Shrimp goby pair quarantine... Actually, Disease, part. Protozoan ID, trtmt.   8/17/08
Hello to all and thank you for being able to ask questions,
<I as well>
it is greatly appreciated.
I am in need of some guidance and direction as to what is the best way to address my current situation. My tank came down with what I now believe was Brooklynella.
<Mmmm, not likely>
In one day I thought I lost all fish.
<Then no>
Symptoms were cloudy eyes, peeling skin and 2 dead fish clown and pseudo. I also had a yellow watchman goby pistol shrimp pair which I had assumed perished as well because I had not seen them in a while. I was going to let the tank go fallow following directions listed on your site. Then one day I put a very small amount of frozen food in the tank and out comes the goby and shrimp looking very healthy. So my question is now what do I do?
<Likely nothing>
Im thinking of dismantling the tank to catch the goby and shrimp and place them in a 10G quarantine tank.
<... for what reason/s?>
Should I catch both or just the fish? If just the fish will they still pair off later after reintroduction? Also what should I use to treat the yellow watchman goby and how often since I see no signs of disease on him?
<I would do none of the above>
I was planning on using a sponge from my tank and also water from the main tank into the quarantine, but would it be better to not use the water from the main tank since the disease is in the water from the main tank? I would really like to keep the goby paired up with the shrimp but since I will most likely be medicating the fish I am unclear as to what to do? If you recommend a dip and then placing in quarantine how would I know if it worked since I don't see any signs of disease on him and its been 10 days now since I lost the other 2 fish?
Thanks
Steve
Tank size is 24 gallons
water quality
ph 8.2
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate <5
specific gravity 1.025
refugium in the process of being installed
20% water changes weekly
22 lbs live rock
1/2 in sand
various zoos
1 blue xenia
<Mmm... let's start a bit toward the beginning here... W/o knowing... what the actual cause of loss was here I would not "jump" to conclusions... was this a protozoan infestation? Not definitively... NOT Brooklynellosis I assure you. I would leave all as they are presently... proceed cautiously in introducing new fish livestock (see WWM re... quarantining, assuring the initial health of new introductions). Bob Fenner>

Possible Brooklynellosis... – 03/07/08
Hi Crew,
<Pat>
Long story short. somehow velvet made it way to my DT and I QTed all the fish. My tank is now fallow.
I FW dipped my two clown fish for ~10 min, QTed and Rx with copper as directed
<Uhh, copper won't cure Brook...>
and I am at day 19 and no more signs of velvet. BUT I noticed about 5 small white spots with a little protrusion on the female today and can only think that they now are showing signs of Brooklynellosis since they have been in copper for so long.
<Mmm, may be just environmental... reaction to the copper poisoning>
None of the other fish in the other QT tanks show signs. I could not find any information on the cycle of this protozoan.
<Is very similar to Crypt...>
Will leaving my DT fallow for 6 weeks rid my system of it?
<Hopefully, yes>
What is the best way to deal with this problem, since a FW dip did not take care of it would a formalin dip or formalin medicated tank do any better?
<Yes... Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/brooklynellosisart.htm
and the linked files above>
Could the other fish also have it, what should I do with them, keep in QT and monitor for another 2 weeks?
<I would, yes>
Also, I do not have formalin on hand and if I can not get it locally should I at least do a FW dip to help remove them until I can get some?
<If the fish appear to be suffering, likely worth the wear and tear...>
Thanks,
Patrick
<I would NOT be so sure this IS a pathogenic manifestation... Do read where you are referred to. Bob Fenner>

Brooklynella??? Please help!!!   6/9/06
Hi WWM crew,
I have an emergency...unless you can put me at ease somehow.  I have a captive bred clownfish that I have had for over a year now.  He is in a 5 month old 95 gallon tank with 100lbs of live rock and live sand.  Water parameters are great.  Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates <20, pH 8.3, salinity in between 1.023-1.024, temp steady at 78F.  His tankmates are two Pajama clowns that have been there for 4 months and all have been perfectly healthy.
My clown has a cotton like patch on his left side, just at the lateral line and past his dorsal fin.  It does protrude off of him somewhat, but is difficult to get pics or more accurate description because he simply will not stay still.  He is eating well.  He is not, nor has not been near the top of the water gasping, neither is he lethargic at all.  He still swims actively around his two anemones
<This may be "it">
and his fins are not clamped.  I don't know what a fish healing from a scrape looks like, or I could assume that... if it is a scrape, then it's a nice one.  His respiration seems normal, but it's hard to tell as he swims constantly.  The other fish show no signs of anything thus far.
Would the fish still be eating if it were Brooklynella?
<Perhaps, but not with gusto for long>
  I read on this site and the section on Brooklynella thoroughly and couldn't find an answer to that question.  If it were advanced enough to be on his body would he still be acting fine?
<Is not this protozoan unless you have introduced it somehow recently...>
  He does twitch and dart some, but I haven't noticed any flashing.  If he flashes, it isn't often... but he does twitch like something is biting him nonetheless.  I read that it seemingly starts at the gills.  If it is in his gills, would he still be eating and swimming in the middle of the water column?  Please, any info or advice that you can give would be very welcome and appreciated!!!   
Thanks again,
H. Owens
<I wouldn't move, treat this specimen. This is highly unlikely to be a parasitic involvement. Could be a negative interaction twixt the anemones, but much more likely resultant from a physical trauma as you speculate. Bob Fenner>

Re: Brooklynella??? Please help!!!   6/10/06
Hi again and thanks for the super quick reply!  If this is  Brooklynella, approximately how long will fish normally continue to eat after the  "bug" shows up on the fish?
<Impossible to say, however, this protozoan is generally very rapid "on-set", killing its host/s within days of discovery...>
The spot appeared on Tuesday and as  of Thursday night, he was still eating like a pig.
<... is almost assuredly not Brooklynellosis...>
  I only put two new  pieces of live rock in the tank over a week ago after holding it for over a  week.  The tank came from the LFS that has a live rock only tank with 1  Naso tang in it.  It had been in his tank for some time.  Is it  possible that it could have been introduced that way?  I guess, my main  concern is, would he still be eating if it was far enough along to be showing  up on his body?  Thanks again for your help!
<I wouldn't be concerned... please read: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clndisfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Clownfish Breathing Hard
hello I have a clown fish that is breathing real hard but the weird thing is that everything in the test kit that I have is all perfect? what do you think it is and what should I do for it?
thanks
<Many possibilities here... could be just simple anoxia (lack of aeration, circulation)... possibly an osmotic imbalance (too much change in your water make-up in too short a period of time), perhaps a Brooklynella infestation... Please read through the Clownfish Health/Disease sections and related FAQs files posted on the site: www.WetWebMedia.com for hopefully what will surface as the cause/s, path to take here.
Bob Fenner>

Brooklynella, Microsporidium, or Lymphocystis?
Hello,
I recently made the mistake of purchasing a large (3") Amphiprion Ocellaris (common clownfish) from my local fish store. They had just received the animal when I purchased it, mistake number two. I added the clownfish to my newly cycled reef tank (mistake number three, biggest one). Within 24 hours I noticed a white wart/cauliflower growth on the animal's right side, in the white band area, just behind the gills. The clownfish will not eat and appears to be stagnant although it is moving about somewhat. The animal does not exhibit any other signs of infection, no small white spots, glazed or popping eyes, scratching, fin rot, and the like. What has infected my fish? I've narrowed it down to either Brooklynella, Microsporidium, or Lymphocystis or ? ? ? What can I do to cure the fish and save my reef tank. Should I remove the infected fish to prevent the disease from spreading to the other tank mates (choc chip star, scooter blenny, 2 turbo snails, 6 reef crabs)? Please advise, I want to save my tank and the clown if possible. thanks,
Dan Rose
>>
Thank you for writing so well, including with such clarity and humility... Glad to know that I'm not the only one who makes egregious errors in the hobby...
I would almost bet that what you are seeing is indeed the Clown-attacking protozoan Brooklynella... And would in any case follow these steps.
Do take the fish out and treat it in a separate "hospital" system... for it's sake, the use of the treatment "medicine", and the safety from the same of the rest of your system. The likelihood that the Brooklynella will affect your other livestock is minimal (there are no other Clownfishes...)...
Copper is of little use if indeed this is Brooklynella, but formalin dips/baths are efficacious. Buy a stock solution (my fave retail brand is Kordon, but any will do)... generally a few drops per quart of pH adjusted (just with sodium bicarbonate, baking soda is fine) freshwater... and move the fish from the main tank into this solution for about ten minutes... either add an airstone, occasionally splash the water around for aeration), move the Clown to the bare-bottom (but still filtered, aerated.... with a hang on, sponge, box filter...) hospital/quarantine system... Dump the treatment water... repeat every day for three days... and stop there if there is no further visible sign of the disease... If it re-shows or persists, wait two days and resume the dip/baths...
This will work....  Bob Fenner 

