I noticed today that my female percula has a "bump" on the side of her mouth. She has been eating fine and seems to be acting okay. I tried to search for info but every time I do, it tells me the server is too busy and cannot retrieve info at that time. Any ideas?
clown problem, please help
- Thread starter af_hall14
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Angelscrx
Import Fish
Does it look like she may have been bitten by another fish? Is it a bump with any discoloration? Is it an open sore? I take it there is a male in the tank with her, maybe he roughed her up (spouse abuse, call the cops) 
?
?steve-s
Well-known member
Watch the fish's behavior unnoticed when you can. Often mouth abrasions will be from cleaning a surfaces in preparation of mating/egg laying. It's more common for the male but the female will exhibit this behavior as well. More commonly if the water specs are up to par and the diet is properly nutritious, it should clear up on it's own.
Proactively, you would be wise to do a few good sized water changes with well aged/aerated salt water to ensure the DOC in the water column (which feeds the bac) is reduced to aid the fish in "self healing".
Cheers
Steve
Proactively, you would be wise to do a few good sized water changes with well aged/aerated salt water to ensure the DOC in the water column (which feeds the bac) is reduced to aid the fish in "self healing".
Cheers
Steve
Angelscrx said:Does it look like she may have been bitten by another fish? Is it a bump with any discoloration? Is it an open sore? I take it there is a male in the tank with her, maybe he roughed her up (spouse abuse, call the cops)
It has no discoloration and I fed again last night b/c they were at the top looking for food (they will eat from my hand) and she ate fine. Yes there is a male in the tank and I guess it's possible that he "roughed her up". :lol: I plan on doing a water change this weekend so maybe that will clear up whatever may be in the water if anything at all.
Angelscrx
Import Fish
I thought about the nesting behavior but that is more common in the males and so I didn't mention it but it is a good point. Hope the water changes help too. Keep an eye on her and makes sure nothing else pops up on her body.
steve-s
Well-known member
Egg laying generally doesn't take much longer than ½-1 hr at most depending on the activity in/around the tank.
If the feces are white/string and not a similar color as the food when it went in, you might be seeing indications of an internal bacterial or parasitic problem.
Do you have/can you get a QT set up?
Cheers
Steve
If the feces are white/string and not a similar color as the food when it went in, you might be seeing indications of an internal bacterial or parasitic problem.
Do you have/can you get a QT set up?
Cheers
Steve
I have a small tank that is tiny and i can only provide it an airstone... I have no lighting for it but it can sit in my kitchen under good lights in there. Is that sufficient?
Once again, she was eating really well last night and swimming around with no problems.
Once again, she was eating really well last night and swimming around with no problems.
Angelscrx
Import Fish
In my 10g QT tank I have a UV sterilizer, a small skimmer, and a small power head. Depending on what I have in there I will run a bio filter with carbon.
Can you posts pics of the clown?
Can you posts pics of the clown?
Scooterman
Well-known member
Clowns do get these from time to time QT would be useful to treat it but In good water conditions I was told they would heal on it's own. Sounds like a fungus growth BTW.
steve-s
Well-known member
Fungus/abrassion on the mouth yes, that should heal well enough on it's own if a milder case & as long as water quality/feedings are optimal. My concern was this part of the reply...Scooterman said:
This is often an indication of a larger issue that typically requires treatment in a QT. Often from an internal bacterial or parasitic problem that cannot be treated in the main. As of the info so far, not sure what to suggest as a treatment if needed but please be sure to update the fish symptoms if/as they progess. The more common treament of choice is Metronidazole.af_hall14 said:
Cheers
Steve
steve-s
Well-known member
You need to get the fish into a QT and treated immediately. If you notice the redness surrounding the upper portion of the body, that is not the common melanism seen in clowns. This is a high probability for Vibrio, Uronema or less likely from what I can see Brooklynella unless the camera shot is not showing the typical clouded skin.. It can also be caused from seriously low pH problems due to poor aeration/CO2 issues leading to acidocis. Just so we can possibly rule out trematode/nematode as a suspect, are you still seeing string, white or less than normal feces output?
