Clownfish and Brooklynella

[PodGirl]

I have recently decided to upgrade to a larger tank. Previously I did not QT fish and have of course learned the error of my ways. I am now very set on the idea of a parasite free tank.

Unfortunately I am a very paranoid person and have therefore thought of every possible random almost impossible way of infecting my tank. I have read many opinions that say all anemone fish should be treated with a formalin dip for Brooklynella.

I've had my pair of clowns for some time now. They are currently in a small 12g as they had to be removed from my main tank after they broke out with what I believe was ich. At the time I treated them with Instant Ocean Lifeguard. It seemed to have worked and they are health and happy. However, as I previously mentioned I am paranoid and therefore still plan on copper treating them before placing them into the new system. This however still does not address the possibility of Brooklynella. I don't want to treat for it if they haven't shown signs of it. But many websites suggest a formalin dip as a necessary practice for QT of anemonefish.

I won't be setting up my new tank right away so I have some time to figure out a plan of action. I was really just hoping that someone who feels they have sucessful QT procedures could tell me if they formalin dip any and all anemonefish? Also, since I have had mine for some time with no signs of a health issue does it seem necessary to treat them for it? I couldn't find that much information on the disease so I don't really know if it can be on a fish and be undectable like ich. That's my fear I guess.

[kkiel02]

My first pair of clowns became infected with brook while I had my 65 gallon tank setup. I didnt qt them as they were only in there with two damsels(which never got it). I took out the clowns at the first sign and put them in a 10g hospital tank which was medicated with formalin. One clown died that night but the other pulled through. If you see signs of brook it is usually too late. It kills very fast. I took the fish to the lfs I bought them from and they confirmed it. IME- you are fine as you stated you've had your clowns awhile. It killed my large female in about two days.

[CoryDude]

Agreed, if you've had them for a while you should be ok. Brook symptoms didn't show up till I moved a mated pair from a lfs in Austin to my tank here in SA. The male looked fine the 1st day in the new tank, but then went downhill in about 24hrs.

[kkiel02]

Probably the same LFS that I got mine from.^

[PodGirl]

The weird thing is I had to QT them twice for similar situations. Before I was going to upgrade I had actually decided to put them in my biocube alone as I'd devoloped a fear of putting them in the main tank. When I brought them home from the LFS they did fine forever and then suddenly (actually it might have been when I was having nitrate issues) the two off them just had this white cottony stuff on them and were breathing super fast. Looking back I really wish I would had taken a picture. I'm not really sure if it was ich because I didn't think ich was suppose to look cotton like. Oodinium maybe? Anyway after the first time I QT'd I left them in the 12 gallon until I moved about a month ago and once I got the main set up here at the new place I stuck them back in the main. They literally got the same looking stuff that night I put them in the main and the male looked really bad so I promptly moved them back over to the 12g. So now I have this fear that I'll copper them and it will in fact be Brook and as soon as I stick them in this brand new tank "BOOM"! Death and destruction everywhere! (insert dramatic music here)

[Regric25]

http://www.fishvet.com/Brooklynella.htm