Ocellaris Clown (disease)
Hello Sirs. Thank you again for all of the info. I'm writing to get your opinion on diagnosis/treatment of my false percula. After searching the site, I found a post that seemed pretty similar to my situation (as far as the symptoms). It goes:  
Brooklynella, Microsporidium, or Lymphocystis?
Hello,
I recently made the mistake of purchasing a large (3") Amphiprion Ocellaris (common clownfish) from my local fish store. They had just received the animal when I purchased it, mistake number two. I added the clownfish to my newly cycled reef tank (mistake number three, biggest one). Within 24 hours I noticed a white wart/cauliflower growth on the animal's right side, in the white band area, just behind the gills. The clownfish will not eat and appears to be stagnant although it is moving about somewhat. The animal does not exhibit any other signs of infection, no small white spots, glazed or popping eyes, scratching, fin rot, and the like. What has infected my fish? I've narrowed it down to either Brooklynella, Microsporidium, or Lymphocystis or ? ? ? What can I do to cure the fish and save my reef tank. Should I remove the infected fish to prevent the disease from spreading to the other tank mates (choc chip star, scooter blenny, 2 turbo snails, 6 reef crabs)? Please advise, I want to save my tank and the clown if possible. thanks,
Dan Rose
Thank you for writing so well, including with such clarity and humility... Glad to know that I'm not the only one who makes egregious errors in the hobby...
I would almost bet that what you are seeing is indeed the Clown-attacking protozoan Brooklynella... And would in any case follow these steps.
Do take the fish out and treat it in a separate "hospital" system... for it's sake, the use of the treatment "medicine", and the safety from the same of the rest of your system. The likelihood that the Brooklynella will affect your other livestock is minimal (there are no other Clownfishes...)...
Copper is of little use if indeed this is Brooklynella, but formalin dips/baths are efficacious. Buy a stock solution (my fave retail brand is Kordon, but any will do)... generally a few drops per quart of pH adjusted (just with sodium bicarbonate, baking soda is fine) freshwater... and move the fish from the main tank into this solution for about ten minutes... either add an airstone, occasionally splash the water around for aeration), move the Clown to the bare-bottom (but still filtered, aerated.... with a hang on, sponge, box filter...) hospital/quarantine system... Dump the treatment water... repeat every day for three days... and stop there if there is no further visible sign of the disease... If it re-shows or persists, wait two days and resume the dip/baths...
This will work....  Bob Fenner
Well I thought that the "wart/white cauliflower" part definitely defined what has appeared on the very tip of the dorsal fin of my fish. I've had this fish about a month. 2 weeks in QT and 2 in main display. About 3 days after introduction into the main tank, I noticed a white spot about the size/shape of a grain of table sea salt (yum). Wasn't sure so I've been watching and reading in the meantime. In the last 10 days the spot has maybe grown by 25-50%, but has not spread to any other areas. It also has not spread to Pac Blue Tang. He (or she I'd suppose) was eating normally until yesterday when he/she started "sampling" then spitting out food (similar CMA recipe). Seems similar enough to enclosed post to warrant an email. Would this be a Brooklynella infection that would require the above recommended treatment?
<Mmm, the wart-like growth on the Clown could be lymph, the spot on both fishes is likely crypt, tangs don't "get" Brooklynella>
Other info:
125 gal, 90# LR (more coming when the $$ does), 200# LS, 240W NO fluor. lighting @13 hrs/day (MH with more $$ again), 2x Rio 1100 plus return for circulation, TF 1000 skimmer, sump w/ 55W PC lit 'fuge, airstone and active carbon. Today's parameters were pH-8.2, Ammonia-0, Nitrate- <5 ppm, Alk- 4.8 mEq/L, Ca-350 ppm, Temp 77, SG-1.025
Other livestock:
1- Pacific Blue Tang, 1-sand sifting star, 12 bumblebee snails(?), 6-turbos, 12-astrea, 1- hitchhiker clam as of yet un-i.d.'d, misc hitchhiker polyps/sponges etc, and very soon 1- cleaner shrimp to be determined
<I would hasten the acquisition of the Cleaner Shrimp/s... maybe get more than one>
Hope this is enough/ not too much info. Thank you for your help and dedication to helping the rest of us become as informed as we can possibly be.
<Perhaps add a Gobiosoma Goby to the Cleaner list as well... otherwise nothing "stands out" as real trouble/cause here. Bob Fenner>

