Black 'spikes' on clownfish gills?

[serbusfish]

I have noticed my clownfish have what look like tiny black spikes on their gills. It is more prominent on one than the other but they both have them. I only got the fish 4 days ago and never noticed them then. The fish are both very active and are eating well, but these things dont look right to me. Sorry for the poor pic but it was the best I could get, they move so damn fast!

 

[Deinonych]

It's a normal physical attribute, although not all clownfish have them.

 

[ThRoewer]

It's a normal physical attribute, although not all clownfish have them.

To my knowledge all clownfish have them. Premnas even have some pretty long ones.

 

[Deinonych]

Neither of my Ocellaris have them (not visibly at least).

 

[ThRoewer]

Sometime they are not black but white or orange - it depends on where the bands are and how black the borders are. Also you usually only see them if the body background color is different. But trust me, they all should have them unless they are some mutants
Check them with a magnifying glass.

 

[serbusfish]

That is good to hear, I was worried they were some kind of parasite that had attached to the gills!

 

[Deinonych]

Sometime they are not black but white or orange - it depends on where the bands are and how black the borders are. Also you usually only see them if the body background color is different. But trust me, they all should have them unless they are some mutants
Check them with a magnifying glass.

Yup. Mine are orange, so not readily visible.

Anyway - OP has nothing to worry about.