White growth near clownfish gill

[NewNemo]

I just set up a 24g saltwater tank, 2 weeks ago. Added two clowns today, just noticed white mass near one clowns gill. It‘s not lethargic.
Does anyone know what it is and what to do?
Salinity: 1.022 pH:8.1

 

[NewNemo]

clearer picture

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I'm not sure I'm seeing this correctly - but does the lesion protrude really far from the body? Looks like more than an eye's width. Is there another, flatter lesion on the right top side of the fish, behind the first white saddle? Did the lesion just show up suddenly? Did the two clownfish come from the same tank at the dealer's?

Because your tank is only two weeks old, I need to ask - what are the water quality parameters? Temp, pH, specific gravity, ammonia?

Jay

 

[NewNemo]

Yes, it does stick out from near the gill. It looks fluffy, almost like a piece of cotton. No, that’s the only one, I think the other white spot was just the aquarium lights. I didn’t see it when I was bringing it home, I just noticed it when the clownfish was in the tank. The clownfish is active and ate some frozen brine shrimp this morning. The fish came from different tanks at the dealer.

the parameters are:
temp- thermometer set to 78 degrees
pH: 8 to 8.1, color chart is a little difficult to read
ammonia: 0 ppm
sg: 1.022
nitrites: 0 ppm
nitrates: 0 ppm

The only other livestock is a few snails and hermit crabs as a clean up crew.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Well, I can't say for certain what that is. Without knowing what it is, I hesitate to suggest any possible treatment. In freshwater fish, that would look like saprolegnea fungus - but that doesn't affect marine fishes. Your water seems fine, just go easy on the frozen brine shrimp, fish love it, but it isn't very nutritious. I like to use it for its laxative effect, but I supplement it with a good quality pelleted food, as well as small mysids.

Jay

 

[NewNemo]

Well, I can't say for certain what that is. Without knowing what it is, I hesitate to suggest any possible treatment. In freshwater fish, that would look like saprolegnea fungus - but that doesn't affect marine fishes. Your water seems fine, just go easy on the frozen brine shrimp, fish love it, but it isn't very nutritious. I like to use it for its laxative effect, but I supplement it with a good quality pelleted food, as well as small mysids.

Jay

Thanks, we are going to quarantine it and use anti fungal medications, just in case.

 

[NewNemo]

Update: This past Sunday, I placed the clownfish in a ten gallon hospital tank with an external power filter and treated it with pimafix. Today, the growth is much smaller, and the clownfish is doing fine. I will continue treatment for the recommended seven days.

 

[NewNemo]

Update: last night, the clownfish seemed to be sticking to one corner of the tank, but water tests came back okay (sg: 1.023, ph: 8.1, ammonia:0ppm). The growth was also much smaller. Today, it appears to be dead. It is curled up, and is floating around near the filter suction. The white stripes on his body look like they have turned grey, but that may just be the shadow from the filter. It happened so suddenly. Does anyone know what it is? #reefsquad?

 

[NewNemo]

Video of the clownfish