Clownfish tail...

[Fishmomma]

Help ASAP...Clownfish tail

I posted this on several other boards, and am still trying to find out some info about what may be going on...
I have a 25 gal tank with a pair of false, tankraised perculas. I have had them for about 4 years. Just recently, the female's tail end white stripe has begun to darken. It looks like there are black spots all over it. I noticed this on April 28th, and as of today there is no change. On the 29th, I put her in a hospital tank for observation (no Meds) and as of today there is no change.
Tank parameters are:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate <2.5
pH 8.2
What I need to know is... Should I be worried? The color change seems to be just that... a color change. There is no red, no raised skin, no flaking, etc. The clown is eating, swimming, and behaving fine.

posted May 18, 2005 09:52 AM
Ok. I put the clownfish back into the display tank. As of Monday, May 16, she looked fine, just the stripe color change. I went out of town for about 36 hours and when I checked the tank, her tail is gone! I only have her mate, a cleaner shrimp, an emerald crab, and several snails in there. It doesn't look like it was cut off, almost like it was just never there to begin with.

As of May 19th, I returned her to the hospital tank and began dosing with Melafix, which I dosed daily until May 27th. I also began dosing Kanamycin May 21-May 25. At which time, she acted like she had an air bladder problem, floating on the surface, curled up. She still eats fine, and swims around when we approach the tank.
I went out of town for the holidays, and after returning yesterday, the clownfish looks a bit better. She is not holding herself curled over to one side. She eats like a pig, but still have trouble with bouancy~ she must wedge herself under a pvc piece to stay at the bottom of the tank.
Now, what do I do? Medicate with something else in the hospital tank? Put her back into the display tank ( I am worried the male will start to change if I don't get her back in soon)?

I have posted pictures of her in my members gallery...

 

[NaH2O]

The only thing I can think of is fin rot, but I'm not sure. The other symptoms seem strange to me on a captive raised perc, but I'm not that familiar enough with fish diseases. How is she doing today? Have you tried anything else? Do you have any further thoughts on what it could be? Hopefully, Terry B will drop in and give some advice.

Fish momma - I'm going to post the pics to the thread to make it a little easier to see:

 

[Boomer]

Looking at he pics I agree with Nikki, fin rot and appears to be bacterial. You state that you are using Kanamycin. Who's and what is the size of the "pill" in mg . It should say on the box. Most suppliers often give this drug no where near the therapeutic dosage, which is 100-200 mg/gal and not / 10 gal. Kanamycin is a very good choice but Gentamycin is a little better, at 20 mg /gal. I would also try to soak the food in one of these antibiotics. Although these two will, unlike many other drugs, diffuse in the fishes body.

The bloating sounds like "Dropsy" ( a FW name, but means the same)and internal infection called Bacterial Infections Hemorrhagic Septicema, common to these types of clowns, especially old ones. The swelling arises for the accumulation of ascites fluid, which is being produced faster than the fish can remove it. The fluid is usually a clear yellowish serous/ascitic fluid collecting in the visceral/abdominal cavity. Often as the fluid increases the scales seem to stand up erect but you have not seen that yet. This bloating also causes buoyancy problems and the swim bladder may also be infected.

Leave her in the med-tank for two more weeks with full treatment. You want to see the bloating go away and the tail starting to grow back first. Moving her now back in the main tank my very well cause a relapse.

 

[Fishmomma]

I used the TARGET aqua-med brand. Their recommended dose is 150 mg/10 gal. Continue treatment for 5 days. At the end of that treatment, she was looking better. Not great, but better. Today, she isn't looking so hot. She has little desire to swim down, and her other two stripes are beginning to darken. She won't eat, and her gills are going a mile a minute. I have added a picture from this evening. I have seen Dropsy, and she doesn't seem to have that. Her bloating was localized, but seems to be gone now. I am starting her tonight on a large dose of the Kanamycin. 120 mg / gal for 5 days. Hopefully we can get her healthy!
Anyone else have any ideas??

 

[Boomer]

OK good for the increase in the meds. One of the reasons behind failures with fish diseases when using these meds. Especially when these are about the best thing there is for bacterial infections. Some even recommend Kanamycin dosages much higher than mine, almost double that of mine.

Dropsy can be localized. Am I seen things or are those white stripes turning red from hemorrhaging ?

On another note, is your hospital tank cycled ? Be it is or not make sure you check daily for Ammonia

 

[Fishmomma]

I know the stripes look red in the pictures, but they don't look red in person, just much darker~ almost bruised. Very possibly from hemmorrhaging... The tank is cycled, but I still check for Ammonia (0), as it is a small tank.

 

[Terry B]

If you don't see an improvement within 3 or 4 days using the kanamycin then I suggest that you change medications. You might want to go with a nitrofuran such as nitrofurazone or furanace. Maracyn-Two would be another choice if the others are not available. The correct dose is important for all antibiotics and the packages often suggest a very weak dose.

Terry B

 

[Fishmomma]

So what would be the dose for Nitrofurazone, Furanace, and Mayacyn-Two?

 

[Boomer]

If you change mads, as Terry has suggested, which is fine with me, to include his choice, make sure you do a 50 % water change first.

Nitrofurazone = 5-10 mg /gal for 5 days( you need to be carful with this drug. I have seen many, to include Terry, give 5 day dosages as high a 50 mg / gal. IMHO that is way to high for a 5 day treatment. Short bath yes. Maybe he can explain that This drug is toxic to some fish)

Furanace (actually Nifurpirinol) = .5 mg /gal for 5 days ( this drug can also be toxic if it gets much higher)

Mayacyn-Two(actually Minocycline) = 2 mg/ gal for 5 days

Make sure you go by net gallons only as best you can. Check ammonia daily

 

[Fishmomma]

OK, I got back from the fish store, and the only thing they had was Furan-2. Each capsule contains 60 mg Nitrofurazone, 25 mg Furazolidone, and 2 mg Methylene Blue Trihydrate. Can I use this, and what dosage? The clown is looking real bad, so I am kinda desperate. We are pretty attached to her.
Thank to all for your help!!

 

[Boomer]

I would use 1 capsule / 10 gals. I know how you feel I had the same clown years ago and for years. It died and had the same ailments as yours and nothing worked. I think I was to late. Hopefully you are not, but I dont' think it is going to make sorry :sad: