Clownfish Unhealthy - White Stringy Poop & White Spots Near Mouth

[sgrosenb]

Hi there - I just got two ORA Captive-Bred Premium Picasso Clownfish about a week ago, and one of them isn't looking so good. His mouth is constantly open, he doesn't seem to be eating, he has white spots near his mouth, and his poop is long, white and stringy and is hanging from the anus. Not sure what to do? My tank is fairly new - up for about 6 weeks and fully cycled. I don't have a quarantine tank available but I can probably figure something out if needed. All parameters are good - 0 ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, 79 degrees, 1.026 salt. Right now there are two clownfish and two cardinalfish in the tank. It's a 165g setup in total. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Pictures below. Thanks. -Scott

 

[EmdeReef]

The white spots around the mouth could be from an injury but because it’s a clown there’s always a risk of Brooklynella. If at all possible you should isolate and treat. Start with an acriflavine bath then move into a medicated antibiotic tank. White stringy poop is likely a parasite and since the clown is not eating being in a tank with metro may help some with that as well.

 

[sgrosenb]

Interesting OK thanks EmdeReef. I've read that Brooklynella is extremely rare in captive-bred clowns; I got mine from Live Aquaria which, as far as I know, is a great source for fish. Any other thoughts besides that? Is there a way to properly determine if it is Brooklynella? Thanks again. -Scott

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Interesting OK thanks EmdeReef. I've read that Brooklynella is extremely rare in captive-bred clowns; I got mine from Live Aquaria which, as far as I know, is a great source for fish. Any other thoughts besides that? Is there a way to properly determine if it is Brooklynella? Thanks again. -Scott

If my memory is correct Brook can present like that or sloughing skin. The white stringy poop is definitely internal parasites. It’s going to be an uphill battle if he’s not eating. I would recommend you get a QT tank ready now though. I’m sure someone will chime in on the meds and in what order to administer them.
@4FordFamily @HotRocks

 

[sgrosenb]

just a quick update - I fed some mysis shrimp and he hate some, so that's a good sign. not sure if that makes any difference

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

just a quick update - I fed some mysis shrimp and he hate some, so that's a good sign. not sure if that makes any difference

I would definitely get some general cure or metro and bind it to his food with focus to treat the internal parasites. I’m not 100% on the white spots though

 

[sgrosenb]

I would definitely get some general cure or metro and bind it to his food with focus to treat the internal parasites. I’m not 100% on the white spots though

when you say general cure or metro, anything specific that you can think of that a LFS or Petco type store would have? Thanks!!!

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

when you say general cure or metro, anything specific that you can think of that a LFS or Petco type store would have? Thanks!!!

A lot of LFS sell both just make sure to get the Focus because that is the binding agent. Here is a pic of GC and metro If they don’t have it Amazon can probably do next day delivery.

 

[Hermie]

How are the fish doing? I read through some of your posts, one thing I would have been worried about in January is that you said your tank is "Cycled" but there is no information on how you cycled it. One big thing about cycling is that if you substantially increase your bioload, you can induce a cycle to happen which is what may have happened with these fish. The bacterial load in the tank may not have been "Expecting" two new fish and it wasn't truly cycled for them. Can you elaborate at all on how you cycled the tank?