Beating Brooklynella!
Hello guys! I am new here so I hope you would help me... and quick if that's not too much to ask?
<Scott F. at your service!>
This morning, I noticed that my Flagfin angel developed some white patches all over his body. Though I didn't notice any adverse reactions from this, I opted to do a 10 minute freshwater dip just to be sure. I know this is something serious because from hindsight, a couple of really healthy bi-color angels I had in the past developed similar symptoms where their entire body turns hazy, almost white and then dying a day later.
<Not good...>
I know this is not ich because there are no apparent white spots. I also discount the fact that this might be velvet because the fish doesn't exhibit rapid breathing, is not flashing and he is still feeding.
<Well, the fact that the fish is eating is a very encouraging sign...>
Same thing in the past with my bicolors. My best guess is that this might be Brooklynellosis. I read from your site that this occurs mostly among Clownfishes, but what do you think? How can I cure it? I'm not considering formalin because I have no access to it. Will hyposalinity work?
<Well, it might provide some temporary relief from symptoms, but it is not generally considered a "cure" for Brooklynella. As you point out Formalin-based medications, and Malachite Green meds are usually considered the proper cure for this illness. Feeding the fish with antibiotic-laced medication after they are healed can help prevent the occurrence of secondary infections in these fishes.>
I also put a really nice Centropyge flavicauda yesterday before I noticed the disease on my Flagfin. What are the chances that this fish might contract the disease?
<It's really hard to say...This is a highly contagious illness, and I'd operate on the assumption that any fish which has been exposed to it is a potential victim...I'd remove all fishes from this tank (even the apparently healthy ones) and place them in a separate quarantine tank for observation and/or treatment if symptoms manifest. Meanwhile, you'd let the display tank run "fallow", without fishes, for about a month. This will result in a significant decrease in the population of the Protozoans that cause this disease. Not a fun procedure, but quite effective>
What can I do to prevent it from attaching to this fish?
<As above>
I also have a whitecheek tang, clown tang and 2 Ocellaris clowns in with these angels, though I don't seem to notice the parasites attaching to them... ever! Why could this be?
<Hard to say...Could be some form of resistance- could just be random luck...It's up to you if you want to approach the management of this disease aggressively, or wait it out and see...>
I'm planning to do a 25% water change tomorrow to help alleviate the situation.
<A water change is always a good thing. Not sure, however, if it will have any impact on this illness in a display tank while fishes are still present>
Pardon me for the long story, just like to divulge all important details.
<You did a great job! No problem!>
I will greatly appreciate your response! Salamat nang marami, from your friend here in Manila!  Regards, Mitch
<Best of luck to you, Mitch! I hope that things work out okay! Good luck! Regards, Scott F>

- Tomato Clown Disease? - Hi Jason (or whomever is kindly helping me here), <It's Jason again...> Spots have now spread across both sides of body & fins and seem to be both black and white. Have attached 2 more photos (which I hope will go through).  <Got them... interesting.> Am not sure of a plan of action here and am simply trying to rule things out at this point so that I don't start a treatment plan that ends up being more harmful for the fish than the problem.  <Good tact...> Of the common diseases that I've read about I can't seem to identify this as being any one of them because of the following reasons: Amyloodinium - can't be this because the fish has had problem for a while (3 or so weeks) and has exhibited no signs of breathing difficulty. Seems like this disease doesn't show any skin symptoms (except for 2nd hand diseases).  <Ok.> Cryptocaryon (Ich) - thought it might be this, but the spots are hardly 'salt' like and the other fish in the tank (a scooter blenny) has not shown any symptoms at all.  <Hmmm... not uncommon for one individual's stress to be high enough to suffer from a parasitic problem like this before other fish in the tank.> Brooklynella - Local dealer told me that it was probably this after I described the symptoms (& sold me some Formalin to use in a 30min dip), but I really doubt it is this as it looks nothing like the pictures I've seen of it & furthermore, the fish again doesn't exhibit the 'gasping' & reduced appetite that I've read about. Finally, it is my understanding that Brooklynella (like Amyloodinium) would probably kill the fish rather quickly. As I've mentioned before, the fish seems to be otherwise doing fine... So, I have CopperSafe ready to go, Formalin ready to go & am ready to use these medicines either in a quarantine tank (Copper) or as a dip (Formalin), but as I don't really know what I'm supposed to be treating, I don't know what I should do. I looked for Methylene Blue at the store & wasn't able to find it (is it sold with a specific brand name?) but will use it in a buffered freshwater dip if you feel it would help.  <The dip is a good way to kick things off. Perhaps the isolation would also be helpful here.> Anyways - any identification you could give me? <Still not sure, and really looks to me like aggression, nipping... or scraping against something. Will do some more research.>   If not, any ideas on a plan of attack?  <I like the idea of a dip along with isolation in quarantine to await further action.> Hope these photos are helpful... <Yes.> Thanks again for the help in advance. Know you guys are busy... Eric Harvey <Cheers, J -- >

