Can I treat the entire tank with metronidazole or aqua-zole and not harm the other fish??? I'm concerned one of the new fish may have brought in a parasite (do they work that fast, in a few days?) or that some of my other fish may get sick.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Eversurf]

Check your water again. Make sure it's ok. I would try to reduce stress to the fish maybe he is stressed out by the new clown or the new arrivals. Feed him well. Good luck.

 

[BDP]

Thanks...I really overfed last night (not crazy, but there was plenty of food floating right by his face)...He completely doesn't touch a single bit of food, I watched closely. He didn't take in even one piece. His behavior continues to be really strange, sudden spaz-outs once in a while, but mostly just swimming in one place breathing very heavily. The not eating worries me the most, plus the stringy white stuff (is it feces?)...Sorta screams parasite to me.

I was toying with the idea of buying a very small tank/filter combo today and putting some tank water in, then moving him to it and treating the water with an anti-parasite (in the small tank, NOT the main tank). Is that probably my best bet here? Was thinking of giving him a few days to see if he looks any better on his own and with treatment.

 

[BDP]

Some other folks are recommending I give him a formalin bath every other day for 30/45 minutes -- What do you folks think of that?

 

[sianeds]

I personally don't use chemical treatments but I can't watch a fish in distress. If you think it is going to help then try it by all means but the stress of netting/treating/re-introducing an already sick fish may well do more harm than good. It's a real toughie..... good luck