Clownfish help

[ScottNJ]

I tried to upload a picture of my smaller clown, can anyone help id what this is. The smaller bump is raised and we noticed it when we put the fish in the tank about a week ago. Today we noticed the growth near the tail and he looks like he is trying to shake it off. Any advice would be helpful, i don't have any other tanks to put him in.

Scott

 

[Hawkeye]

hard to tell -maybe Brooklynella (aka clownfish disease). Velvet would have probably struck them dead already. The other possibility is ich...

 

[ScottNJ]

Could this be Lymphocystis? Looking at some pics on the internet, and thats what matched the closest. The lump at the tail looks like a head of cauliflower. Should he be removed from the tank? I have no quarentine tank, so the options are not good if he has to come out

 

[Hawkeye]

saw this - figured it might help to repost:

1) Isolate (quarantine) the fish if any of these things apply:
- i) Fish is covered in many areas with nodules;
- ii) Fish is being harassed by other fish;
- iii) Nodules on the fish's mouth hinder it from eating normally; and/or
- iv) Fish shows signs of secondary infections or disease
2) Improve water quality; and
3) improve environment (clean up, return to proper maintenance, check filters and keep clean, clean out detritus in the entire system, etc.).

The next thing to do is to improve its and all the fish's diet. This means:
a) Provide the proper diet and feed enough food, frequently enough;
b) Use fat and vitamin supplements, especially the right kind of vitamin C (see link below);
c) Use immune boosters (Fish Immune Boosters); and
d) Wait it out.

Remember, a fish displaying this is because it has suffered in your or the previous people's (poor) care that have handled this fish. The fish is stressed, maybe slightly injured. Helping the fish get better will require taking ALL the above actions, just not picking and choosing the ones you want. If the hobbyist is successful at addressing all the above and doing it all diligently, the fish will stop displaying Lymphocystis in anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months.

If it was necessary to isolate the fish, then treat with an antibiotic. The antibiotic does not cure the fish of Lymphocystis, but will prevent other bacterial and opportunistic pathogens from gaining any foothold. I would recommend treating with Maracyn Two for Saltwater fishes. Just follow directions on the medication.

Things that don't work or which pose additional problems include:
I) Trying to get cleaner fish or cleaner shrimp to 'clean' the fish of it;
II) Trying to put medications into the water or trying to medicate the fish; and
III) Scraping the fish with a human fingernail or an instrument. (This will break nodules and send the virus into the water in large numbers, and possibly cause more abrasion to the fish's skin which just means more infection sites AND further stressing the fish).

Things that do help, but which are not necessary to do:
A) Surgically removing the lumps (this require surgery (duh!) and anesthetizing the fish);
B) Isolate the fish (into a QT -- not a big requirement unless 1) above applies) ISOLATE ALL FISHES WITH EXTENSIVE VIRAL INFECTIONS OR WHICH MAY BE DISPLAYING SECONDARY INFECTIONS;
C) If isolated in a QT, swab clumps with Betadiene disinfectant every other day (this requires anesthetizing the fish); and
D) Obtaining the Neon Blue Goby (Elacatinus oceanops). These fish sometimes actually eat it off of some displaying marine fishes (not a cure, just removes what you see for the time being).

It is a poor hobbyist that acquires marine life to 'fix' another fish's or tank's problem, with the exception of clean-up crews. So don't run out and buy a Goby. Just address the things you should and, like the human cold, wait it out.

 

[greybolt03]

We're are you at? I have a 20 gallon you could borrow for a quarantine tank. Iam in East Brunswick 08816

 

[ScottNJ]

I'm in EB too. I'm heading into a meeting now when I get home I'll show my wife this information.Thank you for your help.

 

[greybolt03]

I am leaving for FL on sat so let me know if you want to come by and borrow the tank...

 

[ScottNJ]

Thanks for the offer, and all the information. We've been using test strips, and checking salinity with a refractometer. The only thing that changes is the temp by about 4 degrees. From what I can tell the water is in good shape. The one white raised bump was there when we put the fish in our tank, we only noticed it at home.

Regards,

Scott