URGENT_ sick clownfish: Brooklynella 5/21/04
Hello,
<howdy>
When I woke up to turn on the tank light I noticed that one of my percula clownfish was very badly injured. He has this mucus white cobweb like stuff all over him and is breathing hard. I don't know what is wrong. 
<This sounds like classic "clownfish disease" (Brooklynella... do a keyword search of this term on our website. Google search tool on the home page)>
The female is fine and is eating, but I noticed her nipping at her mate. I believe that the female is pregnant because she is quite large (stomach area), and this is leading to stress. Nothing appears to be wrong with the other tank mates. My tank is 75 gallon, live rock, skimmer, UV, filter, liver rock, 9 months old. pleas help I don't want to lose him.
Scott
<the disease generally only afflict new fish or comes in with livestock recently added to the tank without quarantine. It is critical to QT all new livestock for 4 weeks without exception (all new fishes, corals, rock, snails, plants, shrimp, crabs... everything!). Else you risk random infections perpetually. Treatment of Brooklynella generally requires Formalin. The Aquarium Products brand "Quick Cure" may work here with aggressive freshwater dips. Do see our archives for more details on how to do this. Anthony> 

Clownfish nodules related to Brooklynella?
Hello there!
I recently moved my pair of 3/4" ORA tank-raised Ocellaris out of their three-week quarantine and into my tank. They did not appear to be afflicted with anything, and ate just fine previously. 
My question really only pertains to one of the clowns, the one that is developing larger white nodules. By nodules, I mean what seem to be larger, semi-translucent fluid-filled sacs, anywhere from 1mm-4mm in diameter. The nodules seem to stick to her (the larger clown) at certain areas, but most prominently the gill covers and tail fin. They are occasionally found elsewhere also. The fish is fine as far as activity goes, and eats like a pig. Are these nodules in any way related to Brooklynella?
<Don't think so... have battled with this protozoan, dissected many clowns...>
I'm simply afraid that although they are the only two fish in the system, that I may have moved them through my quarantine procedure without being cautious enough. Can you help me?
<A bit at least... I strongly suspect this is NOT a pathogenic reaction... the folks at ORA would not have such in their systems...>
Thanks so much for all the time and effort you put in to answer the questions that fellow hobbyists such as myself have.
Quentin D.
<I wish I could tell you more... is very strange that only one of the two is affected... I do hope the blistering will fade of its own accord. Bob Fenner> 

Brooklynella   12/28/05
To the WWM Crew
<Flávio>
In a small, 20 Lts., quarantine tank I have a clownfish probably with Brooklynella. He arrived 4 days ago.
<Am sure you're beginning to appreciate the value of captive produced clowns versus wild-collected...>
Don't eat, is in a tank corner, breathing rapidly and has some kind of whitish coat extending from the dorsal fin to the medium and lateral part of the body. He has also three or four white spots on the frontal part.
<All indicative>
Today I added Coppersafe, one cupful as the manufacturer indicates.
In the meantime I read your advice about Brooklynella and dips in formalin ( 15 to 30 minutes with 1ml (20 drops) for 4 Ltr of salt water, as you state).
<Yes... if Brooklynellosis, copper will not cure it>
My question is if I can put some formalin in the quarantine tank in order to treat the possible occurrence of the two diseases. How much formalin could I put there. 2 drops?
Thanks in advance
Flávio
<I would not place formalin in your quarantine system if you can treat otherwise... instead I would run a dip/bath and move the animal to a newly cleaned/sterilized system to avoid cross-contamination. Please see WWM re Formalin use, http://www.wetwebmedia.com/formalinart.htm, Brooklynella. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brooklynellosisart.htm
Bob Fenner>