Black spots/marks on a clown

[fender4string]

My buddy has a little occ. that has some strange black marks on it's body. I'd say they were approximately the size of the hole formed by the letter "o." They seemed to be very slightly raised.

I've never seen anything like it (neither has he) and we were wondering what it might be. My friend guessed maybe he was trying to host a coral that stung him? His clown is about .75" long.

 

[joshnola]

If it is only on the orange body (not on the white stripes) then it is probably hypermelanization, which is of no concern. If it is on the stripes it could be any number of other problems.

This article has some info on hypermelanization:
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/disease.html

 

[yukondave]

My Clowns get this all the time, never knew what it was called but had read it was not anything to worry about. Mine started getting this when I moved my acan echinata right next to the corner of the tank they host. Wish they would just move to the RBTA I put in there for them already :rolleye1:


Copied from the link above...

Clownfish HyperMelanization - This seems to be a common occurance with clownfish that host corals. I assume that since clown fish's skin is adapted to dealing with the stinging power of anemones, the darkening of the skin is a response in trying to deal with the foreign mucous and stings of corals. I have never seen this condition become a problem for the fish and they seem to do just fine.

 

[bues0022]

They sounds like sting marks, not hypermelanization. From what I've seen, the latter seems to be a bit more global and not as localized. Stings tend to be small like you describe. They may or may not go away depending on the host.

 

[joshnola]

They sounds like sting marks, not hypermelanization. From what I've seen, the latter seems to be a bit more global and not as localized. Stings tend to be small like you describe. They may or may not go away depending on the host.

I'm fairly certain they are the same exact thing. The stinging causes the hypermelanization, from what I have read. Just sometimes it causes a lot of melanization and sometimes its just a few spots. I've had it on many clowns that I've had, never with any problems.

 

[bues0022]

I see what you are saying. I guess I was making a distinction between the type of melanization that can occur from the sting of corals instead of other factors. Hypermelanization can occur in true ocellaris' from getting a "tan" from high powered lights. That type of global darkening similar to us getting a sun tan is what I would consider hypermelanization. I don't typically think of a sting (thing like burnt by a hot pan from the oven) as true hypermelanization. Sure, your skin turns a different, and darker, color, but it's a slightly different mechanism. I realize I'm splitting hairs, but in this case I would call it a sting from coral, not hypermelanization.

FWIW, that true ocellaris in the link you showed I would say has both hypermelanization and coral stings.

 

[elegance coral]

I see what you are saying. I guess I was making a distinction between the type of melanization that can occur from the sting of corals instead of other factors. Hypermelanization can occur in true ocellaris' from getting a "tan" from high powered lights. That type of global darkening similar to us getting a sun tan is what I would consider hypermelanization. I don't typically think of a sting (thing like burnt by a hot pan from the oven) as true hypermelanization. Sure, your skin turns a different, and darker, color, but it's a slightly different mechanism. I realize I'm splitting hairs, but in this case I would call it a sting from coral, not hypermelanization.

FWIW, that true ocellaris in the link you showed I would say has both hypermelanization and coral stings.

I agree with this, but I don't think you are splitting hairs. There is a difference between a clown getting black marks form coral stings and an increase in melanin. We don't know why the skin turns black in spots when clowns host coral, but I surely wouldn't call it "hypermelanization". Onyx perculas, black ocellaris, and your clarkii would be examples of hypermelanization. Not a fish that has a few small black spots. At least IMHO.

 

[fender4string]

Yep the marks look very much like those in the photo. Thanks for the responses guys I'll forward the information to my friend.

 

[joshnola]

I agree with this, but I don't think you are splitting hairs. There is a difference between a clown getting black marks form coral stings and an increase in melanin. We don't know why the skin turns black in spots when clowns host coral, but I surely wouldn't call it "hypermelanization". Onyx perculas, black ocellaris, and your clarkii would be examples of hypermelanization. Not a fish that has a few small black spots. At least IMHO.

I definitely see what you are both saying. And, I don't think you're splitting hairs. I am certainly one for breaking things down to the nitty gritty.

It's just called hypermelanization. I don't know if it's scientifically called that or if that's just what hobbyists call it; but, since the time I first did a little online reading about it, and from then on when I've discussed it with people, the black spots caused from the stings of corals (and sometimes anemones) have been called hypermelanization.

The clownfish examples that you provided would be an example, IMO, of a genetic type of hypermelanization; i.e. not caused by a stinging cell. Maybe a different cause, but the same thing in the end (like certain anemias in humans).

I'm sure if we talked to someone who studies fish, etc., they'd be able to provide a more complete answer, but for discussions sake, I'd just stick with good old hypermelanization, and most clownfish people will know exactly what you're talking about.