What are the symptoms of Brooklynella?

A thick greyish-white mucous layer over the body, as if the skin is peeling in sheets; Very rapid breathing with flared gill covers, often holding in strong flow or just under the surface; Darkened or faded colour with pale, eroded fin edges; Extremely fast, often fatal within 1-3 days of the first signs. It usually starts with: New clownfish carrying the protozoan added without quarantine; Deteriorating water, rising ammonia or salinity swings; Overcrowding and transport stress, with clownfish and other damselfish affected first.

How do you treat Brooklynella?

In order: 1. Isolate every fish immediately (Brooklynella advances by the day, so move all fish into a hospital tank the same day and start a fallow period in the display tank, which needs at least 6 weeks for the protozoan to die out.) 2. Formalin bath (Give a 30-60 minute bath at the label dose (commonly around the 25 mg/L level - always follow the product label), repeated every other day for 2-3 rounds. Formalin is lethal to corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, so it must be used in a hospital tank and never in the display tank.) 3. Stay with the fish during every bath (Formalin baths carry real risk, so pull the fish out into clean saltwater at once if it rolls over, stops breathing or struggles violently, and halve the time for weakened fish.) 4. Leave the display tank fallow for at least 6 weeks (With all fish out, keep the display tank fishless for at least 6 weeks while maintaining temperature, flow and invertebrates; do not shorten the wait to save time.) 5. Metronidazole as an adjunct if needed (Some protocols add metronidazole at the label dose in the hospital tank to control secondary infection. It affects the biofilter and does not replace the formalin bath.) 6. Feed in a low-stress recovery period (The disease is extremely draining, so feed small quality meals during recovery with stable water, and observe for at least 2 weeks without relapse before considering a return.)

What medication treats Brooklynella?

Formalin: Hospital tank only, given as a 30-60 minute bath at the product label every other day for 2-3 rounds, with the fish watched throughout. It is lethal to corals, shrimp, snails and live rock life, so it must never be used in the display tank.; Metronidazole: Used in the hospital tank at the label dose as an adjunct against secondary infection. It affects the biofilter, is not recommended in the display tank, and cannot replace the formalin bath.

G-04 / 15Marine

Brooklynella布鲁克原虫

Extremely urgent. It can kill within 1-3 days and is nearly always fatal to clownfish, so start bathing the day you notice the excess slime.

Illustration to come

G-04 / 15 · Brooklynella

SpecificationsDisease atlas

Cause: Parasite
Severity: Severe
Contagion: Highly contagious
Corals / inverts: Not safe
Also known as: Clownfish disease、Brooklynella hostilis

Symptoms

A thick greyish-white mucous layer over the body, as if the skin is peeling in sheets
Very rapid breathing with flared gill covers, often holding in strong flow or just under the surface
Darkened or faded colour with pale, eroded fin edges
Extremely fast, often fatal within 1-3 days of the first signs

Typical triggers

— New clownfish carrying the protozoan added without quarantine
— Deteriorating water, rising ammonia or salinity swings
— Overcrowding and transport stress, with clownfish and other damselfish affected first

Treatment, in order

1 · IsolateIsolate every fish immediatelyBrooklynella advances by the day, so move all fish into a hospital tank the same day and start a fallow period in the display tank, which needs at least 6 weeks for the protozoan to die out.
2 · MedicationFormalin bathGive a 30-60 minute bath at the label dose (commonly around the 25 mg/L level - always follow the product label), repeated every other day for 2-3 rounds. Formalin is lethal to corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, so it must be used in a hospital tank and never in the display tank.
3 · ObserveStay with the fish during every bathFormalin baths carry real risk, so pull the fish out into clean saltwater at once if it rolls over, stops breathing or struggles violently, and halve the time for weakened fish.
4 · Water changeLeave the display tank fallow for at least 6 weeksWith all fish out, keep the display tank fishless for at least 6 weeks while maintaining temperature, flow and invertebrates; do not shorten the wait to save time.
5 · MedicationMetronidazole as an adjunct if neededSome protocols add metronidazole at the label dose in the hospital tank to control secondary infection. It affects the biofilter and does not replace the formalin bath.
6 · ObserveFeed in a low-stress recovery periodThe disease is extremely draining, so feed small quality meals during recovery with stable water, and observe for at least 2 weeks without relapse before considering a return.

