Internal parasite or something else?

[carpenter981]

My 2 clown fish have long stringy white feces hanging out. They seem to be suffering from a Loss of appetite and faster breathing. I called around to a few sponsors today and some thought it could be an internal parasite. Im in the process of trying to catch them to put them in QT.

I wont be able to get any meds until the morning so Im looking for yall's input on how to go about treating this if it is an internal parasite.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Jason

 

[mvm]

I would think that internal parasites are unlikely in clowns. Not impossible, but less likely that other species. What are the tank params? Any other fish?

 

[carpenter981]

MvM;582277 wrote: I would think that internal parasites are unlikely in clowns. Not impossible, but less likely that other species. What are the tank params? Any other fish?

They are the only fish among snails and blue legs...

I just did a HUGE water change 2 days ago (50%+) because of a problem with my stand. I checked params yesterday...

Salinity...1.026 (trying to bring it down a little slowly)
pH...8.2
ammonia, nitrite, nitrate...all seem to be at 0.

Ive only had them about 2 weeks or so. One of them was eating almost anything Id put in the tank. The other wasnt eating much but I managed to get it to eat some frozen brine shrimp. I tried feeding them yesterday and today and neither one have anything to do with anything id put in there.

 

[mvm]

carpenter981;582280 wrote: They are the only fish among snails and blue legs...

I just did a HUGE water change 2 days ago (50%+) because of a problem with my stand. I checked params yesterday...

Salinity...1.026 (trying to bring it down a little slowly)
pH...8.2
ammonia, nitrite, nitrate...all seem to be at 0.

Ive only had them about 2 weeks or so. One of them was eating almost anything Id put in the tank. The other wasnt eating much but I managed to get it to eat some frozen brine shrimp. I tried feeding them yesterday and today and neither one have anything to do with anything id put in there.

Seemed to be 0, or you haven't tested. If they were eating when you first got them and now they are not looking good, I'd think it's tank params. How long has it been set up?

 

[carpenter981]

MvM;582281 wrote: Seemed to be 0, or you haven't tested. If they were eating when you first got them and now they are not looking good, I'd think it's tank params. How long has it been set up?

I tested them, they are at 0.

The tank has been set up for almost 2 months now...

 

[rolo65]

Sounds like possible brooklynella.....also called clownfish disease although it can be contracted by many different fish if not all....if you can put the fish in QT like you said you were trying....and it is indeed brook.....formalin 3 is usually a good treatment to do....but without seeing them I couldn't say if it brook or not...if you do find it is brook and use formalin for treatment.....be sure to use less than the directions say....and it is very hard to find....but if you need it and can't find it let me know....I think I have almost 3/4 of a bottle somewhere...

 

[rolo65]

Do they have a kinda whitish film on their body?

 

[carpenter981]

rolo65;582310 wrote: Do they have a kinda whitish film on their body?

Brooklynella was one of my first thoughts since it is common in Clown Fish but it doesnt have the white film described and pictured about the disease. My clowns are a regular orange Ocellaris and a black & white clown so I figure it would be easy to see the film...

 

[rolo65]

Usually the white poo is a tell tale sign of an internal parasite like you initially thought....the white film doesn't always appear in the initial stages IME....but in any case....usually formalin is a good treatment....but then again I could be wrong....maybe someone else will get in on this too