Brooklynella

Premnas biaculeatus, Tomato Clown

Introduction

Commonly referred to as Clownfish Disease as it is frequently observed with clownfish and diagonsed in many other marine ornamental species including seahorses.

Causes

Caused by the protozoan, Brooklynella sp.

Symptoms

Infecting occurs of the gills first, then spreads and becomes distinguishable by a white/opaque layer covering the skin, usually beginning at the head and extending along the whole body as the disease progresses.

Symptoms may include; increased breathing and swimming near surface, loss of appetite, faded color, thickening of the mucus layer evident as a whitish film.

Note: Gramma loreto laying on the bottom as opposed to mid/high water of effected clownfish species.

Similar Symptoms

• Cryptocaryon and Amyloodinium, can sometimes be mistaken for this for those that have not encountered Brooklynella before.

Treatment

Series of three formalin baths spaced at three day intervals, lasting for 45 minutes each time. Between treatments, fish should be held in a quarantine tank with a lower salinity, 14ppt (1.010 SG). Treatment should not be applied to injured fish. At completion of treatment, keep fish in the quarantine tank for at least a further 7 days. For full details see [1] and [2].

Gallery

• 
  Premnas biaculeatus
  Tomato Clown
• 
  Amphiprion percula
  Percula Clownfish
• 
  Amphiprion ocellaris
  Ocellaris Clownfish
• 
  Gramma loreto
  Royal Gramma

Resources

• Identifying Parasitic Diseases in Marine Aquarium Fish - A Hobbyist’s Guide to Identifying Some Common Marine Aquarium Parasites: Brooklynella hostilis by Terry Bartelme - Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine
• Brooklynellosis by Andrew Trevor-Jones
• "Clownfish Disease" (and other's), Brooklynellosis by Bob Fenner - WetWebMedia