The standard treatment uses copper or formalin, which is lethal to corals, shrimp, snails and everything on live rock. Treat in a quarantine tank only, and leave the display tank fallow for the full period above before returning the fish.

Medications and cautions

Formalin: Hospital tank only, given as a 30-60 minute bath at the product label every other day for 2-3 rounds, with the fish watched throughout. It is lethal to corals, shrimp, snails and live rock life, so it must never be used in the display tank.
Metronidazole: Used in the hospital tank at the label dose as an adjunct against secondary infection. It affects the biofilter, is not recommended in the display tank, and cannot replace the formalin bath.

Prevention

Quarantine new fish for at least 4 weeks, watching clownfish especially for excess slime
Keep ammonia undetectable and salinity and temperature stable
Reduce stocking density and minimise handling and fighting
Do not share water or equipment with fish of unknown origin

Frequently asked questions

What are the symptoms of Brooklynella?: A thick greyish-white mucous layer over the body, as if the skin is peeling in sheets; Very rapid breathing with flared gill covers, often holding in strong flow or just under the surface; Darkened or faded colour with pale, eroded fin edges; Extremely fast, often fatal within 1-3 days of the first signs. It usually starts with: New clownfish carrying the protozoan added without quarantine; Deteriorating water, rising ammonia or salinity swings; Overcrowding and transport stress, with clownfish and other damselfish affected first.
How do you treat Brooklynella?: In order: 1. Isolate every fish immediately (Brooklynella advances by the day, so move all fish into a hospital tank the same day and start a fallow period in the display tank, which needs at least 6 weeks for the protozoan to die out.) 2. Formalin bath (Give a 30-60 minute bath at the label dose (commonly around the 25 mg/L level - always follow the product label), repeated every other day for 2-3 rounds. Formalin is lethal to corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, so it must be used in a hospital tank and never in the display tank.) 3. Stay with the fish during every bath (Formalin baths carry real risk, so pull the fish out into clean saltwater at once if it rolls over, stops breathing or struggles violently, and halve the time for weakened fish.) 4. Leave the display tank fallow for at least 6 weeks (With all fish out, keep the display tank fishless for at least 6 weeks while maintaining temperature, flow and invertebrates; do not shorten the wait to save time.) 5. Metronidazole as an adjunct if needed (Some protocols add metronidazole at the label dose in the hospital tank to control secondary infection. It affects the biofilter and does not replace the formalin bath.) 6. Feed in a low-stress recovery period (The disease is extremely draining, so feed small quality meals during recovery with stable water, and observe for at least 2 weeks without relapse before considering a return.)
Is Brooklynella contagious, and how urgent is it?: Contagion: highly contagious. Severity: severe. Cause: parasite. Extremely urgent. It can kill within 1-3 days and is nearly always fatal to clownfish, so start bathing the day you notice the excess slime.
What medication treats Brooklynella?: Formalin: Hospital tank only, given as a 30-60 minute bath at the product label every other day for 2-3 rounds, with the fish watched throughout. It is lethal to corals, shrimp, snails and live rock life, so it must never be used in the display tank.; Metronidazole: Used in the hospital tank at the label dose as an adjunct against secondary infection. It affects the biofilter, is not recommended in the display tank, and cannot replace the formalin bath.
Is the treatment for Brooklynella safe for corals and inverts?: No. The standard treatment (copper or formalin based) is lethal to corals, shrimp, snails and everything on live rock. Treat in a quarantine tank only, and leave the display tank fallow for the full period given above.