I'm leaning strongly towards Vibrio... Terry?
Cheers
Steve
I'm leaning strongly towards Vibrio... Terry?
Cheers
Steve
no stringiness being seen...
i haven't noticed a change in coloration since i got her....
that color i think is because of my camera.... she has black mixed w/ orange all over her, gives her a weird color
here is a pic from a few weeks ago...
i haven't noticed a change in coloration since i got her....
that color i think is because of my camera.... she has black mixed w/ orange all over her, gives her a weird color
here is a pic from a few weeks ago...
Last edited:
Steve,
Your response is very well thought out. The coloration appears to be a bit blotchy and looks like a little red hemorrhaging back towards the tail fin. In one of the photos it looks like the scales may be lifting a bit. The scales and discoloration may just be distortions in the photos.
Af Hall
Can you see any discoloration or raised scales on the fish when you look at it in person? Since the fish is eating and behaving normally I have my doubts that it is a systemic (the entire system of the fish) bacterial infection. The white in the lesion could be dead white blood cells. There is also a possibility of an imbedded parasite. I don’t see symptoms that look like brooklynella or uronema. The white feces and bump may be unrelated. This is a tough one to diagnose, but I tend to think a bacterial infection. I am not sure that it is vibrio and you might see some dark discoloration rather than the white bumps. It is impossible to identify the type of bacteria involved without a very powerful microscope.
I would suggest treating the fish in quarantine with Maracyn-Two, Furanase or Nitrofurazone (Furacyn). I would also reduce the salinity. The antibiotics will work a bit better in reduced salinity and if the bump happens to be a large embedded parasite then it can leave a large hole when it exits the fish. Reducing the salinity will help the fish maintain osmotic balance when it has a large wound. Stringy white poop in clowns can be caused by bacterial infection or intestinal worms, but it can also be caused by an improper diet. What are you feeding the fish? Do you store all foods including flake and freeze-dried in the freezer? A bacterial infection is more of an immediate threat than internal worms so I would treat with an antibiotic, reduce the salinity, have some Pro Tech Coat Marine or StressGuard handy to serve as a temporary mucus layer in the event of a large wound, and soak the foods in garlic
I would say that the bottom line is that Steve and I are most concerned about bacterial infection at this point.
Cheers,
Terry B
Your response is very well thought out. The coloration appears to be a bit blotchy and looks like a little red hemorrhaging back towards the tail fin. In one of the photos it looks like the scales may be lifting a bit. The scales and discoloration may just be distortions in the photos.
Af Hall
Can you see any discoloration or raised scales on the fish when you look at it in person? Since the fish is eating and behaving normally I have my doubts that it is a systemic (the entire system of the fish) bacterial infection. The white in the lesion could be dead white blood cells. There is also a possibility of an imbedded parasite. I don’t see symptoms that look like brooklynella or uronema. The white feces and bump may be unrelated. This is a tough one to diagnose, but I tend to think a bacterial infection. I am not sure that it is vibrio and you might see some dark discoloration rather than the white bumps. It is impossible to identify the type of bacteria involved without a very powerful microscope.
I would suggest treating the fish in quarantine with Maracyn-Two, Furanase or Nitrofurazone (Furacyn). I would also reduce the salinity. The antibiotics will work a bit better in reduced salinity and if the bump happens to be a large embedded parasite then it can leave a large hole when it exits the fish. Reducing the salinity will help the fish maintain osmotic balance when it has a large wound. Stringy white poop in clowns can be caused by bacterial infection or intestinal worms, but it can also be caused by an improper diet. What are you feeding the fish? Do you store all foods including flake and freeze-dried in the freezer? A bacterial infection is more of an immediate threat than internal worms so I would treat with an antibiotic, reduce the salinity, have some Pro Tech Coat Marine or StressGuard handy to serve as a temporary mucus layer in the event of a large wound, and soak the foods in garlic
I would say that the bottom line is that Steve and I are most concerned about bacterial infection at this point.
Cheers,
Terry B
